Skull Ranch 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 Skull Ranch climb?

1.9 miles (3.1 km) at 9.1% on average, climbing 932 ft (284 m) from 2,254 ft to 3,186 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 16.6%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.21412, -120.42714, where Skull Ranch leaves Scott Road, and tops out at Avery Sheep Ranch Road at 38.19843, -120.41949.

Is Skull Ranch 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.

• Armstrong RoadCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 4.3% · 646 ft · starts 1.3 mi away
• Ship Rock RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 7.8% · 912 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Sheep Ranch Road near AngelsCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 9.6% · 774 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Avery Sheep Ranch RoadCat 3 · 3.3 mi at 5.8% · 1,004 ft · starts 1.6 mi away
• Gold Mountain RoadCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 5.5% · 830 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Fullen RoadCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 5.1% · 771 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Hubbard Road near AngelsCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 5.3% · 623 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Moran RoadCat 3 · 4.9 mi at 3.6% · 928 ft · starts 3.4 mi away