Dalton Pass

Overview

Dalton Pass is a 9.5 km cycling climb that earns a category 3 rating — a genuine challenge without the brutality of the harder tiers. From a start elevation of 461 m, the road works its way up to a summit of 889 m, giving a net elevation gain of 428 m across the ascent. The average gradient sits at 4.51%, a figure that reads as steady on paper but hides a fair amount of variation once you are actually turning the pedals. With a maximum gradient of 8.06%, this is a climb that rewards riders who can hold a rhythm and absorb the occasional sharper ramp without blowing apart.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The headline number is that 4.51% average, but averages flatten the story. Over 9.5 km the climb delivers a total ascent of 418 m, slightly under the 428 m net gain — meaning there is a small amount of downhill or flat mixed in, and the pitches that do climb must therefore be a touch steeper than the average suggests to make up the difference. That is exactly what the 8.06% maximum gradient confirms. Expect stretches that sit comfortably below the average, punctuated by ramps roughly 3.5 percentage points steeper. The gap between a 4.51% average and an 8.06% max is the whole tactical puzzle of Dalton Pass: never so steep that you are forced out of the saddle for long, but uneven enough that a constant effort is far more efficient than chasing every change in pitch.

Pacing Notes

Because the pitches vary, pace to effort rather than to speed. Anchor your climb to your FTP and aim to ride the steady sections a little below threshold so you have headroom when the gradient tips toward 8.06%. If you do not know your threshold power, run the numbers through the FTP estimator before you plan the climb — it changes how you should ration your effort over 9.5 km. A common mistake here is going out hard on the gentler lower slopes and paying for it on the steeper ramps higher up. With only 428 m of net gain to give away, the climb is short enough to hurt if you overcook the opening but long enough to punish an even harder finish. Settle in, keep your breathing controlled, and let the steeper metres come to you.

Gearing

For a 4.51% average with ramps to 8.06%, a compact setup is more than enough for most riders. A 34×32 lowest gear will let you spin the steeper sections at a sustainable cadence, and if you prefer to keep your legs fresh or you are carrying fatigue from earlier in the ride, a 34×34 gives you that extra bailout gear for the 8.06% pitches. Neither is overkill on a category 3 climb of this length — the goal is to protect your cadence so you can hold power steadily rather than grinding.

Summary

Dalton Pass is a well-mannered category 3 climb: 9.5 km at 4.51% average, with just enough steepness at 8.06% to demand respect. Ride it to effort, gear it sensibly, and the 889 m summit comes without drama.

Length: 9.5 km
Average gradient: 4.51%
Max gradient: 8.06%
Start: 461 m
Summit: 889 m
Net gain: 428 m
Total ascent: 418 m
Category: 3