South Big X Road 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 South Big X Road climb?

1.8 miles (2.9 km) at 6% on average, climbing 564 ft (172 m) from 3,320 ft to 3,885 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.8297, -120.61207, and tops out at Butcher Knife Joe Road at 38.82612, -120.59628.

Is South Big X 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.

• Forebay Road near PlacervilleCat 2 · 8.2 mi at 4.7% · 2,047 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Forebay Road near PlacervilleCat 1 · 8.5 mi at 5.8% · 2,585 ft · starts 2.6 mi away
• Jaybird Power House RoadCat 1 · 8.0 mi at 5.2% · 2,185 ft · starts 4.1 mi away
• Wentworth Springs Road near PlacervilleCat 2 · 11 mi at 3.2% · 1,923 ft · starts 5.1 mi away
• Ridgeway DriveCat 3 · 3.2 mi at 3.4% · 587 ft · starts 5.6 mi away
• Bald Mountain Lookout RoadCat 2 · 3.4 mi at 6.1% · 1,076 ft · starts 6.0 mi away
• Route 50 near PlacervilleCat 3 · 2.9 mi at 4.7% · 728 ft · starts 7.3 mi away
• Pine Tree LaneCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 7.3% · 531 ft · starts 7.9 mi away