Wiggletail 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 Wiggletail Road climb?

2.1 miles (3.4 km) at 6.7% on average, climbing 755 ft (230 m) from 686 ft to 1,440 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 12.7%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 35.9869, -118.89334, and tops out on the road at 36.00524, -118.86904.

Is Wiggletail 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.

• Pothole RoadHC · dirt · 11 mi at 4.6% · 2,799 ft · starts 2.4 mi away
• Chimney RoadCat 3 · 2.1 mi at 8% · 883 ft · starts 4.3 mi away
• Bia 241Cat 3 · 0.8 mi at 14.3% · 597 ft · starts 5.6 mi away
• Highway 190HC · 31 mi at 4% · 6,535 ft · starts 7.6 mi away
• M-56 near PortervilleCat 2 · 4.4 mi at 5.8% · 1,335 ft · starts 8.5 mi away
• Balch Park RoadHC · 24 mi at 4.1% · 5,272 ft · starts 12 mi away
• Old Stage Road near PortervilleHC · 13 mi at 4.3% · 2,966 ft · starts 12 mi away
• MagestaHC · dirt · 7.8 mi at 7% · 2,890 ft · starts 12 mi away