Kootenay Pass

Overview

Kootenay Pass is a Category 2 climb in Canada, running 6.8 km from base to summit. It gains 387 m net over that distance, starting at 1,391 m and topping out at 1,778 m. That places the entire effort at altitude, where thinner air compounds the work your legs are already doing.

The number that matters most here is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 387 m net, but you actually climb 448 m in total. That extra 61 m comes from short descents mid-climb that you have to reclimb. The profile undulates rather than rising in a clean line, so the effort is punchier and less rhythmic than a Category 2 average would suggest.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.72% average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum of 17.37%, the steep pitches are far harsher than the average implies, and the descents between them drag the average back down. Expect the effort to arrive in bursts rather than as a steady grind.

• Flatter or descending sections where you recover and can carry speed
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each demanding a fresh surge
• A steepest ramp near 17.37% that will spike your power and force a hard gear

Pacing Notes

On a clean climb you pace to even effort. Here the undulation makes even speed a trap: chasing a constant pace over the descents wastes matches you need for the ramps. Pace to effort instead, holding a steady target on the climbs and soft-pedaling the dips.

Anchor that target to your sustainable power output rather than to feel, which drifts at this altitude. If you do not know your number, run the FTP estimator before you go, then hold just under it on the gradual sections so you have headroom left for the 17.37% pitch.

Gearing

The 17.37% maximum, not the 5.72% average, decides your gearing. On a slope that steep at 1,778 m, you want a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette. A 34×32 gives you a fighting chance; a 34×34 gives you margin to spin rather than grind. Check your setup before the ride. Confirming your smallest gear at home is far cheaper than discovering it mid-ramp.

Summary

• Length: 6.8 km
• Average gradient: 5.72%
• Maximum gradient: 17.37%
• Net elevation gain: 387 m
• Total ascent: 448 m
• Category: 2

Kootenay Pass is short but deceptive. The 5.72% average hides a 17.37% ramp and 61 m of reclimbing baked into its undulation. Gear low, pace to effort, and treat the descents as recovery rather than free speed.