Epic climbs are a major part of our bucket list. As we conquer each climb, we will create content from the adventure.
TOP 100 U.S. CYCLING CLIMBS
Elevation (ft) | ||||||||||
U.S. Rank | World Rank |
Climb Name | State | Fiets Index Score |
Distance (mi) |
Average Grade |
Start | Peak | Gained | Descent |
1 | 1 | Mauna Kea |
HI, USA
|
29.2 | 42.6 | 6.1% | 3 | 13,842 | 13,863 | 98 |
2 | 15 | Haleakala |
HI, USA
|
18.2 | 35.6 | 5.3% | 12 | 9,988 | 10,068 | 92 |
3 | 18 | Mt Washington Auto Rd |
NH, USA
|
18.2 | 7.4 | 12.1% | 1,588 | 6,300 | 4,712 | 0 |
4 | 22 | Pikes Peak |
CO, USA
|
17.8 | 24.2 | 6.1% | 6,343 | 14,128 | 8,037 | 252 |
5 | 53 | Kaloko Dr |
HI, USA
|
14.6 | 11.6 | 8.7% | 90 | 5,385 | 5,295 | 0 |
6 | 59 | Onion Valley Rd |
CA, USA
|
14.3 | 12.9 | 7.8% | 3,946 | 9,219 | 5,275 | 1 |
7 | 71 | Horseshoe Meadows Rd |
CA, USA
|
13.7 | 19.2 | 6.2% | 3,817 | 10,043 | 6,582 | 356 |
8 | 73 | Mauna Loa |
HI, USA
|
13.6 | 62.2 | 3.4% | 2 | 10,993 | 11,848 | 857 |
9 | 74 | Waipoli Rd |
HI, USA
|
13.5 | 12.7 | 7.8% | 1,072 | 6,323 | 5,290 | 58 |
10 | 89 | White Mountain |
CA, USA
|
12.9 | 20.3 | 5.8% | 3,946 | 10,119 | 6,392 | 226 |
11 | 104 | Powder Mountain |
UT, USA
|
12.5 | 7.2 | 9.7% | 5,189 | 8,867 | 3,684 | 7 |
12 | 108 | Mount Evans |
CO, USA
|
12.4 | 27.4 | 4.5% | 7,560 | 14,129 | 6,744 | 193 |
13 | 115 | Sherman Pass West |
CA, USA
|
12.2 | 15.5 | 6.5% | 3,814 | 9,116 | 5,305 | 3 |
14 | 124 | Whitney Portal |
CA, USA
|
12.1 | 11.4 | 7.6% | 3,802 | 8,358 | 4,556 | 10 |
15 | – | Guardsman Pass |
UT, USA
|
12 | 8.8 | 8.5% | 5,795 | 9,698 | 3,927 | 24 |
16 | – | Hwy 39-Dawson Saddle |
CA, USA
|
11.7 | 23.4 | 5.2% | 1,466 | 7,913 | 6,800 | 353 |
17 | – | Nate Harrison Grade |
CA, USA
|
11.6 | 10.3 | 8.2% | 904 | 5,324 | 4,440 | 24 |
18 | – | Mineral King Road |
CA, USA
|
11.6 | 24.4 | 5.1% | 1,186 | 7,752 | 7,026 | 460 |
19 | – | Alternate Route 14 |
WY, USA
|
11.4 | 13.2 | 6.7% | 4,435 | 9,117 | 4,855 | 197 |
20 | – | Mt Graham |
AZ, USA
|
11.3 | 20.1 | 5.5% | 3,249 | 9,018 | 6,092 | 323 |
21 | – | Whitaker Forest |
CA, USA
|
11.3 | 23 | 5.2% | 1,300 | 7,605 | 7,018 | 713 |
22 | – | Lee Canyon |
NV, USA
|
11.2 | 17.3 | 5.9% | 3,336 | 8,700 | 5,388 | 24 |
23 | – | Grand Mesa North |
CO, USA
|
11.1 | 21.4 | 5.1% | 5,167 | 10,882 | 5,848 | 133 |
24 | – | South Lake |
CA, USA
|
11 | 18.9 | 5.4% | 4,404 | 9,831 | 5,538 | 151 |
25 | – | Hwy 198 (General’s Highway) |
CA, USA
|
11 | 20.5 | 5.5% | 1,311 | 7,201 | 6,092 | 202 |
26 | – | Mt. Equinox |
VT, USA
|
10.9 | 5.3 | 11.3% | 653 | 3,787 | 3,151 | 17 |
27 | – | Shirley Meadows East |
CA, USA
|
10.9 | 9.9 | 7.9% | 2,697 | 6,789 | 4,125 | 32 |
28 | – | Rock Creek Road |
CA, USA
|
10.7 | 20.7 | 5.1% | 4,669 | 10,233 | 5,866 | 301 |
29 | – | Little Cottonwood Canyon |
UT, USA
|
10.7 | 10.5 | 7.2% | 5,383 | 9,393 | 4,010 | 0 |
30 | – | Wheeler Peak |
NV, USA
|
10.6 | 15.9 | 5.8% | 5,320 | 10,167 | 4,882 | 50 |
31 | – | Nine Mile Canyon |
CA, USA
|
10.5 | 15.7 | 6% | 2,581 | 7,594 | 5,045 | 45 |
32 | – | Bear Creek Road |
CA, USA
|
10.5 | 16 | 6.1% | 1,394 | 6,529 | 5,291 | 180 |
33 | – | Lake Sabrina |
CA, USA
|
10.3 | 15.7 | 5.8% | 4,405 | 9,219 | 4,886 | 74 |
34 | – | Mt. Baldy |
CA, USA
|
10.3 | 13.1 | 6.7% | 1,641 | 6,261 | 4,748 | 129 |
35 | – | Lee Canyon + Hwy 158 |
NV, USA
|
10.2 | 16.3 | 5.7% | 3,328 | 8,292 | 4,986 | 89 |
36 | – | Big Cottonwood Canyon |
UT, USA
|
10.1 | 16.9 | 5.5% | 4,909 | 9,773 | 5,052 | 188 |
37 | – | Mt. Lemmon |
AZ, USA
|
10 | 28.8 | 4.2% | 2,760 | 9,170 | 7,159 | 751 |
38 | – | Hwy 143 |
UT, USA
|
10 | 14 | 5.9% | 6,080 | 10,445 | 4,375 | 10 |
39 | – | Palomar Mountain South Grade |
CA, USA
|
10 | 12.4 | 6.9% | 1,038 | 5,515 | 4,484 | 7 |
40 | – | Hwy 190 |
CA, USA
|
9.9 | 22.3 | 5% | 1,204 | 7,026 | 6,092 | 270 |
41 | – | White Mountain East |
CA, USA
|
9.7 | 18.1 | 5.1% | 5,134 | 10,040 | 5,115 | 264 |
42 | – | Whiteface Mountain |
NY, USA
|
9.6 | 7.9 | 8.4% | 1,042 | 4,606 | 3,566 | 45 |
43 | – | Hwy 330 |
CA, USA
|
9.6 | 21.6 | 4.9% | 1,460 | 7,064 | 5,884 | 283 |
44 | – | Glacier Lodge Road |
CA, USA
|
9.3 | 9.9 | 7.1% | 4,031 | 7,728 | 3,701 | 19 |
45 | – | Hwy 21-245-180-198 |
CA, USA
|
9.3 | 28.4 | 4.2% | 1,308 | 7,575 | 6,771 | 505 |
46 | – | Sonora Pass West |
CA, USA
|
9.2 | 9.1 | 7.1% | 6,306 | 9,696 | 3,458 | 69 |
47 | – | Hwy 180 & 198 |
CA, USA
|
9.2 | 25.5 | 4.4% | 1,604 | 7,525 | 6,195 | 274 |
48 | – | Mt. Harrison |
ID, USA
|
9.2 | 14.6 | 5.6% | 4,927 | 9,236 | 4,323 | 14 |
49 | – | Kyle Canyon + Hwy 158 |
NV, USA
|
9.1 | 21.6 | 4.7% | 2,821 | 8,161 | 5,385 | 50 |
50 | – | Hwy 18 – Old Waterman Canyon |
CA, USA
|
9.1 | 12.7 | 6.4% | 1,416 | 5,684 | 4,372 | 105 |
51 | – | Empire Pass, Midway |
UT, USA
|
8.9 | 8 | 7.5% | 5,797 | 8,947 | 3,232 | 82 |
52 | – | Towne Pass East |
CA, USA
|
8.9 | 16.9 | 5.6% | -6 | 4,949 | 4,956 | 1 |
53 | – | Mount Mansfield (Race to Top of Vermont) |
VT, USA
|
8.9 | 4.2 | 11.5% | 1,288 | 3,798 | 2,511 | 1 |
54 | – | Trail Ridge |
CO, USA
|
8.8 | 43.9 | 2.9% | 5,328 | 12,151 | 7,767 | 962 |
55 | – | Grand Mesa South |
CO, USA
|
8.8 | 19.1 | 4.6% | 6,215 | 10,846 | 4,722 | 90 |
56 | – | Granite Pass |
WY, USA
|
8.8 | 17.7 | 5% | 4,402 | 9,043 | 4,756 | 115 |
57 | – | Mt. Shasta |
CA, USA
|
8.6 | 14.2 | 5.7% | 3,637 | 7,856 | 4,224 | 4 |
58 | – | Hurricane Ridge |
WA, USA
|
8.6 | 17.9 | 5.3% | 214 | 5,201 | 5,272 | 287 |
59 | – | East Portal |
CO, USA
|
8.5 | 3.3 | 11.4% | 6,557 | 8,558 | 2,001 | 0 |
60 | – | Gibraltar Road |
CA, USA
|
8.5 | 9.8 | 7.3% | 204 | 3,965 | 3,863 | 102 |
61 | – | Etna Summit West |
CA, USA
|
8.5 | 6.9 | 8.3% | 2,981 | 6,016 | 3,055 | 20 |
62 | – | Kyle Canyon |
NV, USA
|
8.5 | 21.2 | 4.5% | 2,821 | 7,924 | 5,121 | 51 |
63 | – | GO Road Summit |
CA, USA
|
8.5 | 6.6 | 8.9% | 707 | 3,797 | 3,089 | 16 |
64 | – | Wildrose |
CA, USA
|
8.5 | 14.6 | 5.7% | 1,354 | 5,768 | 4,415 | 2 |
65 | – | Hwy 39 – Crystal Lake |
CA, USA
|
8.5 | 14.1 | 5.8% | 1,466 | 5,807 | 4,481 | 140 |
66 | – | Independence Pass West |
CO, USA
|
8.4 | 15.8 | 4.8% | 8,120 | 12,087 | 3,984 | 19 |
67 | – | Sandia Crest |
NM, USA
|
8.4 | 13.5 | 5.3% | 6,883 | 10,667 | 3,912 | 128 |
68 | – | Stainback Road |
HI, USA
|
8.4 | 18.3 | 5.2% | 257 | 5,227 | 4,970 | 0 |
69 | – | Refugio Road |
CA, USA
|
8.4 | 10 | 7.1% | 408 | 4,159 | 3,792 | 41 |
70 | – | Death Valley Road (East) |
CA, USA
|
8.4 | 15.1 | 5.4% | 3,423 | 7,715 | 4,375 | 83 |
71 | – | Portuguese Pass West |
CA, USA
|
8.4 | 13.6 | 5.7% | 3,265 | 7,357 | 4,264 | 173 |
72 | – | Left Hand Canyon |
CO, USA
|
8.3 | 22.5 | 4.1% | 5,613 | 10,495 | 4,960 | 77 |
73 | – | Cold Springs Summit (Beasore Road) |
CA, USA
|
8.3 | 11.6 | 6.2% | 3,556 | 7,317 | 3,814 | 53 |
74 | – | Mt. Ascutney |
VT, USA
|
8.2 | 3.5 | 12.2% | 517 | 2,752 | 2,236 | 0 |
75 | – | Mt. Rose East |
NV, USA
|
8.2 | 16.7 | 4.9% | 4,584 | 8,921 | 4,351 | 13 |
76 | – | Hwy 31 West |
UT, USA
|
8.2 | 13.4 | 5.3% | 5,989 | 9,778 | 3,894 | 114 |
77 | – | Onyx Summit |
CA, USA
|
8.1 | 30.4 | 3.7% | 2,680 | 8,545 | 6,734 | 870 |
78 | – | Tollhouse Road |
CA, USA
|
8.1 | 10.2 | 6.7% | 1,862 | 5,495 | 3,673 | 57 |
79 | – | Hwy 153 |
UT, USA
|
8.1 | 18 | 4.5% | 6,050 | 10,363 | 4,375 | 62 |
80 | – | Wolf Creek Pass, South |
CO, USA
|
8.1 | 8.7 | 6.4% | 7,906 | 10,860 | 2,953 | 1 |
81 | – | Pine Creek |
CA, USA
|
8.1 | 8.8 | 6.9% | 4,639 | 7,834 | 3,194 | 0 |
82 | – | Hicks Road to Mt. Umunhum (north) |
CA, USA
|
8.1 | 5.1 | 10% | 654 | 3,327 | 2,673 | 0 |
83 | – | Daylight Pass |
CA, USA
|
8.1 | 12.8 | 6.1% | 182 | 4,330 | 4,148 | 1 |
84 | – | Slumgulion Pass |
CO, USA
|
8.1 | 7.6 | 6.8% | 8,845 | 11,540 | 2,700 | 5 |
85 | – | Hwy 38 – Valley of the Falls |
CA, USA
|
8 | 14.9 | 5.5% | 1,766 | 6,066 | 4,347 | 50 |
86 | – | Monitor Pass East |
CA, USA
|
8 | 9.5 | 6.5% | 5,101 | 8,358 | 3,261 | 4 |
87 | – | Hwy 14 East |
WY, USA
|
8 | 16.2 | 5% | 4,021 | 8,280 | 4,409 | 149 |
88 | – | Mission Ridge |
WA, USA
|
8 | 11 | 6.6% | 790 | 4,586 | 3,808 | 12 |
89 | – | Cottonwood Pass |
CO, USA
|
8 | 19.2 | 4.1% | 7,943 | 12,122 | 4,258 | 78 |
90 | – | Cloudcroft – Hwy 82 |
NM, USA
|
7.9 | 14.2 | 5.2% | 4,721 | 8,645 | 4,008 | 95 |
91 | – | Burke Mountain |
VT, USA
|
7.9 | 3.3 | 12.3% | 1,122 | 3,240 | 2,117 | 0 |
92 | – | Hwy 18 North |
CA, USA
|
7.9 | 10.8 | 6.3% | 3,312 | 6,864 | 3,554 | 3 |
93 | – | Bear Camp West |
OR, USA
|
7.9 | 16.5 | 5.3% | 126 | 4,725 | 4,624 | 25 |
94 | – | Sisar Canyon Road |
CA, USA
|
7.9 | 8.8 | 7.2% | 1,572 | 4,927 | 3,371 | 15 |
95 | – | Baldwin – Olinda Roads |
HI, USA
|
7.8 | 12.4 | 6.2% | 13 | 4,052 | 4,044 | 5 |
96 | – | Balch Park Road |
CA, USA
|
7.8 | 18 | 4.9% | 1,805 | 6,435 | 4,897 | 285 |
97 | – | Dante’s View |
CA, USA
|
7.8 | 24 | 4.3% | 8 | 5,454 | 5,453 | 7 |
98 | – | Mt. Hood |
OR, USA
|
7.8 | 15.1 | 5.4% | 1,620 | 5,908 | 4,301 | 13 |
99 | – | Cedar Canyon |
UT, USA
|
7.8 | 16.7 | 4.6% | 5,876 | 9,941 | 4,097 | 45 |
100 | – | Beartooth Pass North |
MT, USA
|
7.7 | 30 | 3.3% | 5,628 | 10,906 | 5,743 | 465 |
*We have chosen to use an objective index to quantify and rank climbs – The Fiets Index (developed by the Dutch cycling magazine Fiets).
The actual formula is: [H^2/D*10] + (T-1000:1000; but only if greater than 0)
- H = ending elevation minus starting elevation in meters.
- D = total distance traveled in meters.
- T = Height in meters.
Note: Only add T-1000 if that number is greater than zero.
This data has been provided by PJAMM Cycling.