Trout Gulch 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: 1 bike crash was reported on or beside Trout Gulch Road along the climb from 2021–2025.

How long and steep is the Trout Gulch Road climb?

3.5 miles (5.7 km) at 3.9% on average, climbing 732 ft (223 m) from 112 ft to 843 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 11.1%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 36.98112, -121.89035, and tops out at Fern Flat Road at 37.02279, -121.88194.

Is Trout Gulch 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.

• Aptos Creek Fire RoadCat 1 · dirt · 9.5 mi at 4.7% · 2,343 ft · starts 2.8 mi away
• Glen Haven RoadCat 3 · 3.0 mi at 4.2% · 659 ft · starts 3.4 mi away
• Pleasant Valley Road from Freedom BoulevardCat 3 · 2.7 mi at 3.9% · 551 ft · starts 3.6 mi away
• Hidden Valley RoadCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 6.1% · 577 ft · starts 4.6 mi away
• North Rodeo Gulch RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 5.7% · 633 ft · starts 4.7 mi away
• Rider RoadCat 3 · 2.5 mi at 5.4% · 722 ft · starts 4.8 mi away
• Eureka Canyon RoadCat 2 · 8.2 mi at 3.7% · 1,601 ft · starts 4.8 mi away
• Old Evans RoadCat 3 · 1.0 mi at 13.2% · 692 ft · starts 4.9 mi away