Los Alamos Road  Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

2.7
FIETS
3.5 mi
DISTANCE
1,279 ft
GAINED
7 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

Of all the climbs I have done in the world over the past 10 years, this one is my true "home course."  I grew up in Santa Rosa and used to golf at the Fairway Golf Course (out of business in 1974 - that tells you a bit about my age) which was on the left as you started to climb Los Alamos.  This is a great climb for exercise and some nice distant views of Rincon Valley from the top.  Fire decimated the area in 2020, but it is still a great bike climb. 
7% average grade.  45% of the climb is at 5-10%, 22% is at 10-15%, and The Wall (halfway point) is 15-20% for 200 yards.  The steepest quarter-mile is 13.5%.

See more details and tools regarding this climb's grade via the “Profile Tool” button.


Roadway:  Two lanes with center stripe, no shoulder, and in fair to poor condition - watch for debris and pot holes on the descent. 

Traffic:  Mild.

Parking:  On Scotland Drive next to the start of the climb (MapStreet View). 
Provisions:  At Safeway on Highway 12, two miles west of climb start (Map) or 7-Eleven, one mile east (Map). 
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.
Add on Los Alamos Road - back side for a nice out-and-back: 9.4 miles and 1,930' (Map). 

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Challenging
3
Road
4
Traffic
4
Scenery

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Apr 19, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 4
traffic: 4
road: 3
Apr 19, 2021
scenery: 4
traffic: 4
road: 3
Met John today at the top of Los Alamos. What a nice guy! This has been a bread & butter ride for my wife and I for over a decade. Great 30ish minute climb that keeps hitting you and forces you to recover while under fatigue. Be careful climbing/descending as there can be gravel and rocks, esp after the fires in 2020. Look for ways to wave local traffic by safely when climbing, as there is no shoulder. Great website!
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Los Alamos Road -- front and back.

Front - 3.5 miles gaining 1,285’ at 7% average grade.

Backside - 1.2 miles gaining 674’ at 11.2%.

This is PJAMM Cycling’s home climb.  We have ridden this wonderful ride well over 100 times and it never grows old.  This is the best climb in and around our hometown of Santa Rosa, California, offering great views, challenge, and the backside of the climb boasts the title of best repeat hill in Sonoma County, (in our opinion).  As of 2022, the road is newly paved - be very careful descending as the road is steep and narrow.

While Los Alamos frontside ranks only #18 in Sonoma County, don’t let that low ranking deter or fool you.  This is a tough climb, made all the more challenging if you drop down the backside to the trailhead to the western entrance to Hood Mountain Regional Park.  The climb begins within the Santa Rosa city limits and is a favorite of local riders/climbers.  There are brief vineyard views at the beginning of the route, but the primary scenery is canyon, pasture, and wild oak along a fairly steady climb for 3.5 miles at 7.1% average grade -- a good work out.  

   

Working our way up the hill -- photos are in order clockwise from top left.

Curve at mile 0.7.

The Wall

¼ mile at the half-way point averaging 13.5% (spikes to 16%).

This is just a very pleasant and pastoral, albeit tough, climb.

The old Hillman Ranch - about a quarter mile from the finish.


Los Alamos in the a.m. - July 31, 2021

I used this route for my home course for my Cycling Over Cancer training.  jj

The Up-and-Over (front and back side of Los Alamos Map) bags you just about 2,000' of climbing in about nine miles -- a very efficient route.  See also Backside Los Alamos

PJAMM nostalgia - The Stashak barn at the foot of the climb.  I’ve been coming to Los Alamos for over 50 years.  While attending Rincon Valley Junior High (not middle school back then) and Montgomery High School in the early and mid-70’s, we’d golf at the Los Alamos Golf Course that was along the left side of the road between Hwy 12 and Wildwood.  

That’s a wrap!

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