Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) La Canada to Clear Creek (Tier 4)

Complexity Index

89 / 100

Tier 4: Steep Mountain & Exposed Coast

Corridor distance

10.2 mi

SR-2 Foothill Trailhead to Clear Creek Junction (SR-2 & Angeles Forest Hwy)

Peak vertical slope

6.8%

1,620 to 3,865 ft elevation

Cumulative climb

2,260 ft

Crux: Clear Creek Canyon turnout & hairpin

Why this corridor sits in Tier 4

Ascending immediately from Foothill Boulevard into sheer granitic canyon walls of the Angeles National Forest, SR-2 combines sustained 6% to 7% grades with continuous compound and decreasing-radius curves. CCRS collision records along this climb show a high proportion of single-vehicle roadway departures, motorcycle loss-of-control events, and turnout crossing conflicts.

Key roadway traits

Sustained 6 to 7% mountain grade
Severe single-vehicle run-off-road profile
Rapid altitude weather change

Crux sightline checkpoint: Clear Creek Canyon turnout & hairpin (34.2612, -118.1585, heading 38 deg). Open Google Street View panorama ↗

Four-factor geometric & crash decomposition

0 to 100 scale

Curve & turn deflection95 / 100

340 deg/mi continuous rock-cut switchbacks and canyon bends

Vertical slope & hill grade91 / 100

6.8% sustained ascent gaining over 2,200 vertical feet

Speed envelope & merge pacing82 / 100

Downhill brake management and unchannelized scenic turnouts

Historical crash record concentration86 / 100

High serious-or-fatal share among reported canyon collisions

Corridor alignment & sightline inspection

Reference corridor geometry loads on OpenStreetMap + MapLibre by default. Load live buffered CHP CCRS collision counts or launch interactive Street View when needed.

Corridor pathFatal crashInjury crashPDO crash(Reference California corridor geometry; click any point for Street View)

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Inspect full statewide highway tables, city crash profiles, or generate a custom origin-to-destination brief along this corridor.

I-210 corridor profile →SR-134 corridor profile →Los Angeles crash map →All 24 California courses →

Other Tier 4 California corridors

Cabrillo Highway (SR-1) Carmel Highlands to Big Sur

Central Coast · 18.5 mi

Index 86 →

Ortega Highway (SR-74) San Juan Capistrano to Elsinore Crest

Orange County / Riverside Mountains · 16.8 mi

Index 88 →

US-50 Echo Summit Sierra Granite Escarpment

Sierra Nevada / Lake Tahoe · 11.4 mi

Index 87 →

SR-1 Malibu Coast to Topanga Canyon Switchbacks

Malibu / Santa Monica Mountains · 11.8 mi

Index 85 →

Methodology & interpretation limits

Complexity Index combines horizontal curvature, sustained elevation grade, speed-transition demand, and 12-month historical reported crash concentration per corridor mile. Counts describe observational public records unadjusted for daily traffic volume and do not represent driving safety advice. Missing-coordinate collision records in surrounding cities are reported separately in live buffered queries and are never plotted at synthetic coordinates.

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Cite or reuse this profile

This is independent analysis of public records. Keep the reporting window, source, and methodology attached when reusing a figure.

Evidence for Zero. "Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) La Canada to Clear Creek (Tier 4: Steep Mountain & Exposed Coast)." Updated November 11, 2026. https://crashes.meruai.co/courses/angeles-crest-sr2-ascent. Analysis of California Crash Reporting System public records.

Read the methodology