6.7
FIETS
18.5 mi
DISTANCE
4,596 ft
GAINED
4.5 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Marshall Yale, LA
INTRO
Ride your bike to Mt. Wilson Observatory - one of the longer and more challenging bicycle climbs in Southern California. Great views of the San Gabriel Mtns, Mt. Baldy peak, and downtown LA from the summit make this one of the most popular climbs in the LA area.
The grade on this climb is fairly consistent, remaining between 4-7% for the majority of the ride. Only a few brief periods ever reach double digits, but none of which long enough to be captured on our gradient profile. The steepest section is the beginning of the climb, from Foothills Blvd to the La Cañada country club. There is a 1.6 mile -2% descent beginning at mile 8.3. Eliminating the descent on this climb raises the grade from 4.5% to 5.4%.
Roadway:
The road is in excellent condition (as of 2021)
Traffic:
Traffic over the first several miles on Highway 2 can be moderate and fast moving, but there is often a 3-foot shoulder and frequent pullouts. People do tend to drive a bit recklessly on this road, so if you're at all traffic sensitive, we recommend doing this on a weekday or starting at the Red Box Picnic Area (this shortens the climb to 4.4 miles at 4.6% grade) and the turnoff for Mt. Wilson Road, where there is minimal traffic.
Parking:
We parked on a parallel side street at the start of the climb for our 2 trips up Mt. Wilson. Map; Street View.
Provisions:
There is a public water fountain at the Clear Creek Fire Station (at the intersection at mile 9.5) as well as restrooms and water at Red Box Picnic Area (mile 14.1). Snacks, sandwiches, (and root beer floats!) can be found at the Cosmic Cafe at Mt. Wilson Observatory (open from 10am-5pm on weekends) just past the finish of the climb. Check the Facebook Page for details before your climb if you are interested in a meal there at the end of your climb.
Gear:
As with all climbs to much higher altitude than your starting location (here 4,000' change) be sure to check the PJAMM Weather Tool for weather conditions at the finish around the time you intend to arrive and pack accordingly. Even though winter weather may be perfect at the start in sunny southern California, there may be snow at the top!
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Check out our full ride suggestions in the Full Summary.
Consider visiting the Mt. Wilson Observatory at the finish of the climb - see Full Summary for more details (Google Map + Reviews). You can find several hotel options in nearby Pasadena. Or look for house and villa rentals in the area.
ROUTE MAP
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CURRENT WEATHER
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MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS
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JonLested
A must-do climb for cyclists in the L.A. area. Not a hard climb; it is very consistent with the steepest section in the first 2-3 miles and the route flattens out approaching Clear Creek at 9 miles. Just past Clear Creek is a 1/2 mile descent before the climbing resumes to the turn on Mount Wilson Rd at Red Box. Both Clear Creek and Red Box have water available. The scenery is spectacular once you pass Clear Creek, especially once you get into the last 4 miles on Mt. Wilson Rd. This ride is best done on a weekday with an early start (no later than 0800) as the road is used by motorists and motorcyclists testing their driving skills on the twisty roads. The road surface is surprisingly good, although on the descent you can get some "chatter" and wheel skip at high speeds. Aside from the turnouts/view points there is little to no shoulder and you can encounter sand/gravel, rocks, and other debris (acorns were abundant on Mt Wilson Rd).
MSchube
Went up for the first time yesterday (01052022). Must have been timing (8am start) but traffic was pretty mild, despite the snow covered San Gabriel’s. Never felt unsafe on the ascent, only honked at once for being on the left side of the white line. Once you pass Clear Creek and the descent the climb really turns gorgeous. Mt. Wilson Road is still closed to vehicles but the gate was half closed. Lots of mudslide debris from our recent storms and patches of ice (since it is on the north side of the mountain the road doesn’t get much sun). The observatory gate was closed but still got to the summit no trouble. The descent was fine, again not a lot of traffic and most cars gave me space. A radar taillight is a good thing for piece of mind on any ride but it pays for itself when climbing or descending. 10/10 would do again, but would still probably avoid doing it on the weekends.
Huber.J
Ugly traffic, even early on a Saturday in July (2021) - car clubs and motorcycles ripping it up the road, and not much of a shoulder to cycle on. There is a water stop at Red Box Trailhead, which is where things turn absolutely beautiful.
lirizar1
If you don’t like traffic/ motorcycles/ race cars go early! I started at 7AM on Saturday and the traffic was definitely manageable on Highway 2. The descent later in the day was much less enjoyable however. Even though you are going just as fast as the cars they still seem to want to get around you. The first two miles are the steepest and then the climb is super consistent at about 5% except for one minor flat section around mile 9 and two small downhills in the last 4 miles. Highly recommend this climb, just make sure you bring enough water as there is nowhere to get water except maybe the cafe at the top of the observatory but it doesn’t open until 10AM.
