Vulcan Pass

Overview

Vulcan Pass is a long, sustained category 1 climb that rewards patience over aggression. From a start elevation of 277 m, the road unwinds for 22.3 km before cresting at a summit elevation of 1593 m. That works out to a net elevation gain of 1316 m, with a total ascent of 1308 m once you account for the odd short descent or flatter breather along the way. The average gradient of 5.89% sounds civil enough, but the length is the real story: this is a climb measured in effort budgeted over the better part of an hour, not a punchy burst you can muscle through.

How the Gradient Unfolds

Averages hide the character of a climb, and Vulcan Pass is a good example. While the mean gradient sits at 5.89%, the maximum gradient touches 16.94% — nearly three times the average. That spread tells you the ascent is uneven. Long stretches near or slightly below the average are punctuated by steeper ramps that force you out of your rhythm. Because the net gain of 1316 m is spread across 22.3 km, no single kilometre defines the climb; instead, it's the accumulation. Expect to settle into a cadence, hold it, then have it broken repeatedly by pitches that rear up toward that 16.94% ceiling before easing back.

Pacing Notes

On a climb this long, pacing discipline decides your day. The smartest approach is to ride to a target power relative to your FTP rather than chasing the gradient. Riding just below threshold on the shallower sections banks fatigue you'll need when the road pitches toward 16.94%. If you don't know your current threshold, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a pace. Over 22.3 km, going out even a few percent too hard compounds into a painful final third. Treat the average 5.89% as your baseline effort and let the steep ramps briefly push you above it, always returning to a controlled tempo.

Gearing

With 1316 m of climbing packed into 22.3 km and ramps hitting 16.94%, gearing matters more here than on shorter climbs. A compact 34-tooth chainring paired with a wide-range cassette is the sensible foundation. A 34×32 will get most fit riders up the sustained 5.89% sections while keeping cadence respectable. But for the steepest pitches near 16.94%, a 34×34 gives you the extra margin to spin rather than grind, protecting your legs across the full 22.3 km. If your bike accepts it, favour the 34×34 — the insurance against a blown effort late in a climb this long is well worth the single extra tooth.

Summary

Vulcan Pass is a genuine endurance test: long, steady, and steep in bursts. Respect the 22.3 km distance, ride to your threshold, gear low, and the 5.89% average becomes manageable rather than punishing. Get to the 1593 m summit with something left, and you've climbed it well.

Length: 22.3 km
Average gradient: 5.89%
Max gradient: 16.94%
Start: 277 m
Summit: 1593 m
Net gain: 1316 m
Total ascent: 1308 m
Category: 1