Starting from Balch Camp at 1,273 feet, the road climbs for approximately 9.5 to 11 miles, gaining around 2,700 to 2,750 feet to reach the reservoir at 4,000 feet elevation, with a steady average gradient in the 4.7% to 5.4% range. This is a dramatic ascent through a granite canyon in the Southern Sierra Nevada, often a narrow, one-lane road that hugs cliffs high above the Kings River, offering stunning and intimidating views, so be prepared for cautious traffic and the lack of guardrails in places before the pavement ends at the reservoir.