Handcycling - Big Hill Climbs In The USA
Fri, May 9, 2008 -
Obviously we love handcycling here on pushingthelimits, and love being able to head off pretty much anywhere we want at the drop of a hat. Whether taking the dog for a walk, daily 20 milers for fitness or long multi-day camping trips, handcycling gives you so many options. Recreational or racing, short distances or marathons, choose the level you feel most comfortable at and go for it.
Handcyclists often classify their greatest moments on the handbike as times of self-imposed suffering high on some mountainous, twisting course, churning the hand cranks in a trance-like state. Powering up the climb, grimacing from the sweet pain in their arms, wanting to keep going and stop at the same time.
Apart from people who live in one of the few truly flat parts of the world, most handcyclists can quickly name their area’s toughest climb - an incline which stands apart and most avoid like the plague but which lies at the heart of those epic rides you never forget. Some wheelchair users are drawn to these steep roads and pitches as something that has to be done, to prove something to no-one but themselves. That at least once, the climb must be made, the summit attained.
In the spirit of that desire for achievement, we’ve compiled a list of the Great Hill Climbs of America, ranked by vertical feet of elevation gain. Races take place each year on most of these peaks, and - except for Mt. Washington, which opens to bicycles only on race day - the paved summit roads are also rideable anytime conditions permit. These are seriously steep and long hills, some sections with 15% grades, so they’re not for the beginner handcyclist at all, think of these as the challenge that you can build up to.
1. Mt. Haleakala, Maui, Hawaii
Rising to a towering 10,000 feet and offering spectacular high-altitude views, Haleakala is known for its distinctive moon-like terrain.
Directions: Begin the 37-mile climb in the town of Paia, near windsurfing’s world-famous Hookipa Beach, and follow the road to Makawao. Continue towards Highway 378 and Haleakala National Park, passing through several distinct climactic zones before reaching the summit parking area and the top of the crater.
Park info:
Haleakala National Park
P.O. Box 369
Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
(808) 572-4400
Open daily, year round
2. Mt. Evans, Colorado
The world’s highest paved road. Finishes at over 14,000 feet
Directions: Begin the 28-mile climb in the historic mining town of Idaho Springs, at the Mt. Evans exit off I-70 in the mountains west of Denver. Follow State Route 103 to Echo Lake, and then Route 5 to the 14,250-foot summit. Be prepared for cold and snow at any time.
3. Mt. Lemmon, Arizona
Soars above Tuscon
The road winds past one spectacular view after another as it ascends the mountain. The route to the top of Mount Lemmon is a dramatic example of a sky island’s unique environment.
Directions: This 25-mile climb begins on the east side of Tucson, at the intersection of the Catalina Highway and Tanque Verde Road. Follow the Catalina Highway to the road’s high point at the Mount Lemmon Observing Facility.
4. Mt. Graham, Arizona
One of the “sky islands”
Directions: The 20-mile ride begins at mile post 115 along U.S. 191, across from the Federal prison south of Safford in southeast Arizona. Climb up the Swift Trail (State Route 366) to the finish at mile post 135, near the Snow Flat camp ground.
5. Sandia Crest, New Mexico
Albuquerque skyscraper
Sandia Crest is located on the Turquoise Trail, a national scenic byway that passes through the Cibola National Forest connecting Albuquerque and Santa Fe.
Directions: Begin climbing just off I-40, at the Cedar Crest exit, 15 miles east of Albuquerque. Take the Sandia Peak ski area road, and follow it to the summit overlooking the city far below.
Camping contacts:
- Cibola National Forest ranger station - (505) 281-3304
- Turquoise Trail Campground & RV Park - (505) 281-2005
6. Mt. Charleston, Nevada
Leaving Las Vegas
Mt. Charleston’ s high, cool, forested landscape stands in sharp contrast to the surrounding desert landscape and the neon lights of Las Vegas.
Directions: The climb begins approximately 30 miles north of Las Vegas, along I-95 at the Lee Canyon exit. Follow Highway 156 upward to the ski area parking lot.
7. Mt. Baldy, California
Rises out of the smog
Mt. Baldy road offers many scenic vistas of the San Gabriels mountains and will take you into the heart of the Angeles National Forest, the “backyard” of Los Angeles.
Directions: Commencing in the city of Claremont, just north of Pomona, the ride follows the Mt. Baldy Road directly to the ski area finish.
8. Mt. Palomar, California
A San Diego tradition
Orange and avocado groves border your climb to rendezvous with the South Grade of Palomar Mountain. From there it’s a seven-mile, 7% grade of twisting switchbacks. You’ll pass the 3k, 4k, and 5000 foot altitude markers in quick secession. The uphill ends near the Palomar General Store. From there, it’s a few miles uphill through the trees to the observatory.
Directions: Get underway 40 miles northeast of San Diego, in the town of Santa Ysabel, at the intersection of Highways 78 and 79. From Dudley’s bakery, long a favorite with San Diego-area cyclists, follow Highway 79 to Highway 76, finally climbing up Route S7 to the summit - site of the world famous Palomar Observatory.
9. Mt. Washington, New Hampshire
Perhaps the steepest of all
Breathtaking views will surprise you around every bend of the 8-mile path to the top of New England. The average grade of 12% slopes on the mostly paved road, reaching up more than a mile in the sky.
Directions: This eight-mile climb, open to bicycles only on race day each year, starts at the base of the Mt. Washington Auto Road, about 12 miles north of Jackson along State Highway 16. Even though the peak is only 160 miles north of Boston, be prepared for difficult conditions near the top of the northeast’s highest and steepest mountain road.
10. Mt. Hamilton, California
Silicon Valley icon
Winding, twisting, turning, the 20 miles up Mt. Hamilton Road makes it one of the most challenging hillclimbs in California.
This photo looks westward at one of the many switchbacks on Mt. Hamilton Road and a hazy Silicon Valley from the Lick Observatory.
Directions: Start the climb at the Alum Rock exit off I-680 in San Jose. Follow Alum Rock Avenue north to the Mt. Hamilton Road (Highway 130), which climbs to the summit and its several astronomical observatories.
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May 9th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Great list, Thanks. Not sure I’m up to many of these climbs though, better get training I guess!