Spicer Reservoir 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 Spicer Reservoir Road climb?

4.6 miles (7.4 km) at 3% on average, climbing 741 ft (226 m) from 6,217 ft to 6,959 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.5%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.42215, -120.046, and tops out on the road at 38.40712, -120.01449.

Is Spicer Reservoir 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.

• Spicer Reservoir RoadCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 3.6% · 581 ft · starts 0.0 mi away
• Skyline Drive from Highway 4Cat 3 · 2.0 mi at 5.9% · 633 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Spicer Reservoir RoadCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 4.2% · 568 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Sonora Pass HighwayHC · 17 mi at 4.4% · 3,983 ft · starts 10 mi away
• State Highway 108 from Clark Fork RoadCat 3 · 4.8 mi at 3.4% · 860 ft · starts 10 mi away
• State Highway 108Cat 3 · 3.0 mi at 3.3% · 531 ft · starts 10 mi away
• Cole Creek RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.5% · 531 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Hells Half Acre RoadCat 1 · dirt · 7.5 mi at 5.5% · 2,201 ft · starts 12 mi away