Western Avenue 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 Western Avenue climb?

1.2 miles (1.9 km) at 13.1% on average, climbing 804 ft (245 m) from 463 ft to 1,266 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 16.9%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.10577, -122.10574, where Western Avenue leaves High Street, and tops out at Alba Road at 37.09963, -122.11892.

Is Western Avenue 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.

• Alba RoadCat 2 · 3.7 mi at 10.4% · 2,028 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Fanning GradeCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 9.5% · 886 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Ridge Road from Roberts RoadCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 8.9% · 581 ft · starts 1.1 mi away
• Roberts RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 8.7% · 673 ft · starts 1.2 mi away
• Bear Creek Road from Old Bear Creek RoadCat 2 · 8.9 mi at 3.6% · 1,726 ft · starts 1.8 mi away
• Hopkins Gulch RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 6.3% · 689 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Two Bar RoadCat 3 · 3.8 mi at 3.9% · 791 ft · starts 3.0 mi away
• El Solyo Heights DriveCat 3 · 1.2 mi at 11.5% · 755 ft · starts 3.1 mi away