Fredonyer Pass

Overview

Fredonyer Pass is a Category 3 climb in the United States, running 5.9 km from base to summit. It starts at 1,454 m and tops out at 1,759 m, for a net elevation gain of 305 m. At an average gradient of 5.17%, it sits firmly in the tempo range: long enough to demand a real effort, short enough that you can see the end from partway up if the road opens out. It is a climb you can pace with your head rather than survive with your legs.

The number that changes how you ride it is the total ascent: 332 m against a net gain of 305 m. That 27 m gap is undulation — road that dips and climbs again before the summit. It means you will re-climb ground you have already gained, and every one of those small kicks costs matches. On paper the climb is 305 m of work; in the legs it is closer to 332 m. Plan for the larger figure.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.17% average is a blend, not a constant. Undulation pulls the mean down in the flatter and downhill sections, which means the climbing pitches are steeper than the average implies. The sharpest ramp reaches 11.9% — more than double the average — and that is where the effort spikes.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly drops, dragging the average below 5.17%
• Repeated short climbs that re-take elevation lost in the dips, accounting for the 27 m of extra ascent
• The steepest ramp at 11.9%, where you will need a gear in reserve

Pacing Notes

On a steady climb, even-effort and even-speed pacing converge. On Fredonyer Pass they do not, because the undulation breaks the rhythm. Chasing even speed here means over-pushing on the 11.9% ramp and coasting the dips — a fast way to blow up. Anchor instead to even effort, holding a steady sustainable power output through the steep pitches and letting speed rise naturally on the flatter recovery sections. Soft-pedal the descents rather than hammering them. If you do not know your ceiling, run the FTP estimator before you go, then ride the climb a notch below that number so the steep kicks do not tip you over.

Gearing

The 11.9% maximum is what dictates your setup. At that gradient, a standard chainset will have you grinding. Fit a compact (50/34) or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you a spin-friendly bailout gear for the steepest ramp without wrecking your cadence. Check the setup before the ride, not at the trailhead: confirm the chain shifts cleanly into the largest sprocket under load.

Summary

• Length: 5.9 km
• Average gradient: 5.17%
• Maximum gradient: 11.9%
• Net elevation gain: 305 m
• Total ascent: 332 m
• Category: 3

Fredonyer Pass rewards riders who respect the gap between net gain and total ascent. Pace it on effort, gear it for the 11.9% ramp, and the Category 3 label will feel fair rather than optimistic.