Buffalo Pass

Overview

Buffalo Pass is a Category 2 climb in the United States, running 7.4 km from a start elevation of 2086 m to a summit of 2582 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 496 m at an average gradient of 6.75%. The numbers place it squarely in the range where a climb is long enough to demand a plan but short enough that a mistake in the opening kilometres can still be paid for by the top.

The gap between the net gain of 496 m and the total ascent of 569 m tells you this is not a smooth, monotone drag. That 73 m difference is climbing you do more than once — you go up, give some back, and climb it again. For your legs, that means the effort is higher than the average gradient alone suggests, because every dip you descend is elevation you have to re-earn. Treat the total ascent, not the net gain, as the honest measure of the work ahead.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.75% average is a blend, not a constant. On an undulating profile like this one, the mean hides both the flatter recovery breaks and the sharp ramps that spike well above it. The steepest pitch reaches 21.88%, so at least one section is more than three times the average — the kind of wall that forces you out of the saddle or into your easiest gear whether you planned to or not.

• Flatter and slightly downhill recovery sections where you can breathe and reset
• Repeated short climbs that rebuild the elevation you gave back
• A steepest ramp near 21.88% that dictates your gearing choice

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a constant pace means overspending on the steep ramps and coasting on the flatter breaks — exactly backwards. Instead, anchor your effort to your sustainable power output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain: hold steady on the flatter sections, and allow the ramps to push your power up briefly without redlining. On the recovery dips, ease off rather than hammering to make up time. If you do not know your threshold yet, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you ride so your pacing has a real ceiling to work against.

Gearing

The 21.88% maximum gradient governs your setup. Gearing that feels fine at 6.75% will grind to a stall on that ramp, so build for the worst pitch, not the average. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you the cadence to spin the steepest section rather than lever it. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you are over-geared halfway up the wall is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 7.4 km
• Average gradient: 6.75%
• Maximum gradient: 21.88%
• Net elevation gain: 496 m
• Total ascent: 569 m
• Category: 2

Buffalo Pass rewards riders who respect the total ascent over the net gain and gear for the steepest ramp rather than the average. Pace to effort, spin the walls, and the 496 m to the 2582 m summit will come without blowing up.