Sierra Pellona Motorway 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. Most of this climb is a dirt road, and falls away from public roads rarely reach police reports. What the records show: no bike crashes were reported along the climb from 2021–2025.

How long and steep is the Sierra Pellona Motorway climb?

9.2 miles (14.8 km) at 6% on average, climbing 2,890 ft (881 m) from 1,952 ft to 4,843 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.1%. That makes it a Hors catégorie climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.52737, -118.44283, where Sierra Pellona Motorway leaves Bouquet Canyon Road, and tops out at Rowher Trail at 34.5615, -118.34971.

Is Sierra Pellona Motorway paved?

Mostly not: OpenStreetMap tags 100% of the climb as dirt or gravel. Dirt roads can be closed in fire season or after rain, so check with the land manager.

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.

• Lookout TrailCat 1 · dirt · 2.7 mi at 15.6% · 2,185 ft · starts 4.1 mi away
• Rowher TrailCat 1 · dirt · 3.1 mi at 13.5% · 2,208 ft · starts 4.4 mi away
• Wagon Wheel RoadCat 3 · 2.0 mi at 5.6% · 591 ft · starts 5.0 mi away
• San Francisquito Canyon RoadCat 2 · 3.9 mi at 5.4% · 1,122 ft · starts 5.8 mi away
• Anthony RoadCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 6.5% · 984 ft · starts 6.1 mi away
• Escondido Canyon RoadCat 3 · 4.6 mi at 3.3% · 801 ft · starts 7.2 mi away
• Sand Canyon Road from Lost Canyon RoadCat 2 · 5.7 mi at 3.9% · 1,171 ft · starts 7.5 mi away
• Golden Valley RoadCat 3 · 2.0 mi at 5.7% · 604 ft · starts 8.2 mi away