Tioga Pass

Overview

Tioga Pass is a Category 2 climb in the United States, running 8.4 km from a start elevation of 2564 m to a summit at 3029 m. On paper the numbers are straightforward: a net elevation gain of 465 m over the full length, at an average gradient of 5.53%. That average places it squarely in mid-category territory, steep enough to demand pacing discipline but short enough to hold a strong effort from bottom to top.

The headline stat to watch is the gap between net gain and total work. You climb 465 m net, but the total ascent is 767 m — meaning roughly 302 m of that climbing is undone by descents and false flats before you claw it back. This climb undulates. Every metre you lose you pay for twice, and that undulation is what separates the honest average gradient from the effort you will actually feel in your legs.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 5.53% average is a poor guide to any single section here. With 302 m of re-ascent baked into the profile, the road clearly dips and kicks rather than climbing at a steady tilt. The steepest ramp bites at 22.38% — nearly four times the average — so the punishing metres are concentrated, not spread evenly.

• Flatter and descending sections that recover the legs but erase net gain
• Repeated short climbs where you re-take elevation already lost
• A steepest ramp of 22.38% that forces you well out of any rhythm

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-speed pacing will destroy you. Chasing a constant km/h over the 22.38% ramp means burning matches you cannot afford, while coasting the descents wastes nothing you can bank. Pace to even effort instead: hold your sustainable power output through the steep pitches, let speed rise on the flatter and downhill sections, and accept the clock swinging around. Over 8.4 km with 767 m of total ascent, the rider who meters output evenly finishes fresher than the one who fixates on pace. If you do not know your ceiling, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you commit to a target.

Gearing

The 22.38% maximum dictates your setup, not the 5.53% average. A standard chainset will leave you grinding and swerving on that ramp. 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 when the road stands up. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride, not at the base of the steep pitch.

Summary

• Length: 8.4 km
• Average gradient: 5.53%
• Maximum gradient: 22.38%
• Net elevation gain: 465 m
• Total ascent: 767 m
• Category: 2

Tioga Pass rewards riders who read the profile, not just the average. Pace to effort, gear for the 22.38% ramp, and treat that 302 m of hidden re-ascent as the real test of the day.