Yellow 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 Yellow Road climb?

1.3 miles (2.1 km) at 10.1% on average, climbing 709 ft (216 m) from 561 ft to 1,270 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 15%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 39.98177, -123.98212, and tops out at Usal Road at 39.99079, -123.97809.

Is Yellow 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.

• Willow Glen RoadCat 3 · 1.1 mi at 10.8% · 623 ft · starts 5.3 mi away
• Shelter Cove Road from Huckleberry LaneCat 2 · 3.3 mi at 8% · 1,368 ft · starts 5.3 mi away
• Toth RoadCat 2 · 2.6 mi at 7.9% · 1,102 ft · starts 5.5 mi away
• Shelter Cove Road from Upper Pacific DriveCat 1 · 5.3 mi at 7.8% · 2,165 ft · starts 5.8 mi away
• Paradise Ridge RoadCat 3 · 0.8 mi at 12.6% · 551 ft · starts 5.8 mi away
• Telegraph Creek RoadCat 3 · 1.3 mi at 8.4% · 571 ft · starts 6.1 mi away
• West Moody LaneCat 3 · 1.8 mi at 5.9% · 568 ft · starts 7.3 mi away
• Goodman Ranch RoadCat 3 · 1.5 mi at 6.7% · 535 ft · starts 8.4 mi away