Sherman Pass (California)

Overview

Sherman Pass is a Category 1 climb in the United States, covering 13.3 km from a start elevation of 1,840 m to a summit of 2,787 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 947 m at an average gradient of 7.14%. It is a long, high-altitude effort that finishes near 2,800 m, where thinner air will quietly cost you watts on the upper slopes.

The gap between the numbers is the story here. Net elevation gain is 947 m, but total ascent is 1,495 m — a difference of 548 m. That means roughly 548 m of the climbing is spent regaining ground you gave back on descents and dips along the way. The road undulates rather than climbing cleanly, so the effort is punchier and less rhythmic than the 7.14% average suggests. You will do more total work than the net gain implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.14% average is a blend, not a constant. The undulation means flatter and downhill sections drag the average down, which in turn hides steeper ramps elsewhere on the profile. The pitch tops out at 23.55%, so the average badly understates how hard the worst sections hit.

• Flatter and recovery sections, including short descents, where you can spin and eat
• Repeated short climbs that stack up into the 548 m of extra ascent beyond the net gain
• A steepest ramp of 23.55%, far above the average, where the pitch bites hardest

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a fixed speed forces you to overspend on every steep ramp and coast through the flatter breaks — a pattern that burns matches you will want near the 2,787 m summit. Instead, hold a steady, repeatable output and let your speed rise and fall with the terrain.

Anchor that output to your sustainable power output and treat the steep pitches as brief, controlled overshoots rather than all-out efforts. If you do not have a current number to pace against, set one with the FTP estimator before you go. On the recovery sections and short descents, actively ease off — that is where an undulating climb lets you bank energy for the next ramp.

Gearing

Gear for the steepest ramp, not the average. With pitches reaching 23.55%, run a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — something like 34×32 or 34×34 to keep a survivable cadence when the grade spikes. The right gear lets you stay seated and spin through the steep sections instead of grinding out of the saddle and spiking your heart rate. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; you do not want to discover you are under-geared partway up at altitude.

Summary

• Length: 13.3 km
• Average gradient: 7.14%
• Maximum gradient: 23.55%
• Net elevation gain: 947 m
• Total ascent: 1,495 m
• Category: 1

Sherman Pass is a long, high, undulating Category 1 climb where the 548 m gap between net gain and total ascent defines the effort. Pace it by output, gear it for the 23.55% ramps, and respect the altitude near the summit.