Yosemite 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 Yosemite Road climb?

3.5 miles (5.7 km) at 3.7% on average, climbing 699 ft (213 m) from 2,083 ft to 2,782 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 7.3%. That makes it a Category 3 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 37.91039, -120.29256, where Yosemite Road leaves Wards Ferry Road, and tops out at Saddle Drive at 37.94754, -120.26721.

Is Yosemite 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.

• Algerine-Wards Ferry RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 4.8% · 558 ft · starts 2.0 mi away
• Wards Ferry Road near SonoraCat 1 · 6.9 mi at 6% · 2,201 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Wards Ferry Road near SonoraCat 2 · 3.5 mi at 7% · 1,289 ft · starts 2.3 mi away
• Cocoran Gray RoadCat 3 · 2.2 mi at 5.8% · 666 ft · starts 3.5 mi away
• Tuolumne Road NorthCat 2 · 6.7 mi at 3.6% · 1,289 ft · starts 4.8 mi away
• East River Road near SonoraCat 3 · 0.9 mi at 13.2% · 633 ft · starts 4.9 mi away
• Grizzly Mine RoadCat 3 · 0.7 mi at 15.3% · 538 ft · starts 5.2 mi away
• Tuolumne RoadCat 3 · 4.6 mi at 3.4% · 814 ft · starts 5.3 mi away