# Finding the steepness/grade **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688 "2025-08-04T14:16:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/1 "2025-08-04T14:16:40Z")
This is a place near me: https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=%213m2%212sen%214v0%216m8%211m7%211sxpAGkBJsTmLMaMMnKzbZog%212m2%211d40.7315464%212d-74.2692494%213f101.3%214f8.846%215f0.6 Is there a way for me to track down what the grade is for that road? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/2 "2025-08-04T14:22:03Z")
if you want quick and dirty you can use google maps: Find the road in **Google Maps**. 1. Right-click at the **start point** of the incline → select **“Directions from here”**. 2. Right-click at the **end point** of the incline → select **“Directions to here”**. 3. Switch to **“Walking”** or **“Biking”** directions if available — this sometimes shows **elevation gain**. 4. At the bottom of the directions panel, it may say something like “+100 ft elevation gain.” ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/3 "2025-08-04T14:23:12Z")
If you can physically get there, your cell phone can measure the grade. You can also measure the elevations on Google Earth from the bottom to the top of the hill and calculate it yourself. The steepness/grade will depend on what you consider the top and bottom of the hill. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/4 "2025-08-04T14:27:09Z")
Using my quick and dirty method - 105ft of elevation gain from the Valley St. intersection to the Prospect St Intersection. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/5 "2025-08-04T14:28:44Z")
Kensington to Prospect is where it really gets steep. Looks like 85 feet, but I can’t get the distance. (it says 0.2 miles, but that’s probably not accurate enough) ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/6 "2025-08-04T14:36:53Z")
It’s probably reasonably accurate, since it comes from GPS data. That’s a 4.6 degree elevation, which is considered moderately steep for a road. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/7 "2025-08-04T14:44:59Z")
Oh man, that’s just moderately steep? I’m struggling up it in first gear on my bike, going like 7 mph. ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/8 "2025-08-04T14:53:49Z")
Google Earth shows a 34’ rise over a 305’ run between Kensington Terrace and North Terrace, for an 11% grade. That looks more like what I see in street view. Between Valley and Prospect is a rise of 109’ over 1,596’ which averages out to 6.8% and is still a formidable grade on a bike. I’d prefer county-level GIS maps which show topography. They usually have a measuring tool so you can get an accurate length, then just count the number of topo lines it crosses to calculate the rise/run. Essex County doesn’t seem to have that, at least not in an easily viewable web map. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/9 "2025-08-04T14:55:09Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Oh man, that’s just moderately steep? I’m struggling up it in first gear on my bike, going like 7 mph We aren’t getting any younger! 😃 In your defense, I volunteer for a weekly mass community bicycle ride and occasionally map out routes for it. I would avoid that road in my route planning due to its steepness and length. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/10 "2025-08-04T15:57:40Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > Google Earth shows a 34’ rise over a 305’ run between Kensington Terrace and North Terrace, for an 11% grade. Thanks! 11% sounds so much steeper than 4.6 degrees. > [@Dorjan](#): > > We aren’t getting any younger! 😃 In your defense, I volunteer for a weekly mass community bicycle ride and occasionally map out routes for it. I would avoid that road in my route planning due to its steepness and length. The question is, will the tour company that’s taking me around Portugal in September avoid grades like that. Thanks, everyone, for the help in tracking down that grade! ---
**Author:** ![jjakucyk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3d9bf3/32.png) [@jjakucyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjakucyk)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/11 "2025-08-04T16:26:01Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > The question is, will the tour company that’s taking me around Portugal in September avoid grades like that. Uphill or downhill? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/12 "2025-08-04T16:40:04Z")
What does up…. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/13 "2025-08-04T16:44:21Z")
I have a bike computer that records my rides, then loads them to my phone, which then uploads them to Strava. On the strava website, you can see the grades for particular segments you’ve ridden. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/14 "2025-08-04T17:15:35Z")
My Garmin watch doesn’t report on grades. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/15 "2025-08-04T18:57:15Z")
I’m not sure if my bike computer does that calculation, or if it just uploads position and time, and strava calculates the grade from the available data. I have no idea how hard it would be to upload from a Garmin watch to strava, or of you want to go to the trouble just to find out how steep the hills are. I use it as a way to keep track of my rides. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2025, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/finding-the-steepness-grade/1021688/16 "2025-08-04T19:46:05Z")
I think I’m good for now. I have a call into the tour company to ask some pointed questions about gradients along the path.