World's Most Epic Cycling Climbs

#1
Death Road
BOLIVIA
#2
Punta Olimpica
PERU
#3
Passo dello Stelvio
ITALY
#4
Wuling Pass East
TAIWAN
#5
Mauna Kea
USA, HI
#6
Alpe d'Huez
FRANCE
#7
Hwy 27 - Atacama
CHILE
#8
Al Jaadah Pass
SAUDI ARABIA
#9
Gotthard Pass, Airolo
SWITZERLAND
#10
Pikes Peak
USA, CO

Climb List: World
(sort by distance, difficulty, elevation and more)

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.
ALL TRIPS
Browse all of our prepackaged trips and find your next adventure!
Asir Mountains
Saudi Arabia
15 ROUTES
13 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
138
mi
DISTANCE
73,031
ft
ELEV. GAIN
Colorado: Front Range
United States (CO)
20 ROUTES
46 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
563.5
mi
DISTANCE
73,545
ft
ELEV. GAIN
France: Argelès-Gazost
France
18 ROUTES
22 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
167.4
mi
DISTANCE
55,806
ft
ELEV. GAIN
France: Briançon
France
10 ROUTES
27 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
98.9
mi
DISTANCE
31,966
ft
ELEV. GAIN
France: Saint-Lary-Soulan
France
20 ROUTES
28 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
164
mi
DISTANCE
58,079
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
Italy: Stelvio, Gavia & Mortirolo
Switzerland, Italy
11 ROUTES
14 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
109.5
mi
DISTANCE
46,778
ft
ELEV. GAIN
Peru: Andes Mountains
Peru
7 ROUTES
27 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
219.3
mi
DISTANCE
58,066
ft
ELEV. GAIN
Switzerland: Valais
Switzerland
23 ROUTES
44 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
246.8
mi
DISTANCE
95,399
ft
ELEV. GAIN
The Death Road
Bolivia
2 ROUTES
16 POIs
ROUTE STATS (TOTAL)
48.1
mi
DISTANCE
14,748
ft
ELEV. GAIN

MEMBER COMMENTS

Let us know your thoughts about this page. Signup for our FREE membership to post a comment or question.
Already have an account?
FULL SUMMARY

The world’s most epic bike climbs.  Photos clockwise from top left:
Stelvio, Italy; Punta Olimpica, Peru; Wuling Pass, Taiwan; 
Mauna Kea, Hawaii; Death Road, Bolivia (center)

The world’s most epic bike climbs.  Photos clockwise from top left:

Stelvio, Italy; Punta Olimpica, Peru; Wuling Pass, Taiwan;

Mauna Kea, Hawaii; Death Road, Bolivia (center)

Summary by PJAMM’s John Johnson.

What makes a bike climb “epic”?  Well, since this is a subjective issue, we will give you our thoughts on the topic, but by no means do we consider this an end-all list.  And, while we can surely debate what are truly the most epic world bike climbs, we feel there is no debate that our Top 10 list includes only epic climbs. We also welcome your thoughts on this category via our Contact Page.  

The word “epic,” when used in our context means: extraordinary, exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime, bucket list, and “must do.”  The cleats-on-the-ground working definition of “epic bike climb”:  At the finish of the climb you say to your riding partner with great enthusiasm “*&%$!, that was an EPIC climb!!!!”

Another rule of thumb on epicicity is:  Would you pack your bike, leave your family behind, and fly at least 10 hours to a foreign land that speaks a language you don’t know, using your last five vacation days of the year to do this climb?

With that simple guideline in mind, here we go . . .

#10 OF 10 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

PIKES PEAK, COLORADO, USA

Pike's Peak - hand painted sign at summit of climb

Cycling Pikes Peak

Ride 24 miles gaining 8,037’ to elevation 14,115’ at 6.1% average grade. 

For cycling in the US, it just doesn’t get any better than Pikes Peak.  Located in the Rocky Mountains an hour outside Denver, Colorado, this one has everything you will ever want in a road bike climb: length, challenge, altitude, and breathtaking scenery.

Cycling World's Most Epic Bike Climbs - Pikes Peak - hairpin, road, cyclists

We have ridden Pikes Peak three times and consider it one of the most epic climbs in the world. The climb is extremely challenging (#4 US/#22 World), scenic, and unique in that it is the second highest paved road in North America (a mere 15’ behind Mt. Evans).  The hairpins at 12,500’ are extraordinary and give us unobstructed views to the Colorado plains over a mile below.

Cycling Top US Bike Climbs - Pikes Peak video - hairpins, switchbacks 

#9 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

GOTTHARD PASS, SWITZERLAND

Cycling World's Most Epic Bike Climbs - Gotthard Pass - hairpins, road, mountain pass

Gotthard rivals Stelvio, Alpe d'Huez and Lacets de Montvernier . . .

. . . but it is the hairpin + cobble combination which make this a Top 10 Epic World Bike Climb!

It’s that one-two punch of amazing hairpins and ancient cobbles that make this climb one of the most remarkable cycling experiences in the world -- and worthy of most bucket lists.  This is a bike climb that deserves to be on every adventuring cyclist’s “Must Do” list.

Gotthard Pass - World's Most Epic Bike Climbs - hairpins with cyclists 

    start of the cobble stones on Switzerland's Gotthard Pass bike climb 

Start of the cobbles.

#8 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

AL JAADAH PASS, ASIR MOUNTAINS, SAUDI ARABIA

Al Jaada Pass, Asir Mountains, Saudi Arabia - panoramic view shows bike learning against guardrail on side of road at hairpin turn in mountain roadway

Ride 7.7 miles gaining 5,820’ at 14.5% average grade

This is the second most difficult bike climb in the world and it is an absolute BEAST!  The scenery is stark and powerful and the is gradient absolutely unrelenting.  This climb is unknown to the cycling world (we posted the first Strava segment for it in September 2021) and is located in the middle of the Asir Mountains, the hardest cycling climbing area in the world. Seven top 30 and 11 top 100 world bike climbs are within a 100 mile radius in this area.

Al Jaada Pass, Asir Mountains, Saudi Arabia - photo collage shows PJAMM Cyclists climbing in stark mountain landscape

#7 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

ATACAMA, ATACAMA DESERT, CHILE

Cycling Hwy 27, Atacama, Chile - cyclist riding on road

Ride 21 miles gaining 7,400’ to one of the highest paved points in the Americas.

Atacama - photo collage, PJAMM Cyclist rides in stark Chilean desert landscape, Garmin device reads 15578 feet of elevation

At 15,578 feet of elevation, this is one of the highest paved passes in the Americas.  In contrast to Central and Northern South America (e.g. Colombia), this is a stark climb in the high Andes desert with minimal to no vegetation to be seen. Yet this is a dramatically stark and beautiful climb which we are very glad we spent the time to get to.

Atacama - two PJAMM Cyclists stand with bikes in the middle of straight stretch of highway roadway in the Atacama Desert 

    Start the climb at 8,300’.

Cycling Hwy 27, Atacama, Chile - PJAMM cycling Brad Butterfield at finish with bike

Finish at 15,587’

#6 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

ALPE D'HUEZ, LE BOURG-D'OISANS, FRANCE

Alpe Huez, France - cyclist rides on roadway alongside huge rock wall with giant yellow jersey sign reading "Alpe Huez"

The most famous road bike climb in the world.

The Tour de France made and keeps Alpe d’Huez famous.  This climb was first included in the TdF in 1952 and has been included 30 times thereafter (as of the 2022 Tour).

Alpe d'Huez, France - Photo Collage Start; Turn 21 (first turn); Turn 1 (last turn); finiish; Turn 1 (center).

Photo clockwise from top left:

Start; Turn 21 (first turn); Turn 1 (last turn); finiish; Turn 1 (center).

PJAMM Cyclist stands on top of winner's box at Alpe Huez finish line

#5 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

MAUNA KEA, BIG ISLAND, HAWAII

Cycling Mauna Kea, Hawaii - cyclist climbing Mauna Kea, above the cloudline, Mauna Loa can be seen in the distance

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

Mauna Loa across “the saddle” in background

Mauna Kea is the undisputed most difficult bike climb in the world.  We begin just above sea level and climb without any appreciable descent for 42 miles, gaining 13,736’ to elevation 13,767’. Along the way we pass through four climate zones (eight sub-zones) from sea to the highest paved point in the Hawaiian Islands, adjacent to the highest and most sacred point in Hawaii -- Mauna Kea Peak (13,796’).  

Cycling Mauna Kea, Hawaii - photo collage, various road signs warning of hazardous road conditions ahead, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner

The signs just before the last 8.5 miles say it all.

The final two segments are relentless:

  • 4.7 miles;
  • 11.1% average grade;
  • 2,408' gained;      
  • Begin 9,348’, end 11,756’
  • Five murderous switchbacks -- they are generally steeper than the straight road and at the steepest sections cause your rear wheel to slide towards the inside of the turn.

Mauna Kea, Big Island, Hawaii - photo collage, PJAMM Cyclists ride on gravel section of roadway

Gravel section.   

photo collage of final leg of climb, finish at the observatory

Final segment is paved.

Mt. Evans (14,125’), Pikes Peak (14,110’) and Mauna Kea (13,767’)

 are the only paved roads topping 13,000’ in the U.S.

  • 3.7 miles;
  • 9.3% average grade;
  • 2,020' gained;
  • Begin 11,756’, end 13,767'.

Cycling Mauna Kea, Hawaii - photo collage, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, PJAMM Cycling's summits of Mauna Kea as seen over the years

We have climbed Mauna Kea four times: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2018.

#4 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

WULING PASS EAST, TAIWAN

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

This is an extremely challenging road bike climb and the second longest in the world (87 km/54 miles) behind Mauna Loa, Hawaii, USA (100.1 km/62.2 miles).  

While the challenge of this climb alone justifies its inclusion on all road bike climbing bucket lists, it is Taroko Gorge that separates Wuling East from nearly all other climbs in the world. Taroko Gorge is within Taroko National Park (est. 1986; 355 square miles/227,000 acres), one of nine National Parks on the island of Taiwan, and is composed of metamorphic rocks, including marble.  It is the smooth polished marble walls carved by the Liwu River which is absolutely remarkable.  We’ve never seen anything like it -- stunning!

Tarako Gorge - large stone statues, naturally occurring marble

Taroko Gorge

bridges, tunnels, and rock features along the climb

Many tunnels, bridges and rock features along the climb.

Wuling Pass East is also home to Asia’s greatest bike race, the KOM Challenge, which is held annually in October.

#3 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

PASSO DELLO STELVIO, TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE, ITALY

Climbing Passo dello Stelvio by bike - hairpins (tornanti) as seen from the top of the climb

The most famous hairpins in the world.

Looking down from just below the pass area.

Looking down the mountain, Hairpins 8 (photo bottom) to 24 (photo top); Hairpins 42-35; Hairpins 30-24.

Photos clockwise from top:

Looking down the mountain, Hairpins 8 (photo bottom) to 24 (photo top); Hairpins 42-35; Hairpins 30-24.

The final torante "turn" - signs along the turn

Ultimo tornante (“last turn”).

Stelvio is nothing if not EPIC!  This is the most famous of our Top 10 World Most Epic and rightly so.  We love Stelvio and have travelled to Bormio and Prato Allo Stelvio three times to climb this extraordinary road.

epic finish

Stelvio is our favorite bike climb finish in the world.

#2 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

PUNTA OLIMPICA, ANCASH REGION, PERU

 Panoramic views of mountain peaks covered in snow, sharp mountain road snaking up mountainside

Cycling Punta Olimpica, Peru - one of world’s most epic bike climbs.

Ride 28 miles gaining 6,900’ to elevation 15,515 at 4.5% average grade.

photo collage; PJAMM Cycling logo in corner, bike parked next to red sign for Parque Nacional Huascaran; PJAMM Cyclist rides with snowy mountain peaks in front of him

After the Death Road, this is the most epic bike climb I have ever ridden.  What makes this climb so outstanding is it’s scenery, challenge, hairpins, glaciers, and finish at one of the highest paved roads in South and North America. The climb finishes in Parque Nacional Huascaran, a Peruvian national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Photo collage shows views of the green Ulta Valley, surrounded by tall mountain faces, blue sky and white clouds

We ride through the Ulta Valley midway into the climb.

photo collage, PJAMM Cyclists smile in roadway in front of tunnel, PJAMM Cyclists ride toward finish of climb, snow covered mountain peaks in front of them, sticker covered sign, views of hairpins, PJAMM Cycling logo in corner

Photos of the last segment of the climb.

#1 OF 10 WORLD’S MOST EPIC BIKE CLIMBS

DEATH ROAD, BOLIVIA

 drone video footage shows PJAMM Cyclists riding on death road, Bolivia 

Hands down the MOST epic bike ride in the world.

Ride 39 miles gaining 11,640’ to elevation 15,200’ at 5.5% average grade. 

This may very well be the greatest road of all!  Words cannot describe this climb, but thankfully our photos and drone video do it some justice.  It is a magnificent and otherworldly experience: Indiana Jones meets Jurassic Park in the scenery.  North Yungas Road, nicknamed “Death Road,” was carved out of the mountainside in the 1930s by Paraguayan prisoners during the Chaco War with Brazil.  The road connects La Paz with the town of Coroico, effectively connecting the Amazon rainforest and those who dwell there, with Bolivia’s capital city (Curiosity).

photo collage shows PJAMM Cyclists posing at Postcard Corner on the Death Road Bike climb

Postcard Corner, Death Road.

The Death Road is our all-time favorite climb by road bike.  We included the Death Ride in our 2017 South American Cycling Adventure (also included were Alto de Letras, Colombia, Atacama, Chile and Uturuncu, Bolivia). We spent three days on the Death Road and enjoyed every minute of it -- this is the cycling adventure of all time!

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

 Bicyclist riding along narrow road with cliff on Death Road 

This is just one badass road!

Cyclist crossing river on Death Road  

During rainy season be prepared to forge rivers.

Memorial shrines on Death Road 

There are numerous memorials along the Death Road.  

 Trucks passing on Hwy 9 Bolivia

Second half -- no sheer cliffs but a lot of muy loco drivers!

Cyclist raising bike at La Cumbre Peak summit and elevation sign 

At the finish -- Will and I looked at each and said “!@#$%^ EPIC!! 

Access to full Climb Summary requires a PJAMM Cycling PRO Membership!

It takes less than a minute to sign up & with your PRO membership you can:
  • Rate climbs, post comments and share your experiences on any of our climb pages
  • Create bucket lists of climbs & mark the dates you complete them
  • Weather data for all climbs - Start & Finish
  • Upload photos to your member page to customize your PJAMM Cycling experience
  • Utilize all of our interactive tools - Profile & Routes in Area
  • Download climb route .gpx files
LEARN MORE
SIGN UP

Already have an account? LOG IN HERE