Climbing Monitor Pass West , CA by bike

United States California Monitor Pass West

Monitor Pass West Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

16.7

PDI

8.2 mi

DISTANCE

2,651 ft

GAINED

ELEVATION GAINED

6.1 %

AVG. GRADE

AVG. GRADIENT

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

Cycling Monitor Pass West - this is the first leg of the annual Markleeville - Death Ride (15,000' / 120 miles). There are sweeping high sierra views once you climb out of the canyon at the start of the ascent. The road is closed for the Death Ride, but there are hundreds of cyclists around you at this point of the ride (and will be for both Monitor passes and Ebbetts East; things begin to thin on Pass Four, Ebbetts West).

Our PJAMM App preloaded Death Road trip page is accessed below.

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.

6.1% average grade (6.5% if descent eliminated) - 35% of the climb is at 0-5% grade and 47% at 5-10%. The steepest quarter-mile is 11.7% and steepest mile 9.8%.

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

Roadway: Excellent condition two lane highway with no shoulder.

Traffic: Mild. Traffic travels at 45-50 mph generally and we feel safe on this climb.

Parking: At the start (Map; Street View) or Markleeville, five miles north (Map).

Provisions: There are not provisions on the climb, although there is a market and restaurants in Markleeville five miles north.

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.

We have always stayed in Markleeville for the climbs in the area (PJAMM Climb page: Markleeville - Death Ride). The annual Death Ride is a wildly popular bike climbing event which you should consider trying if you enjoy climbing by bike - beware though, it is an extremely difficult event - Official Website.