Sierra Madre Villa Avenue Climb

We don't rate roads as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a ride is, and roads people like to ride draw more riders, so they see more crashes. What the records show: no bike crashes were reported along the climb from 2021–2025.

How long and steep is the Sierra Madre Villa Avenue climb?

2.0 miles (3.1 km) at 5.9% on average, climbing 617 ft (188 m) from 719 ft to 1,335 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.3%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.15127, -118.08238, where Sierra Madre Villa Avenue leaves Mataro Street, and ends at a gate at 34.17839, -118.08169.

Is Sierra Madre Villa Avenue paved?

Yes, by its OpenStreetMap tags.

How is the category worked out?

From the climb's shape only: length in metres × average grade (%) of 16,000 or more for Cat 3, 32,000 for Cat 2, 64,000 for Cat 1 and 80,000 for HC. It describes how hard the climb is, not traffic or crashes.

Where does this data come from?

The climb is found from OpenStreetMap roads and USGS 3DEP elevation (every climb, not a list of famous ones). Access is from OpenStreetMap tags; gates and closures change, so obey posted signs. Crash counts are police reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS) on data.ca.gov, counted where their map location is within 100 ft of the climb. The forecast is from the National Weather Service.

• Hastings Ranch DriveCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6.4% · 591 ft · starts 0.5 mi away
• North Holliston AvenueCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 4.4% · 643 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• North Lake AvenueCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 5.1% · 942 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Santa Anita Canyon RoadCat 2 · 3.3 mi at 6.9% · 1,207 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Mount Wilson Toll RoadHC · dirt · 8.7 mi at 9.5% · 4,383 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• North Fair Oaks AvenueCat 3 · 4.4 mi at 3.6% · 830 ft · starts 3.9 mi away
• Chaney TrailCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 10.5% · 623 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Mount Lowe MotorwayHC · 5.7 mi at 8.8% · 2,667 ft · starts 5.8 mi away