Hwy 180 & 198 Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

31
PDI
25.5 mi
DISTANCE
6,248 ft
GAINED
4.5 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

This climb is #53 on the Top 100 U.S. Climb Index and follows Highway 180 east up and through Kings Canyon Road to Generals Highway and the top of the climb where Highway 180 intersects Highway 198. Check out our Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Pages for more information on climbs in the area.
"The west side of Route 180 is a long climb east of Fresno, CA that leads into Kings Canyon National Park. It is along steady grade for the most part and with a few switchbacks in one section. Good views and big trees near the top help ease the pain of a long climb.  After ~ 19 miles you pass through the park entrance gate...and the hill crests soon after at a junction." (This quote is presented with the approval of John Summerson, from his book, The Complete Guide to Climbing (by Bike) in California, pg. 154.)

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ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Challenging
5
Road
3
Traffic
3
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

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May 10, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 5
May 10, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 5
This is a long climb on excellent pavement with views of the valley and mountains to keep you entertained as you climb. Once you reach the King's Canyon park entrance you get a view of a few large Redwood trees. 180 is the busiest road in the area with cars passing you relatively frequently, although the traffic does thin out the closer you get to the park. If I were to do it again, I would take Dunlap Road to 245 to 180 to 198 which climbs the same mountain with the same views but you have the road all to yourself. I descended this way and encountered almost no cars. On this alternative route you can see 180 across the valley as you climb.
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Route Data
S.G. (%)
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Hwy 180-198 Kings Canyon National Park - a very scenic southwestern Sierras bike climb.

Ride 25.6 miles gaining 6,865’ to 7,585’ elevation at 4.5% average grade.


This climb is #44 on the Top 100 U.S. Bike Climb Index and follows Hwy 180 east (E Kings Canyon Road)  to Hwy 198 (Generals Highway) to Big Baldy Trailhead.  

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Enter Kings Canyon National Park at mile 17.1

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2018 entry (up to 7 days) for bicycle was $20.

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We merge with the Hwy 198 climb at mile 18.8

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We are also in the Sequoia National Forest for this climb.

However, there are no Giant Sequoia Redwoods along the road.

However . . .

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Whitaker Forest Ride - turn off is 3.1 miles from our finish (22.4 miles from the start).

Access the ride through tree by turning right at the “Redwood Canyon 2 miles sign”

The ride through tree is 1.2 miles at 7.6% down dirt Forest 14S75 (manageable on road bike).

Turn right onto Whitaker Forest Road at mile 12.5 and ride down about a mile to the "ride through tree" (well, that's what we call it - see slideshow) which is on your right - pretty cool stuff and well worth the ride - go another mile to where the road briefly levels off and you are surrounded by a grove of incredible Sequoia trees.

Nice views along Generals Highway (Hwy 198)

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The Hwy 21-245-180-198, Hwy 180 and Whitaker Forest bike climbs end here.

If we continue past the Big Baldy Trailhead (another 20 miles of rollers +1,663’ and =2,409’) we ride to the largest tree by volume in the world (General Sherman Tree).  

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Steepest ¼ mile begins at mile 4.6 (8.9%); steepest mile begins at mile 2.6 (6.6%)