47.1
PDI
7.6 mi
DISTANCE
4,738 ft
GAINED
12 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ties Arts, Bussum, Netherlands
INTRO
Al Shaaf climbs 7.56 miles and gains 4,738 feet at an average grade of 11.97% - good for #53 in PJAMM's world rankings and the 7th-hardest climb we've documented in Saudi Arabia. The road follows Wadi Baqrah Al-Ulya out of the valley floor into Al Majaridah Governorate, a highland district of Aseer Province northwest of Abha, before finishing at Al Shaaf itself.
Al Shaaf is a real, inhabited stone village - a crescent of houses, a mosque and old defensive towers built into the edge of a cliff, in the same tradition as other Aseer highland settlements. Painted doors in bright reds, yellows and greens mark many entrances, a decorative style found throughout this part of the province. The village is also a small homestay destination in its own right, where visiting families are welcomed with mint tea and a walk around the village - though most cyclists will only pass through on two wheels.
We rode Al Shaaf as one of 11 Asir Mountains Top 100 World climbs completed over 11 days in November 2021 with our local guide, Adnan. Traffic on this and the surrounding highland roads was light and almost entirely local, and - despite a since-outdated US State Department travel advisory - we found nothing but curiosity and hospitality from residents unaccustomed to seeing cyclists grinding up their mountain roads.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. Al Shaaf's 11.97% average obscures how little relief this climb offers - the steepest quarter-mile hits 20.24%, the steepest half-mile 19.37%, and even the steepest full mile still averages 17.5%. Stretched over the steepest 5 miles the average grade is still 15.12%, and the steepest 10 km comes in at 13.4%. There's essentially no flat or downhill section to recover on: pick a gear you can hold for the long haul early, because you'll need it most of the way to Al Shaaf.
Roadway: Al Shaaf is a paved, narrow two-lane road climbing out of Wadi Baqrah Al-Ulya in a series of switchbacks toward the clifftop village. Surface quality on Aseer's highland roads is generally solid, but there's no shoulder anywhere along the route, and the grade rarely eases below double digits.
Traffic: Traffic is light and mostly local - farm vehicles and village residents rather than through-traffic. As throughout the Asir Mountains, we found drivers here curious rather than aggressive, often stopping to offer water or a wave of encouragement to a cyclist working up their mountain.
Parking: There's no formal trailhead or lot for this climb. Riders based out of Abha or Al Nimas - the two towns closest to this section of Al Majaridah Governorate - can find informal roadside pull-offs at the base of the climb in Wadi Baqrah to leave a support vehicle.
Bring the lowest gearing you have. Sustained double-digit pitches with ramps over 20% call for at least a 34-tooth chainring paired with a 42-tooth (or larger) rear cog - we used 34/42 gearing on the Asir Mountains' steepest climbs and still found ourselves searching for lower.
There's no water, food or services anywhere on the climb itself, so carry everything you need before leaving Wadi Baqrah; the nearest reliable resupply is in Abha. Temperatures in the Aseer highlands run far milder than Saudi Arabia's lowland desert - expect 80s-90s F (27-32 C) at the base, cooling into the 70s-80s F (low-to-mid 20s C) near the top, particularly outside summer months.
Before heading out, check our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip checklist to make sure you haven't forgotten anything essential for a remote climb like this one.
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.
The Asir Mountains ride best from November through February, when temperatures are mild and rainfall is minimal - our own November 2021 visit found close to ideal climbing weather once above the first few thousand feet. Base yourself in Abha, the region's liveliest city, or in Al Nimas or Baljurashi for a shorter drive to Al Shaaf and the other Al Majaridah-area climbs.
Cell coverage is generally reliable throughout the Aseer highlands. Despite a now-outdated US State Department travel advisory, we found nothing but hospitality across our time riding this region - curious questions, offers of tea, and genuine excitement from residents unused to seeing touring cyclists on their roads.
If you'd like a local guide fluent in the roads, history and culture of the Asir Mountains, we rode with Adnan (a.q.9@hotmail.com, WhatsApp +966-55-399-4853), who we'd recommend to anyone planning a trip to this region.
ROUTE MAP
MEMBER RATING
CURRENT WEATHER
PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES
Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY
FROM No Climbs Found
MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS
Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
LOG IN HERE
