Starting the Tollhouse Road climb directly from Tollhouse throws you straight onto the main, challenging ascent known as the 'Tollhouse Grade'. Prepare for a relentless climb over the next approximately 5-7 miles, gaining 2,000-2,500ft as you head towards the grade's summit just south of Ockenden. You'll experience a very consistent and demanding gradient averaging 7-9% with few breaks, often on a multi-lane highway section. While expansive views back over the Central Valley open up behind you, a key part of the experience is managing the potentially heavy and fast-moving traffic.