Smugglers Notch

Overview

Smugglers Notch is a Category 3 climb in the US, running 12.4 km from a start elevation of 238 m to a summit at 691 m. Over that distance it gains 453 m net, giving it an average gradient of 3.65%. On paper that reads as a long, moderate drag rather than a wall — a climb you settle into rather than survive.

The number that reshapes the picture is total ascent. While the net gain is 453 m, the climb accumulates 646 m of total ascent — roughly 193 m more than the point-to-point figure suggests. That extra vertical is undulation: sections that drop or flatten and then climb again. It means you pay for elevation you do not keep, and the effort is more punchy and variable than the smooth 3.65% average implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 3.65% average is misleading because it blends recovery sections with far steeper pitches. With 193 m of ascent unaccounted for by the net gain, the climb clearly rolls, and the hardest ramp is much steeper than the mean. Expect the gradient to swing rather than hold a steady line.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly descends, dragging the average down
• Repeated short climbs stacked through the middle, each demanding a fresh surge of effort
• A steepest ramp well above the average that governs your lowest gear and hardest moment

Pacing Notes

Because this climb undulates, even-speed pacing will wreck you — holding a fixed pace over the steep ramps forces spikes well above threshold. Pace by effort instead. Anchor your ride to your sustainable power output and let speed rise on the flatter recovery sections while you hold power steady over the steep pitches. If you do not know that number, run the FTP estimator before you go, then ride the steep ramps at or just below it rather than chasing a time on every rise.

Gearing

The steepest ramp, not the average, decides your gearing. On a climb that pitches this far above 3.65%, gear for the wall. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear gives you a cadence you can actually turn over on the hardest ramp. Check your setup before the ride; confirming your low gear at the trailhead is too late.

Summary

• Length: 12.4 km
• Average gradient: 3.65%
• Maximum gradient: 19.45%
• Net elevation gain: 453 m
• Total ascent: 646 m
• Category: 3

Smugglers Notch rewards riders who read the profile rather than the average. Pace by effort, gear for the steepest ramp, and treat the undulation as the real challenge — the 193 m gap between net gain and total ascent is where the ride is won or lost.