Steele Canyon 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 Steele Canyon Road climb?

3.4 miles (5.5 km) at 3% on average, climbing 535 ft (163 m) from 482 ft to 1,017 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 8.5%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.50155, -122.19858, where Steele Canyon Road leaves Steele Resort Road, and tops out on the road at 38.46073, -122.17912.

Is Steele Canyon 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.

• Reserve RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 8.6% · 663 ft · starts 6.2 mi away
• Hennessey Ridge RoadCat 2 · 2.0 mi at 10.9% · 1,125 ft · starts 8.2 mi away
• Long Ranch RoadCat 3 · 2.7 mi at 6.8% · 974 ft · starts 8.6 mi away
• Monticello Road from Wooden Valley RoadCat 3 · 2.0 mi at 5.1% · 538 ft · starts 8.6 mi away
• Greenfield RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6.2% · 594 ft · starts 10 mi away
• Mix Canyon RoadCat 1 · 4.6 mi at 9.2% · 2,244 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Soda Canyon RoadCat 2 · 5.3 mi at 5% · 1,414 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Atlas Peak RoadCat 2 · 9.9 mi at 3.9% · 2,060 ft · starts 12 mi away