Zaca 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 Zaca Road climb?

5.2 miles (8.3 km) at 4.1% on average, climbing 1,125 ft (343 m) from 1,319 ft to 2,444 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 16.8%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 34.7641, -120.10743, and tops out on the road at 34.77792, -120.04234.

Is Zaca 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.

• Figueroa Mountain RoadHC · 16 mi at 4.3% · 3,602 ft · starts 6.4 mi away
• Sunset Valley RoadCat 2 · 5.3 mi at 4.7% · 1,309 ft · starts 9.3 mi away
• Drum Canyon Road from Centennial StreetCat 3 · 2.8 mi at 5.3% · 797 ft · starts 10.0 mi away
• Colson Canyon Road from La Brea Canyon RoadCat 2 · 3.2 mi at 6.5% · 1,089 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Cat Canyon RoadCat 3 · 4.3 mi at 3.1% · 699 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Santa Rita Road from Route 135Cat 3 · 4.3 mi at 4.5% · 1,024 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Happy Canyon RoadHC · 16 mi at 4.4% · 3,786 ft · starts 11 mi away
• Colson Canyon Road near Santa MariaCat 2 · 4.6 mi at 5% · 1,227 ft · starts 13 mi away