Westgard Pass

Overview

Westgard Pass is a Category 1 climb in the United States that runs 11.2 km from base to summit. It gains 686 m of net elevation, starting at 1,549 m and topping out at 2,235 m. That places the entire effort at altitude, where thinner air quietly taxes any pace you think you can hold at sea level.

The total ascent is 702 m against a net gain of 686 m, a 16 m gap. That difference means the road is not a clean, monotonic climb — there are short descents or false flats where you give back a little height before clawing it back. It is a small margin, but it tells you the profile undulates rather than climbs relentlessly, and every metre you lose is a metre you have to re-climb.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.13% average is a blend, not a constant. With a maximum pitch of 12.5%, the steep sections sit well above the mean, which means gentler stretches are pulling the average down. Expect the effort to arrive in bursts rather than as a steady wall.

• Flatter or recovery sections where the grade dips below average — use them, don't waste them
• Short repeated rises that break rhythm, consistent with the 16 m of extra ascent
• A steepest ramp near 12.5% that will spike your power and demand your lowest gear

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chase even effort, not even speed. Holding a fixed speed forces you to overcook the steep ramps and coast the flatter parts — the opposite of efficient. Anchor your ride to your sustainable power output and let speed fluctuate with the grade: ease slightly under the 12.5% pitches so you don't blow past threshold, then press on the shallower sections where the return on watts is higher. If you don't know your number, run the FTP estimator before you go. The undulation rewards riders who spread their matches evenly across all 11.2 km rather than burning them on the first steep ramp.

Gearing

A 12.5% maximum pitch at altitude is the number that should govern your setup. Fit a compact or sub-compact chainset and pair it with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low end to spin the steepest ramp without grinding to a stall. Grinding a big gear here costs you dearly when the air is thin. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you're under-geared halfway up a 12.5% pitch is not the place to find out.

Summary

• Length: 11.2 km
• Average gradient: 6.13%
• Maximum gradient: 12.5%
• Net elevation gain: 686 m
• Total ascent: 702 m
• Category: 1

Westgard Pass is a genuine Category 1 test: 11.2 km, 686 m of net gain, and a summit above 2,235 m. Pace it by effort, gear for the 12.5% ramp, and respect the altitude — the climb doesn't have to break you if you plan for how it actually unfolds.