World's 10 Biggest Bike Climbs (Most Elevation Gained)

#1
La Muerte
ECUADOR
#2
Mauna Kea
USA, HI
#3
Alto de Letras
COLOMBIA
#4
El Crucero
COLOMBIA
#5
Mauna Loa
USA, HI
#6
Punta Callan
PERU
#7
Apagua
ECUADOR
#8
Death Road
BOLIVIA
#9
Wuling Pass East
TAIWAN
#10
Conococha
PERU

Climb List: World's Most Elevation Gained
(sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more)

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Colombia: Alto de Letras
Colombia
2 ROUTES
10 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
49.9
mi
DISTANCE
12,750
ft
ELEV. GAIN
Hawaii: Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa
United States (HI)
11 ROUTES
38 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
300.4
mi
DISTANCE
46,184
ft
ELEV. GAIN
Peru: Andes Mountains
Peru
7 ROUTES
27 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
219.3
mi
DISTANCE
58,066
ft
ELEV. GAIN
Wuling Pass
Taiwan
3 ROUTES
1 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
94
mi
DISTANCE
26,867
ft
ELEV. GAIN

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FULL SUMMARY

Photo collage shows #3 Mauna Kea, Hawaii  top left; #2 Alto de Letras, Colombia top right
#5 Mauna Loa, Hawaii bottom right; #1 La Muerta, Ecuador bottom left;
#7 Death Road, Bolivia, center.

The most elevation gained on a bike ride in the world.

#3 Mauna Kea, Hawaii top left; #2 Alto de Letras, Colombia top right

#5 Mauna Loa, Hawaii bottom right; #1 La Muerta, Ecuador bottom left;

#7 Death Road, Bolivia, center.

The climbs where you will gain the most elevation on a road bike in the world are the following, in order from #10 to #1:

WORLD’S #10 MOST ELEVATION GAINED

BABUSAR PASS, PAKISTAN

photo collage shows PJAMM Cyclists climbing Babusar Pass, Pakistan

Ride 26 miles at 7.5% average grade to elevation 13,688’.

Babusar is the third hardest bike climb in the world and #10 in altitude gained (10,354’).  

WORLD’S #9 MOST ELEVATION GAINED

CONOCOCHA, PERU

Cycling Conococha, Peru - bike parked on mountain roadside next to road sign for Zona de Neblina

This climb is #9 in the world for altitude gain and #6 for distance gained.

Cycling Conococha, Peru - aerial views show hairpin turns along second part of climb

An epic bike climb finishing above 13,000’.

WORLD’S #8 MOST ELEVATION GAINED

WULING PASS, TAIWAN

Cycling Wuling Pass East - Taroko Gorge, Liwu River, marble walls, roadway

Wuling Pass East is one of the most epic and scenic bike climbs in the world.

Photo collage shows sights on Wuling Pass East, including large stone statues, red bridge, and natural marble

We gain 11,349’ on this 54 mile extraordinary bike climb.  

WORLD’S #7 MOST ELEVATION GAINED

DEATH ROAD, BOLIVIA

2 cyclists sitting on cliff on Death Road Bolivia Postcard Corner

Cycling the Death Road, the most epic bike climb in the world.

World's Most Epic Bike Climb.

photo collage shows rainforest setting, foggy day on the Death Road, PJAMM Cyclists riding on cobblestone road, roadside memorial with cross

Ride 38.7 miles and gain 11,640’ (3,548 meters).

WORLD’S #6 MOST ELEVATION GAINED

PUNTA CALLAN, PERU

Cycling Punta Callan East, Peru - PJAMM Cyclist John Johnson stands with his bike in front of the green road sign for Punta Callan

Cycling Punta Callan East - A World Top 25 Road Bike Climb.

Ride 72 kilometers gaining 3,573 meters to 4,217 meters at 5% average grade.

Not only do we gain an extraordinary amount of altitude on this climb, it is also very long at 45 miles (the fourth longest climb in the world) and ends at a very high elevation (4204m/13,793’).

Cycling Punta Callan East, Peru - photo collage, middle section of the climb, including lots of greenery, and some sheep on mountainside looking at passing cyclists

WORLD’S #5 ELEVATION GAINED

MAUNA LOA, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII

photo collage shows PJAMM Cyclists standing with bikes at climb start, bike laying down in roadway next to sign for 11,000 feet, cyclist riding over two-lane highway roadway surrounded by green grass

Mauna Loa - the longest bike climb in the world

US Top 10 Most Epic Bike Climb.

photo collage shows Mauna Loa volcano in distance; blue sky

Ride 62.2 miles gaining 11,848’ (3,611 meters).

WORLD’S #4 ELEVATION GAINED

APAGUA, ECUADOR

photo collage shows large glacial lake, sign reading "Bienvenidos a Apagua," PJAMM Cyclists riding in lush green landscape

Ride 41 miles gaining 11,854’.

#3 ELEVATION GAINED

MAUNA KEA, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII

Riding bike at the top of Mauna Kea above the clouds.

Mauna Kea -- THE hardest bike climb in the world.

photo collage shows warning signs along the Mauna Kea ride

Ride 42.6 miles gaining 13,863’ (4,225 meters)

WORLD’S #2 ELEVATION GAIN BIKE CLIMB

ALTO DE LETRAS, COLOMBIA

photo collage shows cyclists riding in lush green landscape, PJAMM Cyclist holds bike over his head at climb finish

Ride 81 kilometers (50 miles) gaining 4,428 meters (14,526’).

This is an exceptional cycling experience riding through lush settings and coffee fields of Colombia.

photo collage shows lush green landscape of climb

WORLD’S #1 MOST ELEVATION GAINED BIKE CLIMB

LA MUERTA, ECUADOR

PJAMM cyclist rides on roadway next to white car surrounded by lush green landscape

La Muerta, Ecuador

The third hardest bike climb in the world.

PJAMM Cyclist fist bumps with driver of passing car

Ride 73 kilometers (45 miles) gaining 4,471 meters (14,670’).