Original Monarch Pass

Overview

Original Monarch Pass is a Category 1 climb in the United States, running 18.1 km from a start elevation of 2,604 m to a summit of 3,517 m. Over that distance it delivers a net elevation gain of 913 m at an average gradient of 5.05%. On paper that average reads as a steady tempo climb, but the number sits in high-altitude territory where the summit is already above 3,500 m and the thin air taxes every watt.

The important signal here is the gap between net gain and work done. The net elevation gain is 913 m, but the total ascent is 1,575 m. That 662 m difference is climbing you do and then give back, meaning the road undulates rather than rising cleanly. You pay for descents you did not ask for, and the effort is meaningfully higher than a 5.05% average suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.05% average is a blend of flat, downhill, and steep, not a constant grade. With 662 m of undulation folded in, expect rolling terrain punctuated by sharper ramps. The steepest recorded pitch hits 30.93%, so at least one section is far beyond anything you can spin comfortably.

• Flatter and recovery sections where you can eat, drink, and reset your breathing
• Repeated short climbs that erode the legs through accumulated ascent
• One severe ramp near 30.93% where cadence collapses without the right gear

Pacing Notes

On a clean climb you can hold even effort and let speed drift. Here the undulation breaks that. Chasing even speed on the false-flat and descending bits burns matches you need later, so anchor pacing to your sustainable power output instead of the speedometer. Ease slightly on the rolling downhills and let the flatter recovery sections be genuine recovery. If you are unsure of your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before the ride and set an upper limit you refuse to cross on the early ramps.

Gearing

The 30.93% ramp governs your gearing choice, not the 5.05% average. A wall that steep demands a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 — to keep any cadence at all. Combined with the altitude, an under-geared setup will force you off the bike. Check your chainset and cassette before you ride and confirm the derailleur handles the largest sprocket.

Summary

• Length: 18.1 km
• Average gradient: 5.05%
• Maximum gradient: 30.93%
• Net elevation gain: 913 m
• Total ascent: 1,575 m
• Category: 1

Original Monarch Pass is a Category 1 effort where the average gradient understates the work. Respect the 662 m of undulation, gear for the steepest ramp, and pace off power rather than speed to reach 3,517 m with something left.