"The vast acreage folded between the Sierra Nevada crest and the White-Inyo Range is so dramatic and infinitely varied that some people wonder why it is not a national park.  Few places on the planet offer a greater collage of unspoiled environments in so small an area:  everything from blistering hot deserts to sighing pine forests to 14,000-foot granite crags, hung with glaciers and flanked by icy lakes.  Crowned by the Sierra's imposing eastern escarpment, this is a land of both subtlety and extremes, a place that sings to the bottom layers of our souls." - Gordon Wiltsie

The semi-undiscovered Inyo County has arguably the finest roads, terrain, and climate for road cycling in the world.  Safe, uncrowded roads, clean, clear mountain air, and climbs, climbs, climbs make this a road cycling Mecca.  Only its isolation and distance from a major airport have kept it relatively unused.  There have been several events held in the area over the last few decades including Everest Challenge, Eastern Sierra Double Century, Lone Pine Double Century, the various versions of the Death Valley to Mount Whitney, Death Valley Double Century and the other Death Valley rides, Furnace Creek 508, Whiskey Creek Stage Race, High Sierra Fall Century, the Mammoth Mountain Bike Races, White Mountain In A Day, Plum line 7500, and more.  However besides triple Olympic bronze medalist Clara Hughes, Pam Schuster, and Petra Rosner, few road professionals have lived and trained in the area.  With the crowded roads elsewhere and the increasing tension between motorists and cyclists this may change over the next decade.  Part of the goal of Everest Challenge is to showcase the area and hopefully attract cyclists and teams to visit the area for training and camps.

Besides the almost constant blue skies, low precipitation, warm daily temperatures even in winter, and very uncrowded roads, the climbs are what set this area apart.  Numerous articles have been written about the lack of epic climbs here in the U.S.  However, the authors obviously didn't do their homework on Inyo County.  The county which includes the highest peak (Mt. Whitney) and lowest spot in the lower 48 states (in Death Valley National Park) has twenty or so awesome climbs and dozens more smaller climbs.

Two climbs rank among the greatest in the world, both serve up about 2,000m (6,561') of climbing:

The climb from the Owen's River at 3,900' to the high point before Schulman Grove (the Ancient Bristlecone Pine forest) at 10,100' is a true leg breaker.  The climb is 21 miles, average grade 6% (max in the lower half just touches 14%, max in the upper half just touches 17%).  There are dozens of 9-12% rollers in the bottom third.  The last 3 miles averages 10%.  There are some small descents along the way allowing for brief breathers.  But these bring the total climbing to 6,573'!

While the climb from Lone Pine to Whitney Portal is famous, the climb to Horseshoe Meadows is the real thing.  Ever notice those awesome, giant switchbacks to the south of the Whitney Portal road??  Horseshoe Meadows  sits at just below 10,000', over 6,000' above Lone Pine (at 3,700').  The road is about 24.5 miles long and has about 350' of descending, making the total climb just pushing 2,000m.

The county has six climbs with over 1,500m (4,921') of climbing:

The road to Mosquito Flat at 10,250' is the highest paved road in the Sierra Nevada.  The climb is 22 miles, average grade is 5%.  Maximum grade lower half is 9%, upper half is 11%.  There is 280' of descending along the way, bringing the total climbing to 6,048'!

One of the grandest views and most spectacular finishes is that from Furnace Creek at just below sea level to Dante's View at 5,475'.  This climb temps one into powering up the low grades at the bottom, but punishes you as the gradient sneaks steadily up to 15% for the last half mile.  It gains 5,500' in 26.7 miles.

The dramatic switchbacks of the Onion Valley climb is perhaps the most reminiscent of those in the Pyrenees and Alps.  The climb to Onion Valley from Independence (the county seat at 3,925') rises to 9,200' (5,275' gain) in 13 miles averaging 8%.

Besides the short climb up Pine Creek (of which the Mammoth Lakes cyclists are fond) the climb up Bishop Creek to South Lake is probably the most popular for the locals to test their strength and endurance.  The climbing starts in Bishop at 4,140', but really doesn't become a significant climb until Ed Powers road at 4,650'.  It then climbs 20.4 miles, average grade 6%, to the top of the parking lot at 9,835' (5,800' gain) above the pristine alpine South Lake and surroundings.  While this is not the highest spot or most vertical gain, the last mile has three quarter mile short sections around 15% grade and will certainly test your strength and endurance and desire to stay on the bike.  Bottom half has extended sections of 8-9% grade, max grade 9%.

There are some variations the South Lake climb.  You may go straight at 7,900' instead of turning left to South Lake and ride up to Lake Sabrina (9,128') or better yet the Piute Pass trailhead (9,360') above North Lake (this road turns to gravel but is very doable on a road bike as long as you can handle the short 20-25% grade paved sections).

Towne Pass is the best known climb of the area and is respected by most as one of the toughest U.S. climbs.  True the long steady climb from sea level to 4,956' is hard on the mind, but the scenery lacks some compared to most of Inyo's other climbs.

On the way up the east side of Towne's Pass you can turn left at about 2,000' elevation and continue up a slightly gentler climb to Nemo Crest (5,547') in 24 miles total.  This has two gravel options that extend the climb.  One up to Skidoo at about 6,000' and the other to Aguereberry Point at 6,433', (these may be very passable on a road bike, but I haven't scoped them out yet).

There are at least 9 Inyo climbs that gain over 1,000m (3,280'):

The road up Wildrose Canyon from Panamint Valley begins at about 1,050' elevation.  It climbs with short sections of very rideable gravel to about 5,500' (4,500' gain) before turning to gravel.  This isn't the nicest gravel road, but it continues up to the Charcoal Kilns at about 6,500', then gets plum nasty (enjoyable only on a good mountain bike with LOW gears, as it gains about a 1,000' in the last mile!!!) up to Mahogany Flat at 8,133'.   THEN there is a gated road which apparently goes up to the top of Rogers Peak at 9,995'!!!!

The east side of the Death Valley Road climbs from 3,200' in Eureka Valley past Joshua Trees and into Pinyon Pines at 7,660' (4,460' gain).  The west side climbs from Owen's River at 3,900', average grade 5% (max just touches 12% in the roller in the "narrows", 11% in one corner before that) (3,760' gain).

The west side of Towne Pass climbs from Panamint Valley at 1,700' up a steep grade (that most know as a 9% decent in the Death Valley to Mount Whitney Race) to 4,956' (3,265' gain).  The other side of the valley climbs a scenic road up to "Darwin Summit" at about 5,200' (3,500' gain).

Daylight Pass at 4,317' in on the opposite side of Death Valley from Towne's Pass and rises from Sea Level.  This is a delightful climb that hovers very close to 6% almost the whole way with little variation.

The climb up Pine Creek is the Mammoth club favorite and climbs from 4,500' up to 7,420' in 8 miles, average grade 7% (max is 9%, extended sections of 8%).  However, the real climbers have been known to jump the gate and blast on up the steeper grades to the old Tungsten mine at almost 8,000' (3,500' gain)

The climb up Big Pine Canyon to the remnants of Glacier Lodge is almost exactly the same stats as le alpe d'Huez only with four thousand feet more base elevation.  Starting elevation 3,940' finishing elevation 7,800'.  The actual climb is 9 miles with an average grade of almost 8% (max is 11%0.  There are extended portions of 9-10% ( 3,860' gain).

The climb to Whitney Portal is the other "best known" climb.  It climbs from Lone Pine at 3,700' to 8,371' in 11.6 miles with grades of up to 15% (4,671' gain).

Photograph by Dennis Flaherty: Mount Tom, viewed from a flower-covered ridge in the Buttermilks. The summit of Mount Tom, 13,500' is two-miles south of the second climb on Day Two.

There are too many smaller but awesome climbs to mention here and even more mountain bike climbs.  Four off-road climbs deserve special mention though:

The paved/unpaved ride described above from Panamint Valley up Wildrose Canyon to Rogers Peak gains about 9,000'!

The ride from Ed Powers Road, up the Tungsten City Road, across to the Buttermilk Road, the up to Coyote Ridge gains about 7,500' from Bishop.  This parallels the South Lake climb, but then cuts off before the end to a higher finish.

The climb up Rock Creek starting from about 4,500' can be followed up onto a road that I have seen from the valley floor high up in Wheeler Crest (? 12,000' elevation, ?7,500' gain).  This parallels the Mosquito Flat climb, but cuts off before the end to climb the ridge in the crook of lower and upper Rock Creek.

And the most demanding climb would be from Laws at 4,106' up the steep (25% grades) Silver Canyon and continuing all the way to the top of White Mountain at 14,246'.  This has several thousand feet of descending on the way up, making the total climbing around 4,000m.

Mono County to the north also a multitude of short scenic climbs and also three climbs gaining over 1,000m:

Tioga Pass climbs from just above Mono Lake at 6,375' to 9,941'.

Monitor Pass climbs from Topaz Lake (?5,000') to 8,314'.

Sonora Pass climbs steeply (the sign says max grade 28%) to 9,628'.

And yes, I know there are some other climbs that gain more than 1,000m.  But most of these fall below the significant 5% grade level.  Sage Hen Pass from the east does gain over 1,000m.  But you have to come down through long flats to get that.  Same with Salsberry Pass in Death Valley.

Don't get me wrong though.  There are also a lot of very scenic flatter roads.  Perhaps the best way to see the mountains after all is still from the valley floor.  The locals tend to avoid Highway 395 because we are spoiled.  But there still is little traffic on Highway 395 (except for the start and finish of a three day weekend) compared to the congested roads around Tahoe or even worse Southern and Coastal California.  The roads in Death Valley are flat and excellent for many miles.  Highway 6 is flat and straight but a bit narrow (good for training into a headwind).  Most locals hit the Warm Springs/Eastside/Line St. loop east of Bishop, the Round Valley/Pleasant Valley Reservoir loop northwest of Bishop, or the Green Church Road east of Mammoth Lakes.

Note - As I am just compiling this data I would appreciate any help with distances, grades, etc. that you may have.  I am also interested in hearing if anyone has done most of these.  I've done 16 of the 17 Inyo paved road climbs listed above as well as one of the mountain bike climbs.  I've got the other three mountain bike rides (including the last road climb up Wildrose Canyon) in my sites for the next year.  Let me know if you are interested in joining in on the lactic acid feast!

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Are there hotels? Do you reccomend any bike friendly places? Also, what time of year is the earliest for riding to the top--May? June?

Yes, there are plenty of hotels in town, Bishop would be better.  Creekside Inn in the best.  Bestwestern Holiday Spa Lodge is good.  The roads have been blocked all the way into June before.  You might be able to get information on road closure up to Schulman Grove from the Forest Service, but I'd get it last minute if you are coming in May or June, because I've seen 3 feet of snow on the road melt in 2 days before and they have also gotten a foot on the road in June.