“Mt. Hamilton” Details (Zwift Climb Portal)
Key Details
- Category: HC
- Length: 31.3 km (19.4 miles)
- Elevation Gain: 1259 m (4,131‘)
- Average Gradient: 3.5%
- Country: United States
- Watopia Climb Segment
- Watopia Descent Segment
- France Climb Segment
- France Descent Segment
- 5 W/kg: 67 minutes
- 4 W/kg: 80 minutes
- 3 W/kg: 97 minutes
- 2 W/kg: 137 minutes
Strava Segments
Time Estimates
Mount Hamilton is the highest peak in California’s Bay Area, topping out at 4,354′ (1327 meters). The Lick Observatory is perched on its summit, and you have that observatory to thank for the lack of steep pitches on this long ascent.
(The observatory’s construction began in 1876, so the road was made with shallow enough gradients to allow mule teams to haul heavy equipment to the top. That’s why this climb’s pitches are steady between 5-7%, and there are two significant downhill sections.)
As one of the area’s three iconic climbs (the others being Mt. Tam and Diablo), this is bucket-list ride for Bay Area cyclists. The IRL climb is constantly serpentining after the first few miles, rewarding riders with more and more incredible views as your ascend.
Don’t let the average gradient fool you, though! That metric is skewed by the ~6 kilometers of downhill or flat road. Take those out, and this climb has around 25 kilometers of steady 5-7% climbing.
Two bits of timely trivia: as of September 2024, this climb is the longest of Zwift’s Climb Portals. Also, the Strava KOM for the IRL segment (below) is held by cookie-loving KOM hunter Phil Gaimon!
Here’s the IRL segment that follows the same path up Mt. Hamilton Road:
Bring your comfy saddle for this one.
rode it IRL in 2015. started in SR and back via Tesla Rd. was my best ride in CA. so cool. next Mt Diablo, please.
I have made the Mt D. request as well a few months back. Lived in Martinez before retiring and rode it several times with a friend of mine, and many a solo rides as well. Did it 3-1/2 times prepping for the tour of the Alps, AKA Death Ride – 2014. Now in the foothills of El Dorado county, I can’t ride anywhere without logging 1000 feet of elevation gain, and I still suck at climbing hills, but much better than when I started some 10 plus years ago.
Theses brothers are my neighbors and have lots of cycling history on their YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE5RDFBHtGI
Ride On!
Thanks for the link Matt. Never made it more north than Alhambra Valley Rd. Met Mr Diablo, Carl Nielson, during his daily climbs and others being connected on Strava since then. Wanted to do the death ride, too, but never visited Minden on time.
Looks very interesting. But I’m afraid one hour and a half of Climb Portal psychedelic graphics may be too much for me…
I grew up a mile up Mt. Hamilton Road and I live on Alum Rock about 500 yards away. I’ve been up it countless times. I look forward to doing the Zwift version and see how it compares. I literally know every corner and pitch. Wish it had real scenery though…
I grew up on Fairway Dr off Rennie Ave right off Alum Rock Rd. I didn’t get into road biking until after I moved away. My plan is to ride Mt Hamilton IRL as part of a loop in the spring of 2025.
James Lick Class of ’74. I had a bunch of friends who lived in that neighborhood. My high school g-friend lived on Crest between Club and Greenside. Mt. Hamilton is way better IRL than the portal gig. Enjoy.
Please recommend Mt. Lemmon to be added. Ty
@Eric Schlange What’s the ideal bike for someone averaging 4.5w/kg? TT?
Hmmm… I would guess a climbing road bike would win out here. But I could be wrong, at your power level, and this average gradient…
One of the most boring (if not most) climbs of the 32 been avalailable so far. Long climbs need scenery etc. Just changing direction or colour does nothing. Too long. Monotonous.
It’s way better IRL…
The back side is MUCH more challenging … Last 5 miles at 8%+
Its along way to the top. If you get there do you have to cycle down to get the ride to count?
No, you get credit for finishing once you reach the top.
Thanks
Eric, Wasn’t there a completion badge offer up if completed in October? I so, it never showed in my ‘Achievements’. I have screen shots if needed.
No completion badges for portal Climbs that I know of…
This will be humbling, I’m sure. When I was in my 20s, I won the KOM one year (’93 or ’94?) in the P/1/2 Mt. Hamilton Road Race, and I have no recollection of it being that long. I’m confident that at my advanced age, I’ll remember it a lot differently this time!
Phil Gaimon is California’s KOM hunter. Long live Whiskey Tango Fondo!
Did it today. #1. Have something to watch because this is long and boring and the graphics are chaotic after a while. #2. Leave gas in the tank for the descent, there are about 2 miles up hills to deal with.