granite4brains

Just curious what people's favorite hill climbs are? I'm guessing there are some states that have gotta have some really good ones ... like CO, maybe?

My favorite so far is Onion Valley (in Inyo County, CA) which is a 13 mile ride up with ~5300 feet of gain. Excellent views the whole way up and relatively little traffic if you go at the right time. Nice switchbacks for a fun descent.

merlinextraligh

In Florida, its Sugarloaf. About 300 vertical feet, but it is steep, and with the highest point in the state at 350 feet (or so) its the best we got. Next best is a bridge.

acape

Around here we have to settle for Bear Mountain, which is something like 1200' over 4 miles or so. Beautiful views of the Hudson Valley from the top.

jschen

Mt Baldy in eastern Los Angeles county/western San Bernardino County. 12.6 miles, 4600 vertical feet. Gets steeper as it goes, with the last 3 miles covering about 1500 vertical feet. And conveniently, right next to where my parents live.

superdex

Yeah, LOTS of climbs around here. The staple from Denver Metro is Lookout Mtn, 1600ft in 4.5 mi. I really enjoyed Trail Ridge Rd (4000ft in 20mi, but you start at 8100') --there's a thread with pics around here somewhere. A list of notable climbs: https://www.rmccrides.com/ClimbDB/main_page.html

johnny99

Here is one of the best climbs in California (grades of up to 26% climbing to a 9600 foot pass): https://www.chainreaction.com/sonora_pass.htm

This is perhaps the longest climb in the USA (a 40 mile climb from sea level to over 10,000 feet): https://www.chainreaction.com/haleakala.htm

OC Roadie

You live in a great area for hill (or should it be mountain?) climbs. I've always wanted to do the Onion Valley climb, it used to be part of the Sand Dunes to Sierras race, which is no longer held. My favorites are White Mountain/Bristlecone Forest, Mt Baldy and Onyx Summit. Palomar Mtn comes in close behind, if I ever make it to Maui with my bike, I'd like to give the volcano (I'm not going to attempt to spell it) a try.

slowandsteady

This is about as mountainous as it gets for me. I wish I had a good satisfying mountain to climb. Overpass views are less than spectacular.

munkyv22

Sandia Mountain near Albuquerque. 13.3 miles of road climbing 3790 feet and finishing at over 10,000 feet. Now THAT'S altitude training.

bbattle

Huntsville is mostly flat with Monte Sano and Green Mountain on the Eastern side and Keel Mt. and Grant Mt. nearby. I try to climb Monte Sano via Bankhead every week, also 4 Mile Post up Green Mt. on a regular basis.

Up Bankhead is 2.4 miles from Tollgate Rd. 740 feet, 5.8%. Fun to go down because you can hammer pretty much all the way down; I go over 40mph passing the Tollgate Road on the way back.

4 Mile Post is 1.9 miles with 494 feet of climbing, 4.9%. It has one steep section, two downhill sections and a long, leisurely grind to the top. Great view of the city. Coming up the other side is tougher, a steady 7.3% grade.

This past couple of weeks I've conquered two toughies; Green Mt. and Keel Mt. Green is 1.5 miles long, 820 feet at 10.3% grade. Tough for me, at least.

Keel is 1.5 miles with 860 feet of climbing at 10.6%. One short section hits 19%.

One day I'd like to be able to go up and over Green Mt., head over to climb Grant Mt., then swing around to go up Keel and then around to go up 4 Mile Post and on home.

https://www.springcity.org/local_road_climbs.html

bbattle

I visited there a few years back and saw a cyclist making that climb. DAMN!

msheron

If I had to choose a ride specific area for any amount of distance.................climbing Pisgah Mountain here in western NC. From the overpass at I-26 to the overlook parking area about 16 miles mainly climbing with some 12% in there. 1.25 hours up and 30 mins. down! Love the speed back down.

granite4brains

Yes!! I want to do the White Mountain ride too, but I'm not ready for it this year. For those of you unfamilar with it, the ride starts in Laws at around (4000') and goes all the way to the summit of White Mountain (over 14,000'). 25% + grades on dirt in spots. Some downhill on the way making for a total elevation gain of over 13,000 ft. I forget the mileage, but it's at least 30, maybe 35, not sure. Yowsers!

Thanks for the replies everybody ... neat to hear about all the hillclimbs across the US

BikeWNC

I don't think there is any 12% grades on the BRP. Unless you are talking about coming up on Hwy 151 out of Candler. There are a few steep switchbacks on that road, but I'm not sure they are quite 12%.

Out of town here in Sylva, NC the climb up to Waterrock Knob is 3800 ft in 18 miles, but the first 2 are flat. Also out of town to the high point of the BRP at Richland Balsam is 4600 ft of climbing in 22 miles. Again the first 2 are flat. Dark Ridge Rd has one pitch at 15% but it's not quite 0.25 mile long.

The climb from the start of the BRP near Cherokee is 3250 ft in 10 miles.

Cullowhee Mt. Rd is 7.5% average for 4.4 miles with 9 and 10% sections.

Tilly Creek Rd is 8% average for 3 miles with a 10% section.

granite4brains

I used to hike Mt Baldy a lot and never though of biking there. Sounds great, though. Where does that ride start and stop? Is it the road that goes by the TH for the Ski Hut Trail (out of Manker Flats)?

jschen

Mt Baldy Rd starts in Claremont, CA, at the intersection with Mills Rd. Ends at the entrance to the ski resort, shortly after Manker Flats. The final pitch from Manker Flats to the entrance to the ski resort is painful.

blue_nose

I rode to the summit of White Mountain this summer. Taking the roadie from Lone Pine up to the Bristlecone forest was a pretty cool ride, but I really struggled with the altitude when riding the mountain bike up to the summit. Here is a ride report:

https://www.bikeforums.net/southern-california/226750-white-mountain-ride-report.html

OC Roadie

I've only done White Mountain to the 10,100' level, just before the visitors center. I wonder if a CX bike would be enough for the last 4,000'? That would be a monster climb

granite4brains

Nice. I seem to remember a few switchbacks on the road before Manker Flats that were pretty steep too. Sounds like a good ride!

fryth

Around here, I like Skyline Dr in Shenandoah and Harp Hill Rd in Thurmont (it's just part of the ride, but the hardest part by far the last upspike before mile 15).

There are a lot of others, but those are kind of my favorites right now. Sugarloaf is also a pretty good climb, 5-600ft over 1.2 miles. I like it because it can be an optional climb in all kinds of rides through Poolesville.

jschen

I think we need a big field trip.

granite4brains

Still a damn good ride!
I have a buddy who's done the whole thing. He actually said the first 3000-4000 were the hardest for him... where you hit those steep grades up Silver Canyon, guess he had to walk it a fair amount. However, I know the altitude would hit me hard after already coming up 6000 or more feet of road. So, I think the last part will be brutal for me. I've hiked up to the summit before from the TH at almost 12,000 and the road is definitely decent in most spots. I suspect when it's said and done, it will obviously be the hardest ride ... but not the most pleasant or fun

blue_nose

This ride would be intense! I did both this summer, but spilt the road and mountain bike into two stages., I camped for two days before attempting to ride the mountain bike to the summit and still suffered big time with the altitude. Doing this in one shot would be extreme.

You really need two bikes to reach the summit (roadie/mountain) – so you need a support vehicle to attempt. I don’t think I could have ridden some sections of the dirt road without at least a front suspension.

granite4brains

I beleive the route out of Laws (near Bishop) is mostly dirt for the whole climb so you can do it that way with just one bike - mt bike, that is. Goes up Silver Canyon. You would still definitely want some sort of support/aid, though.

msheron

Tell that to the GPS that measured it then.