New York Cycle Club
Making the Grade by Hank Schiffman
Average grades of hills in our region
Gleaned, extrapolated, calculated and compiled by Hank Schiffman using data from the map of The Central Park by George Colbert & Guenter Vollath for Greensward Foundation/Friends of Central Park (1994) and TOPO! Northeastern USA by National Geographic. Some data was measured on site using a Polar S710 monitor with altimeter function and a cycle computer.
Please note that % grades vary in how they reflect the true climb. Shorter distances are less accurately measured. Changes in grade are also guilty of giving unrepresentative values. Full ascents that have numerous false summits of the Arden Valley Road ilk have been omitted, as their average has no meaning. A few attempts have been made to wring out a virtual average grade by subtracting flat spots on some climbs. These have been designated “distance adjusted minus flats.” Although they reflect the essential climbing grades, they also “let up,” thus not reflecting these values on a sustained climb.
Last updated: 5/15/2017.
| Location/hill | Distance (miles) | Rise | Average Grade |
| Manhattan | |||
| Harlem Hill – Central Park | 0.32 | 84' | 4.40% |
| 165th St Hill – Riverside Dr/Ft Wash Ave | 0.09 | 40' | 8.40% |
| Fifth Avenue Between 106 and 90th St | 0.8 | 89' | 2.10% |
| Central Pk West Dr hill between 88th & 86th St | 0.15 | 24' | 3.00% |
| Cat Hill, Central Park East Drive | 0.25 | 49' | 3.70% |
| Bennett Av from Broadway to 187th St | 0.41 | 82' | 3.80% |
| Broadway from Nagle Av to 181st St | 0.66 | 140' | 4.00% |
| Morningside Dr from 110th to 113th St | 0.15 | 40' | 5.00% |
| RSD hill to Sakura Park from 125th St | 0.27 | 90' | 6.30% |
| 120 St from Amsterdam to B'way, 1st half of block | 0.08 | 32' | 7.20% |
| Overlook Ter from 187th St to Ft Wash Av | 0.17 | 81' | 9.00% |
| Nagle/Dykeman to St Nicholas Ave | 0.34 | 170' | 9.50% |
| Hudson Greenway from Dyckman to Inspiration Point | 0.63 | 75" | 2.30% |
| Brooklyn | |||
| Carroll St – 4th Av to Prospect West | 0.74 | 120' | 3.10% |
| Union Street – 3rd Av to Prospect Park | 0.87 | 132' | 2.90% |
| Union Street – 4th Av to Prospect Park | 0.73 | 122' | 3.20% |
| 9th St – 3rd Av to Prospect Park | 0.73 | 122' | 3.20% |
| Flatbush Av – Empire to crest near Library | 0.6 | 77' | 2.40% |
| 44th St – 5th to 6th Av | 0.15 | 45' | 5.70% |
| 31st & 5Av/24th & 5Av/24th & 6th/23rd & 7th | 0.68 | 130' | 3.60% |
| The Bronx | |||
| Riverdale Ave - W 230th St/W 239th St | 0.68 | 150' | 4.20% |
| 242 St/Manhattan Col Pkwy to HH Pkway | 0.75 | 156' | 4.00% |
| W Fordham Rd from Rt 87 overpass to Sedgwick | 0.21 | 60' | 5.40% |
| W Kingsbridge Rd from Heath to Sedgwick | 0.22 | 113' | 9.70% |
| Staten Island | |||
| Grymes Hill – Terrace | 0.38 | 230' | 11.50% |
| Bergen County | |||
| Alpine (police station) Hill—to grade change at top | 1.07 | 400' | 7.10% |
| Churchill | 0.69 | 240' | 6.60% |
| Closter Dock – 501/crest at Ridge | 1.97 | 415' | 4.00% |
| E Clinton – Dean/crest south of Woodland | 1.13 | 340' | 5.70% |
| E Clinton – Old Smith/crest south of Woodland | 0.52 | 225 | 8.20% |
| Speer | 0.33 | 198' | 11.40% |
| Walnut – from Lydecker | 0.55 | 190' | 6.50% |
| Englewood Boatbasin (River Rd) to crest going north | 0.34 | 140' | 7.80% |
| Forbidden Hill (2nd half of above) to pkwy | 0.4 | 180' | 8.50% |
| Ross Dock Hill | 0.25 | 115' | 8.70% |
| Under Cliff | 0.21 | 145' | 13.00% |
| Skyline Drive (Rt 91) – to first crest from south | 1.44 | 605' | 8.00% |
| Skyline Drive (Rt 91) – distance adjusted minus flats | 605' | 10.10% | |
| Dutchess County | |||
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| Long Hill Rd from Hortontown Rd to crest | 0.87 | 550' | 12.00% |
| Long Hill Rd from East Hook Rd to crest | 0.58 | 467' | 15.20% |
| Miller Hill Rd, Hortontown Rd to crest | 1.22 | 653' | 10.10% |
| Miller Hill Rd, Hortontown Rd to Woodmont Rd | 0.64 | 431 |
12.70% |
| Rockland County | |||
| Piermont/Sparkill: | |||
| Rockland Rd from Ferdon to crest of hill | 0.41 | 147' | 6.80% |
| Nyack/Upper Grand View: | |||
| S Highland Av/Blvd bet Old Mtn. & Tweed | 0.24 | 111' | 8.80% |
| Upper Nyack: | |||
| Old Mtn. Rd from Broadway to 9W | 0.61 | 203' | 6.30% |
| Old Mtn/S Highland Av, 9W to let up (King of Roc Co!) | 0.35 | 300' | 16.20% |
| Upper Rockland County: | |||
| Ash – to divide just short of 9W | 0.32 | 205' | 12.10% |
| Little Tor | 0.8 | 420' | 9.90% |
| South Mtn. Rd to the Orchards | 1.6 | 360' | 4.30% |
| S Mtn. Rd Orchards Hill – steep section | 0.69 | 240 | 6.60% |
| State Line Hill - Oak Tree/crest at state line | 0.57 | 167' | 5.50% |
| Mott Farm Rd from north entrance 9w to Buckberg | 0.82 | 280' | 6.50% |
| Liberty (Dunderberg) going north | 0.9 | 274' | 5.90% |
| Liberty (Dunderberg) going south | 1.5 | 274' | 3.60% |
| Clausland Mtn. Rd – 1st 0.31 m from S. Greenbush | 0.31 | 180' | 11% |
| Rockland Lake Hill 9W – Lake Rd to crest | 0.83 | 306' | 7.00% |
| Calls Hollow Rd, 1st hill south of Willow Grove Rd | 0.68 | 158' | 4.40% |
| Rockland/Orange County | |||
| Harriman State Park: | |||
| Gate Hill to Lake Welch | 1.45 | 520' | 6.80% |
| Gate Hill to Rt 106 junction | 0.61 | 320' | 9.90% |
| Rt 106 – rise w of Central Hwy/Lake Welch | 4.85 | 960' | 3.70% |
| Rt 106 – east from 17A to change in grade | 0.96 | 266' | 5.20% |
| 7 Lakes Dr., hill 1.5 miles north of Rt 17 | 1.5 | 360' | 4.50% |
| 7 Lakes Dr. – 9w to Bear Mtn. Circle | 0.59 | 162' | 5.20% |
| 7 Lakes Dr. – 9w to start of Perkins | 2.42 | 630' | 4.80% |
| 7 Lakes Dr – Bear Mtn. Inn Cir/start Perkins | 1.8 | 428' | 4.50% |
| Perkins Memorial Drive | 2.1 | 660' | 6.00% |
| Arden Valley Rd – final climb to crest | 1.13 | 283' | 4.70% |
| Tiorati Brook Rd – to height just before lake | 2.09 | 445' | 4.00% |
| Tiorati Brook Rd – distance adjusted minus flats | 445' | 6.30% | |
| Orange County | |||
| Hogback from west, steepest continuous climb | 1.8 | 620' | 6.50% |
| Mt Peter – east to west | 1.6 | 547' | 6.40% |
| Highland Av (S Blvd) – Old Mtn. Rd south to crest | 0.18 | 111' | 11.70% |
| Rockland Rd – from Ferdon to crest | 0.38 | 171' | 8.50% |
| Rt 6 – from Queensboro Circle west to 1st crest | 1 | 418' | 7.90% |
| Hulse Rd, to grade let up (gravel) | 0.93 | 757' | 15.40% |
| Mountain Rd, Cornwall on Hudson | 1.24 | 633' | 9.7%% |
| Greenwood Lake/Warwick: | |||
| Kain Rd | 0.73 | 580' | 15.00% |
| Greene County | |||
| Clove Platte (Devil's Kitchen) | 1.95 | 1129' | 11.00% |
| Palenville to Tannersville Rt 23A | 4 | 1230' | 5.80% |
| Ulster County | |||
| Awosting Portal/Minnewaska SP, Aumick Rd to let up(gravel) | 2.88 | 1408' | 9.25% |
| Meads Mtn Rd, upper 1000'(Woodstock, NY) | 1.61 | 1000' | 11.80% |
| Meads Mtn Rd, from 33 to crest | 1.99 | 1130' | 10.80% |
| Mohonk-east Rt 6, from bottom of 1st roller | 2.4 | 919' | 7.25% |
| Mohonk via Lenape Ln from 300' (gravel) | 2.5 | 800' | 6.10% |
| Mohonk – west (6/6A) to east (top) | 1.91 | 713' | 7.10% |
| Minnewaska – 299/Trapps Bridges (1st crest) | 1.41 | 468' | 6.30% |
| Minnewaska – hairpin/Trapps Bridge | 0.57 | 218' | 7.20% |
| Minnewaska – Berm Rd/Lake Minnewaska | 5.49 | 1112' | 3.90% |
| Greenville Rd – start of climb to crest, Greenville | 3.51 | 985' | 5.30% |
| Mountain Rd – final climb from east | 0.65 | 288' | 8.40% |
| Peekamouse (Rt 42) – "wall" from north | 0.78 | 508' | 12.30% |
| Peekamouse (Rt 42) – from south | 6.64 | 604' | 1.80% |
| Rt 52 west of Walker Valley – to crest | 6.64 | 604' | 1.80% |
| Slide Mtn. (Rt 47) – final 1.21 miles from north | 1.21 | 665' | 10.40% |
| South Gully Road | 3.05 | 1240' | 7.70% |
| Vista Maria – from 52 to where grade flattens | 1.46 | 748' | 10.20% |
| Vista Maria – steep section | 0.47 | 400' | 16.10% |
| Yagerville Rd – 55A to crest | 3.37 | 1060' | 6.00% |
| Sullivan/Ulster County | |||
| Red Hill Rd – from Sugarloaf to crest | 0.88 | 345' | 7.40% |
| Sugarloaf Rd – start of climb to Red Hill Rd | 3.24 | 1255' | 7.30% |
| Sugarloaf Rd – top 0.77 to Red Hill Rd | 0.77 | 482' | 11.90% |
| Sugarloaf Rd – same top 0.77 to 2500' level | 1.21 | 755' | 11.80% |
| Sugarloaf/Red Hill Rd – to crest Red Hill | 4.12 | 1600' | 7.40% |
| Sullivan County | |||
| Barrett Rd from 94 to top | 1.65 | 800' | 9.20% |
| Breakneck Rd/Rt 515 to top, Vernon, NJ | 1.37 | 720' | 10.00% |
| Breakneck Rd, steep section | 0.49 | 400' | 15.50% |
| Glade Hill Rd | 1.9 | 1259' | 12.50% |
| Moore Hill Rd – start of climb to flattens | 2.3 | 1117' | 9.20% |
| Warren County | |||
| Fiddlers Elbow Rd to crest, Belvidere, NJ | 1.65 | 695' | 8.00% |
| Fiddlers Elbow Rd, steep section | 0.57 | 440' | 14.60% |
| Westchester County | |||
| Roaring Brook Rd | 0.75 | 337' | 8.50% |
| Whippoorwill Rd, 0.28 mile above Rt 120 to 0.50 | 0.22 | 92' | 7.9%% |
| Whippoorwill Rd to top from 120 | 2.57 | 298' | 2.20% |
| Whippoorwill Rd – 1st from 120 | 1 | 200' | 3.80% |
| Whippoorwill Crossing | 1.42 | 292' | 3.90% |
| Whippoorwill from 117 – steep section only | 0.85 | 306' | 6.80% |
| Whippoorwill Rd East – steep section only | 0.52 | 200' | 7.30% |
| Hardscrabble Rd – 120/top of 1st hill | 0.7 | 210' | 5.70% |
| Hardscrabble Rd – from 120, start | 0.1 | 50' | 9.50% |
| Anthony’s Nose going south from Bear Mtn. Bridge | 0.7 | 220' | 5.90% |
| Rt 448 – Rt 9 to crest | 3 | 440' | 2.80% |
| Rt 448 – Rt 9 to 2.2 miles | 2.2 | 403' | 3.50% |
| North White Plains: | |||
| Route 22 north from Reservoir Rd | 0.37 | 64' | 3.30% |
| Armonk: | |||
| Rt 22 between Cox and Banksville Rd | 0.7 | 203' | 5.50% |
| Hartsdale/White Plains: | |||
| hill on Walworth Av/Fisher Av | 0.18 | 55' | 5.80% |
| Kitchawan (Town of New Castle, NY): | |||
| Pines Bridges Rd from Rt 134, 1st | 0.38 | 150' | 7.50% |
| Putnam County | |||
| E Mtn Rd, start of climb east side to crest | 1.58 | 7.18' | 8.60% |
| Cold Spring/McKeel Corners (Rt 301): | |||
| Main St, Cld Spng at depot to Rt 9 | 2.79 | 440' | 3.00% |
| Main St, Cld Spng at depot to crest Rt 301 | 6.61 | 1158' | 3.30% |
| Indian Spring Rd – west of 9D to Dennytown Rd | 4.39 | 760' | 3.30% |
| Indian Spring Rd – Loch Lyall to above Reeves Pd | 0.7 | 310' | 8.40% |
| Canopus Hill Rd – whole length | 1.36 | 521' | 7.30% |
| Canopus Hill Rd – steep section to Albany Post Rd | 0.29 | 180' | 11.80% |
| Joes Hill Rd – steep section | 0.04 | 50' | 23.70% |
| Joes Hill Rd – section below steep section | 0.1 | 50' | 9.50% |
| Essex County | |||
| Whiteface ’ from 86 to top climb | 7.95 | 3567' | 8.50% |
| Berkshire County, MA | |||
| M Washington Rd – to West St | 2.55 | 768' | 5.70% |
| M Washington Rd – distance adjusted minus flats | 768' | 7.30% | |
Morris County, NJ
Waughaw Rd - from where climb steepens to end 1.2 439' 6.93%