White Bird Hill Summit

Overview

White Bird Hill Summit is a Category 2 climb in the United States, running 22.8 km from a start elevation of 426 m to a summit at 1,356 m. Over that distance it delivers 930 m of net elevation gain at an average gradient of 4.07%. On paper that number reads as a steady tempo climb, the kind you can settle into and ride at threshold for the better part of an hour.

The paper number lies. Total ascent is 1,704 m, which is 774 m more than the net gain. That gap comes from descents and false flats scattered through the profile — every metre you give back is a metre you have to reclaim. In practice you climb almost twice the elevation the summit figure suggests, so treat this as a longer, harder effort than the 930 m headline implies.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 4.07% average is diluted by the 774 m of undulation. Flatter and downhill sections drag the mean down, which means the climbing sections are meaningfully steeper than average — and the ramps hit hard, peaking at a maximum gradient of 15.85%.

• Recovery sections: expect flatter stretches and short descents where you can eat, drink, and reset.
• Repeated short climbs: the profile stacks pitch after pitch rather than one long wall, so the effort is punchy and repetitive.
• Steepest ramp: at least one wall touches 15.85%, steep enough to force you out of the saddle or into your lowest gear.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a fixed speed means overcooking the 15.85% ramps and coasting the descents — the worst of both. Instead, anchor your effort to your sustainable power output and hold it steady through the pitches, letting speed rise and fall with the terrain.

Let power sag slightly on the false flats and descents to recover, then reapply on the ramps without spiking far over threshold. If you don't know your number yet, run the FTP estimator before you go and set a target you can hold across 1,704 m of accumulated climbing, not just the 930 m net.

Gearing

The 15.85% maximum gradient governs your gearing choice. Gear for the wall, not the average. Run a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 low gear will let you spin the steepest ramp instead of grinding it. On a climb with this much repeated pitching, an easier gear preserves your legs for the pitches still to come. Check your setup before the ride: confirm your rear derailleur clears the largest sprocket and that your low gear is actually fitted.

Summary

• Length: 22.8 km
• Average gradient: 4.07%
• Maximum gradient: 15.85%
• Net elevation gain: 930 m
• Total ascent: 1,704 m
• Category: 2

White Bird Hill Summit rewards riders who respect the undulation. Pace to power, gear for the 15.85% ramp, and budget for 1,704 m of climbing rather than the 930 m the summit suggests.