Paljoryeong

Overview

Paljoryeong is a Category 2 climb that packs a serious punch into a compact distance. Over just 3.6 km it lifts you from a start elevation of 106 m to a summit at 382 m, a net gain of 276 m. The average gradient sits at a demanding 7.69%, steep enough that there is nowhere to genuinely recover once the road tilts up. With a maximum pitch of 9.77%, this is a climb that rewards steady discipline over early ambition. It is short by the standards of the great mountain passes, but the sustained steepness means the effort is concentrated and unforgiving from the first pedal stroke to the last.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The defining feature of Paljoryeong is its consistency. An average of 7.69% across the full 3.6 km tells you there is very little flat, and the gap between the average and the 9.77% maximum is modest, meaning the hardest ramps are not wild outliers but simply firmer expressions of the prevailing slope. Expect the road to hover close to its average for long stretches, punctuated by pitches that edge toward that 9.77% ceiling. Because the climb gains 276 m of net elevation while recording 251 m of total ascent, the profile is almost entirely uphill with negligible respite. There are no false flats to shelter behind here; the shape of this climb is a clean, relentless drag upward.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this uniformly steep, the smart approach is to ride to a target power rather than to feel. Anchor your effort to your FTP and hold a percentage you can sustain for the full 3.6 km. Going into the red early, especially on the ramps approaching 9.77%, will cost you far more than the seconds it appears to save. Aim to keep your power steady across the whole 276 m of climbing, letting cadence absorb the pitch changes rather than surging.

If you are unsure of your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target. A realistic FTP figure turns this climb from a guessing game into a measured, repeatable effort you can pace to the summit at 382 m without blowing up.

Gearing

At 7.69% average with ramps nudging 9.77%, gearing is where many riders make or break their day on Paljoryeong. A compact 34-tooth inner chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible baseline. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained sections while keeping cadence respectable, but on the steeper pitches you will appreciate having more range in reserve. If you tend to grind or you are carrying fatigue, a 34×34 gives you that extra margin to spin rather than muscle over the 9.77% moments. Given the 276 m of gain is delivered in only 3.6 km, err toward the easier option; protecting your legs early pays off across the whole climb.

Summary

Paljoryeong is a concentrated, honest test: 3.6 km of near-constant 7.69% gradient with a 9.77% sting, climbing 276 m from valley to summit. Pace it to your threshold, gear it generously, and it becomes a satisfying Category 2 effort rather than a survival march.

Length: 3.6 km
Average gradient: 7.69%
Max gradient: 9.77%
Start: 106 m
Summit: 382 m
Net gain: 276 m
Total ascent: 251 m
Category: 2