Palomar Mountain: South Grade and East Grade
- SR-76 at South Grade Road to SR-76 at South Grade Road
- 27.6 mi
- SR-76 at South Grade Road to SR-76 at South Grade Road
- of climbing
- 3,350 ft
- of climbing
- highest point
- 5,350 ft
- highest point
- motorcycle crashes along it, 2021–2025
- 55
- motorcycle crashes along it, 2021–2025
The route
- South Grade Road (S6) up the switchbacks to the top, near Mother’s Kitchen
- East Grade Road (S7) down the east side to SR-76
- SR-76 west past Lake Henshaw back to South Grade Road
Is this ride safe on a motorcycle?
We don't rate rides as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a road is, and popular roads have more crashes partly because more people ride them. What the records show: 55 motorcycle crashes were reported along the route from 2021–2025, 20 of them serious or fatal. What to watch for: South Grade is very tight with sharp hairpins. Weekend crowds and fog near the top, and snow in winter. No fuel on the mountain.
This week's weather
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Roads and stops on the way
Common questions
- How long is the ride, and how much does it climb?
- About 27.6 miles from SR-76 at South Grade Road to SR-76 at South Grade Road, with about 3,350 ft of climbing. The highest point is about 5,350 ft.
- Are the roads open?
- Mountain roads here close for snow, rockslides, fire and roadwork. Check the riding-roads conditions page and Caltrans QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) before you go.
Route: drawn along © OpenStreetMap roads; length and climbing from USGS 3DEP elevation, so they are estimates. Crashes: motorcycle crashes reported within 25 m of the route, 2021–2025, from the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS); 20 were serious or fatal. Weather: National Weather Service. How the data works.