20 Hardest Hill Climbs Challenge: At it Again in 2024

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If you live in Utah, join us for the 20 Hardest Hill Climbs Challenge / Fundraiser. Test your cycling fitness against some of the hardest climbs in Utah and raise money for a good cause. To join, get connected on our Strava club HelpMercy Hill Climb Challenge for updates on how our chairman and others are doing with the challenge. 

Suggested Donation - $5 / climb. Click here to Donate

The 20 Hardest Hill climbs in the Salt Lake City area (with a couple especially hard climbs from nearby in Utah) are:

  1. Guardsman Pass East - Beyond Category - 8.6 miles with 3948 ft elevation gain, 8.6% (max 18%) - hardest climb in Utah.

  2. *Powder Mountain - Beyond Category - 6.0 miles with 3179 ft elevation gain, 10% (max 17%) - steepest climb in Utah.

  3. Big Cottonwood Canyon (to Guardsman Pass) - Category 1 - 17.1 miles with 4814 ft elevation gain 5.3% (max 12%) - greatest overall elevation gain in Utah.

  4. Empire Pass South - Category 1 - 7.7 miles with 3181 ft elevation gain, 7.8% (max 18%).

  5. Little Cottonwood Canyon - 8.6 miles with 3390 ft elevation gain, 7.5% (max 10%) - very similar to the famous climb Alpe D'Huez in the Tour de France.

  6. *Rt 31 West - Category 1 - 13.2 miles 3795 ft elevation gain, 5.5% (max 9%). combo with - Rt 31 East - category 2 - 26.3 miles with 3685 ft elevation gain, 2.7% (max 7%).

  7. *Mt. Nebo - North - 22.2 miles with 5034 ft elevation gain, 3.9% (max 10%) and while you are there, South - 13.8 miles with 3843 ft elevation gain, 4.8 % (max 14%).

  8. Alpine Summit East - Category 1 - 8.7 miles with 2836 ft elevation gain, 6.2% (max 10%).

  9. Alpine Summit West (American Fork Canyon) - Category 1 - 10.7 miles with 2980 ft elevation gain, 5.3% (max 9%).

  10. Empire Pass North - Category 1 - 5.6 miles with 2094 ft elevation gain, 7.1% (max 12%).

  11. Millcreek Canyon - Category 1 - 9.0 miles with 2412 ft of elevation gain, 5.1% (max 14%).

  12. Butterfield Canyon - Category 2 - 6.6 miles with 2228 ft elevation gain, 6.4% (max 14%)

  13. Squaw Peak - Category 2 - 4.3 miles with 1548 ft elevation gain, 6.8% (max 13%).

  14. Big Mountain - Category 2 - 7.5 miles with 1881 ft elevation gain, 4.8% (max 10%).

  15. East Canyon - Category 2 - 5.4 miles with 1603 ft of elevation gain, 5.6% (max 8%).

  16. Traverse Ridge Road - Category 2 - 3.5 miles with 1302 ft elevation gain, 7.1% (max 10%).

  17. City Creek Canyon - Category 2 - 5.5 miles with 1433 ft elevation gain, 4.9% (max 11%).

  18. Suncrest Drive - Category 2 - 3.9 miles with 1167 ft elevation gain, 5.7% (max 10%).

  19. Snake Creek Road - Category 2 - 3.3 miles with 1035 ft elevation gain, 5.9% (max 14%).

  20. Emigration Canyon - Category 3 - 7.8 miles with 1311 ft elevation gain, 3.2% (max 8%). 

* climb not in Salt Lake City/Provo/Midway region

Lets get fit and help some kids!