The 10 Hardest Bike Climbs in California

Cycling the Top 10 Road Bike Climbs in California

Photos clockwise from top left:

Whitaker Forest (Kings Canyon/Sequoia NP); Onion Valley (Owens Valley); Nate Harrison Grade (San Diego);

Mt. Baldy (Los Angeles) and Whitney Portal (center; Owens Valley).

#1 OF 10

HORSESHOE MEADOWS ROAD, OWENS VALLEY

Cycling Horseshoe Meadows Road .

Ride 19 miles gaining 6,580’ at 6.2% average grade.

At long last, the debate of the hardest climb in California is settled. For years, the Fiets scale ranked #1 as Onion Valley, followed by #2 Horseshoe Meadows, then #3 White Mountain. However, it seems almost everyone (us included) who’s done all three would argue that White Mountain or Horseshoe is harder - Horseshoe due to the altitude and length, and White Mtn due to the length and punchy gradients. Now, the PJAMM Difficulty Index has finally settled it once and for all!

Horseshoe Meadows Road, home to the greatest set of switchbacks visible from a state highway in the US (maybe the world!).  The view of Horseshoe Meadows’ famed switchbacks from Highway 395 is stunning; these monsters range in length from 1.7 miles for the lower segment to half a mile for the fifth and upper segment.  Our first experience with Horseshoe Meadows was when we hopped the gate in May 2011 and rode into a desolate area through snow flurries -- not the brightest move!

Hairpins on Horseshoe Meadows Road

Along with Whitney Portal, Onion Valley, and White Mountain, Horseshoe Meadows is one of the four must-do climbs along a 40 mile stretch of Highway 395 in the Owens Valley.

#2 OF 10

WHITE MOUNTAIN, OWENS VALLEY

Cycling White Mountain.

Ride 20 miles gaining 6,390’ at 5.8% average grade.

Though it’s not the steepest average grade (5.8%), what makes this feel hard is the punchiness of its grade. Horseshoe Meadows is a steady 7-9%, allowing you to settle into a good rhythm - not so with White Mountain. You’ll see 3% followed by 13% followed by 4% followed by 11% for the entire way up. Climbing to extreme altitude of over 10,000’, the road continues to dirt to be the highest road in California by a stretch, going to the very peak at 14,252’. See the gravel climb here

If riding this during the summer months, start early as the temperatures at the bottom are commonly in triple digits - but it will be chilly and breezy at the top!  

This climb begins at Death Valley Road, after all!  This was the finish of our Four Owens Valley HC Climbs in a Day trip in 2015 (22,000’ of climbing, 100℉+.  Here’s how PJAMM looked at the end (luckily we had a pacer for the final stretch!):

#3 OF 10

MINERAL KING ROAD 

Mineral King Road: Sequoia National Park

  Ride 25 miles gaining 7,054’ at 5.1% average grade.

Speaking of varying gradients, almost no other climb varies more than Mineral King Road. Agonizing long and ending at almost 8,000ft, this is certainly one of the hardest in the US (#9). Starting in the low mountains, you climb into Sequoia NP and become intimately familiar with the biggest trees in the world.

Ride into Sequoia National Park and the spectacular sequoia redwoods

What makes this one of our favorite climbs is the provisions along the way - the Silver City Lodge at mile 21 is a great place to grab a meal and even spend the night!

The Mineral King Road bike climb is very close in proximity to two other Top 100 US Climbs in California: Highway 198 (1.5 miles away), and Highway 21-245-180-198 (22 miles away). You’ll find it in southern Sequoia National Park in the Central Sierra Nevada Mountain Range.  Keep in mind that this is an exceptionally difficult climb.

#4 OF 10

ONION VALLEY ROAD, OWENS VALLEY

Climbing Onion Valley Road by bike.

#1 Ranked Bike Climb in California, #6 US, #86 World

Ride 12.9 miles gaining 5,275’ at 7.8% average grade.

The hardest climb in California by FIETS, Onion Valley Road is one of California’s toughest cycling challenge.  Between 2011 and 2024 PJAMM Cycling has had the pleasure (?) of riding this Independence, California to the Kearsarge Pass Trailhead (end of the road) almost a dozen times. Twice Onion Valley Road has been the centerpiece of our one day climbing challenge (Horseshoe Meadow US, Whitney Portal, Onion Valley and White Mountain) which involves 22,000’ of climbing from dawn to dusk.

Onion Valley Road is located in the heart of the Owens Valley, which has the highest concentration of HC and Top 100 US climbs of any area in the United States.  Owens Valley is such an exceptional cycling hub that we also rank it as a Top World Climbing Area.

#5 OF 10

DAWSON SADDLE 

Ride Highway 39 through a canyon along hairpins past Crystal Lake,

over the gate up to Highway 2, and on to Dawson Saddle -- 23 miles in all.

Photo is of the roadway leading to the gate at mile 12 (Mt. Islip in background).

Starting from Encanto Park, this is one of the longest bike climbs in the world, but even if you stop at the Crystal Lake Lodge, it’s a heck of a day in the saddle.

​Note:  Miles 12-18 of this climb are on a portion of Highway 39 that is closed to motor vehicles and cyclists.  Strava has “red flagged” this climb and prevents it from being considered a “segment.”

#6 OF 10

WHITAKER FOREST  

Cycling Whitaker Forest: One of the most difficult road bike climbs in California.

23 miles, gain 7,240’ to elevation 7,586’ at 5.2% average grade.

Our second top 10 in the Sequoias,  Whitaker Forest is much more than a challenging  climb, it is also an exceptional experience.  Whitaker Forest is ranked #20 in the U.S. and #223 in the world so there can be no disagreement to its claim as a very tough ascent.  In addition to tackling another very hard climb, with this one, you get some experiences that range from unique, to exceptional, to one-of-a-kind.

On how many other climbs do you get to ride through a tree?

We are surrounded by giant sequoias for much of the ride.

#7 OF 10

SHERMAN PASS 

Cycling Sherman Pass.

Ride 15.5 miles gaining 5,305’ at 6.5% average grade.

The Sherman Pass bike climb in California is a very challenging climb in a remote region of the southern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range in the Sequoia National Forest.  

Before you get excited when seeing Sequoia National Forest -- a la Bear Creek Road, Whitaker Forest, Highway 198, and the like -- do not be misled. While this climb will surely test your climbing abilities, it should not be mistaken for climbs on the southwestern side of the Sierra with much more lush surroundings, not to mention actual Sequoia Redwoods along the routes.

Sherman Pass is a hot, dry, private climb on a narrow road with minimal traffic.  If you are one to check off the toughest climbs in a state/country/the world, then this is a good climb for you.  We have climbed this brute twice and know it fairly well - its landscape has sadly been decimated by wildfires over the years and it lacks a bit on the forest side.

#8 OF 10

ROCK CREEK ROAD 

Climb 20.7 miles at a 5.1% grade up to 10,238’

Rock Creek is another essential Owens Valley climb. Over 20 miles long, this is the highest paved road in California. One of the best parts is it has a designated bike lane the entire way up - but a dead end at a trailhead also means very little traffic.

#9 OF 10

GENERALS HIGHWAY 

One of the most spectacular climbs in the US.

Climb 20.5 miles at a 5.5% grade up to 7,225 feet.

If the 18 epic hair pins aren’t enough for you, the heart of Sequoia National Park will be! We think this is one of the most scenic bike rides in the US. It rides past its namesake, the General Sherman tree - the largest tree by volume on earth at 275’ tall, with a 102.6’ circumference and a 35.5’ diameter.

Despite the elevation, it can get very hot in the summer, so go prepared!

#10 OF 10

BEAR CREEK ROAD

Climb 16 miles at 6.3% to an elevation of 6,730’

Our 4th climb among the Giants, Bear Creek Road is a peaceful ride up through Sequoia National Forest, just south of the national park. This climb connects to Balch Park Road (US #74), which has some of the best hairpins in the US. Climbing one and descending the other makes a great loop. Expect to be one of the only people out here on this remote climb.

Honorable Mention

WHITNEY PORTAL 

Cycling Whitney Portal.

Ride 11.4 miles to 8,371’ gaining 4,595’ at 7.6% average grade.

Whitney Portal is ranked #5 in California under the FIETS calculation, but sadly has slipped down to 12th recalculated by our PDI. However - don’t underestimate the difficulty of this climb!

The Whitney Portal Road bike climb in California, and Whitney Portal at its end, is the gateway to the amazing hike to the top of the tallest mountain peak in the contiguous United States.  This road is home to one of the top bike climbs in the U.S. and stunning views of Mt. Whitney as we slowly ascend toward it from Lone Pine in Owens Valley.

Mt. Whitney is unmistakable from Highway 395, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, and points below and east of it if you know what you are looking for. It is recognizable by its serrated ridge and peak profile far in the distance and very high above us -- over two miles of climb, straight up -- to get to it.

Unmistakable profile.

July 2017 - Badwater Basin to Mt. Whitney Summit.

Honorable Mention #2

SOUTH LAKE

Cycling South Lake, Owens Valley, California

Ride 19 miles, gaining 5,625’ to elevation 9,840’, at 5.4% average grade.

South Lake unfortunately suffered the same fate as Whitney Portal and has been kicked out of the top 10. This is a tough climb to over nearly 10,000’ elevation.  The first half of the climb is on Hwy 168 with moderate traffic.  It is the second half of this climb that distinguishes itself - along a very lightly traveled road with lovely scenery ending at a beautiful man made lake.

If you’re going to do this ride, be sure to add the top section of Lake Sabrina (an extra 1,200 feet)