Socrates Mine Road Climb near Clearlake

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 Socrates Mine Road near Clearlake climb?

1.2 miles (2.0 km) at 9.2% on average, climbing 591 ft (180 m) from 3,186 ft to 3,776 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 11.5%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.7832, -122.73605, and tops out on the road at 38.78869, -122.74911.

Is Socrates Mine Road 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.

• Ford Flat RoadCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 4.4% · 610 ft · starts 1.2 mi away
• Dillingham RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 8.5% · 778 ft · starts 1.4 mi away
• Castle Spring RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 8.7% · 1,004 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Gifford Springs RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 8.6% · 587 ft · starts 2.5 mi away
• Socrates Mine Road near ClearlakeCat 2 · 3.5 mi at 9.7% · 1,798 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Big Sulphur Creek RoadCat 3 · 3.6 mi at 4.4% · 850 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Saw Mill RoadCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 7.6% · 997 ft · starts 3.3 mi away
• Boggs Mountain SpringCat 2 · 2.5 mi at 12.1% · 1,604 ft · starts 4.3 mi away