Swedes Flat 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 Swedes Flat Road climb?

1.4 miles (2.3 km) at 8.8% on average, climbing 673 ft (205 m) from 686 ft to 1,358 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 11.6%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 39.44316, -121.43294, where Swedes Flat Road leaves Oro Bangor Highway, and tops out on the road at 39.44245, -121.4098.

Is Swedes Flat 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.

• Purple Rocks LaneCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6.5% · 604 ft · starts 3.2 mi away
• Hurleton RoadCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 3.1% · 581 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• Forbestown Road from Weger DriveCat 3 · 3.2 mi at 3.9% · 646 ft · starts 4.2 mi away
• Robinson Mill RoadCat 2 · 4.5 mi at 5.3% · 1,253 ft · starts 4.4 mi away
• Black Bart RoadCat 3 · 3.5 mi at 3% · 548 ft · starts 4.5 mi away
• Mount Ida RoadCat 3 · 4.2 mi at 3% · 656 ft · starts 4.7 mi away
• Forbestown Road near OrovilleCat 2 · 6.1 mi at 4.6% · 1,483 ft · starts 5.5 mi away
• Old Forestown RoadCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 9.4% · 541 ft · starts 5.5 mi away