String 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 String Canyon Road climb?

3.4 miles (5.5 km) at 4.8% on average, climbing 853 ft (260 m) from 3,150 ft to 4,003 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 38.63447, -120.56519, and tops out at Sciaroni Road at 38.63958, -120.52566.

Is String 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.

• Oldmine RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 7.1% · 525 ft · starts 0.2 mi away
• Grizzly Flat Road near PlacervilleCat 3 · 2.3 mi at 7.8% · 961 ft · starts 1.0 mi away
• Capps Crossing RoadCat 2 · 7.4 mi at 3.6% · 1,417 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Leoni RoadCat 2 · 4.7 mi at 4.7% · 1,168 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Sciaroni RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 9% · 833 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Cosumnes Mine RoadCat 2 · 5.5 mi at 5.5% · 1,598 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• Sweeney DriveCat 3 · 3.3 mi at 5.8% · 1,007 ft · starts 3.5 mi away
• Happy Valley Road near PlacervilleCat 1 · 6.4 mi at 7% · 2,343 ft · starts 3.7 mi away