South Lake 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 Lake Road climb?

6.9 miles (11.1 km) at 5.5% on average, climbing 2,021 ft (616 m) from 7,822 ft to 9,843 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.1%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.25549, -118.57826, where South Lake Road leaves Forks Campground Road, and ends where the road ends at 37.17022, -118.56591.

Is South Lake 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.

• Buttermilk RoadHC · dirt · 8.6 mi at 6.1% · 2,759 ft · starts 6.5 mi away
• East Bishop Creek RoadCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 6.2% · 840 ft · starts 7.9 mi away
• Coyote Valley RoadHC · dirt · 11 mi at 8.5% · 5,164 ft · starts 9.8 mi away
• Horton Creek RoadCat 3 · 1.7 mi at 6.3% · 577 ft · starts 9.9 mi away
• Bir RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 6.6% · 830 ft · starts 10 mi away
• West Line StreetHC · 17 mi at 5.5% · 4,856 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Pine Creek Road near BishopHC · 8.8 mi at 6.3% · 2,890 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Gorge RoadCat 1 · 8.9 mi at 5% · 2,333 ft · starts 13 mi away