Sugar Loaf West 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 Sugar Loaf West climb?

0.7 miles (1.1 km) at 19.2% on average, climbing 682 ft (208 m) from 2,782 ft to 3,465 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 31.8%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.12766, -119.43631, where Sugar Loaf West leaves Jose Basin Road, and ends where the road ends at 37.12032, -119.43033.

Is Sugar Loaf West 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.

• Lerona Fire LaneCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 13.2% · 817 ft · starts 1.2 mi away
• Sugarloaf Road near ClovisCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 7% · 719 ft · starts 2.2 mi away
• Italian Bar RoadCat 2 · 7.6 mi at 3.4% · 1,381 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Italian Bar RoadCat 2 · 5.8 mi at 5.3% · 1,624 ft · starts 2.7 mi away
• Transmission No. 1Cat 1 · dirt · 4.2 mi at 10.5% · 2,316 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Power House RoadCat 2 · 5.1 mi at 4.6% · 1,263 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Sharin Woods RoadCat 3 · 1.9 mi at 6.9% · 686 ft · starts 4.0 mi away
• Minarets RoadCat 2 · 6.1 mi at 5.1% · 1,631 ft · starts 4.6 mi away