Starkes Grade 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 Starkes Grade Road climb?

6.7 miles (10.8 km) at 4.2% on average, climbing 1,490 ft (454 m) from 2,500 ft to 3,990 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 9.2%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.69793, -120.67004, where Starkes Grade Road leaves Newtown Road, and tops out at Nordic Lane at 38.73956, -120.57542.

Is Starkes Grade 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.

• Snows RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 10.7% · 846 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Puerta del Sol RoadCat 3 · 2.4 mi at 6.5% · 840 ft · starts 1.5 mi away
• Clear Creek Road from Rivendale RoadCat 3 · 2.7 mi at 4.2% · 600 ft · starts 1.7 mi away
• Red Robin RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 8% · 771 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Sly Park RoadCat 1 · 12 mi at 3.7% · 2,441 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Bucks Bar RoadCat 3 · 2.6 mi at 5.7% · 781 ft · starts 3.5 mi away
• Grizzly Flat Road from Mount Aukum RoadCat 2 · 5.7 mi at 3.5% · 1,076 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Pine Tree LaneCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 7.3% · 531 ft · starts 3.6 mi away