Steepest Roads in the World: 10 Heart-Pounding Gradients

The steepest road in the world is Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, with a maximum gradient of 34.8% (1 in 2.86). Other extremely steep public roads include Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh, USA (37% gradient, though disputed), Ffordd Pen Llech in Wales (28.6%), and Waipio Valley Road in Hawaii (25%).

Introduction

Gradient percentage indicates how much a road rises vertically for every 100 meters of horizontal distance. A 35% gradient means the road climbs 35 meters for every 100 meters forward — steep enough that walking feels like climbing a staircase and vehicles struggle for traction.

The battle for the "steepest street" title has sparked heated rivalries between cities. Guinness World Records has shifted the record between Baldwin Street and Ffordd Pen Llech multiple times, depending on measurement methodology. This guide covers the 10 steepest public roads, with verified gradients and what makes each remarkable.

1. Baldwin Street — Dunedin, New Zealand

• Maximum Gradient: 34.8% (1 in 2.86)
• Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
• Length: 350 m
• Surface: Concrete (upper), asphalt (lower)

Baldwin Street in Dunedin held the Guinness World Record for the steepest residential street from 1987 to 2019, lost it briefly to Ffordd Pen Llech in Wales, then regained it in 2020 after Guinness changed its measurement criteria. The street's upper section is paved in concrete rather than asphalt because the asphalt would flow downhill on hot days.

The annual "Baldwin Street Gutbuster" race sees hundreds of runners sprinting up and down the street. Jaffa chocolate balls are rolled down the street during charity events, reaching impressive speeds by the bottom. The gradient is so extreme that the rooflines of houses appear to tilt at alarming angles when viewed from the base.

2. Canton Avenue — Pittsburgh, USA

• Maximum Gradient: 37% (1 in 2.7)
• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• Length: Approximately 70 m (steep section)
• Status: Steep section is very short

Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh's Beechview neighborhood has a measured gradient of 37%, which is steeper than Baldwin Street. However, the extremely steep section is only about 70 meters long (compared to Baldwin Street's 350 meters), and Guinness has not recognized it due to the shortness of the steep stretch. Pittsburgh, built on steep hills at the confluence of three rivers, has numerous extremely steep streets.

3. Ffordd Pen Llech — Harlech, Wales

• Maximum Gradient: 28.6% (revised measurement)
• Location: Harlech, Gwynedd, Wales
• Length: ~280 m
• Status: Briefly held Guinness record (2019–2020)

Ffordd Pen Llech in the medieval town of Harlech briefly took the Guinness World Record for the steepest street in 2019, sparking a measurement controversy with Baldwin Street supporters. The winding road descends from Harlech Castle toward the lower town, with views across the Cardigan Bay. Guinness later revised the criteria to measure the center of the road rather than the inside edge of bends, returning the record to Baldwin Street.

4. Waipio Valley Road — Hawaii, USA

• Maximum Gradient: 25% (estimated)
• Location: Big Island, Hawaii
• Length: ~1.3 km
• Requirement: 4WD vehicles only

Waipio Valley Road descends from the rim of the spectacular Waipio Valley to the valley floor on Hawaii's Big Island. The steep, narrow road drops over 300 meters and is restricted to 4WD vehicles. The road is so steep and narrow that a system of honking at hairpin turns alerts oncoming traffic. Getting stuck on this road during rain is a common and dangerous occurrence.

5. Harlech Steps area roads — Wales, UK

• Maximum Gradient: ~36% (localized sections)
• Location: Various streets in Harlech, Wales
• Note: Multiple extremely steep streets in the town

Beyond Ffordd Pen Llech, the town of Harlech contains several extremely steep streets owing to its position on a hillside below Harlech Castle. These medieval streets were designed for pedestrians and pack animals, not motor vehicles, and some localized sections approach or exceed 36% gradient, though they are not classified as through-roads.

6. Eldred Street — Los Angeles, USA

• Maximum Gradient: 33% (1 in 3)
• Location: Highland Park, Los Angeles
• Surface: Paved, public road
• Note: One of many extremely steep LA streets

Los Angeles, despite its reputation as a car city, has numerous extremely steep streets in its hilly neighborhoods. Eldred Street in Highland Park reaches a 33% gradient, making it one of the steepest streets in the United States. The city's many steep streets have been featured in car chase scenes in countless films and television shows.

7. Vale Street — Bristol, England

• Maximum Gradient: 22%
• Location: Totterdown, Bristol
• Length: ~90 m
• Claim: Steepest street in England

Vale Street in the Totterdown neighborhood of Bristol is often cited as the steepest residential street in England, with a gradient of 22 percent. The short street rises sharply between rows of Victorian terraced houses, and residents must contend with icy conditions in winter that make the street virtually impassable without assistance.

8. Filbert Street — San Francisco, USA

• Maximum Gradient: 31.5% (1 in 3.17)
• Location: San Francisco, California
• Status: One of SF's steepest streets
• Note: Not to be confused with Lombard Street

San Francisco is famous for its steep streets, and Filbert Street between Leavenworth and Hyde streets reaches a gradient of 31.5%. While Lombard Street gets more tourist attention for its hairpin turns, Filbert Street is actually significantly steeper. The city has over 50 streets with gradients exceeding 20%.

9. Hardknott Pass — Cumbria, England

• Maximum Gradient: 33% (1 in 3)
• Location: Lake District, Cumbria, England
• Type: Single-track mountain pass road
• Hazard: Hairpin bends with steep drops

Hardknott Pass in the Lake District is the steepest road pass in England, with gradients reaching 33 percent. The single-track road climbs over the Hardknott Pass between Eskdale and the Wrynose Pass with a series of brutal hairpin bends. A Roman fort (Mediobogdum) sits at the summit, evidence that this route has challenged travelers for nearly 2,000 years.

10. Baoss Street — Dunedin, New Zealand

• Maximum Gradient: ~29%
• Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
• Note: Dunedin has multiple streets steeper than 25%
• Context: Baldwin Street's lesser-known rival

Dunedin, built on volcanic hills, has an unusually high concentration of extremely steep streets. Beyond famous Baldwin Street, several other streets in the city exceed 25% gradient. The city's steep topography is a legacy of Scottish settlers who applied a grid street plan to hilly terrain, creating streets that go straight up hills rather than following contour lines.

Key Facts

• Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, holds the Guinness World Record at 34.8% gradient.
• Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh has a 37% gradient but is too short for the official record.
• A 35% gradient means the road rises 35 meters for every 100 meters of horizontal distance.
• The steepest road debate has sparked international rivalries between Dunedin, Harlech, and Pittsburgh.
• Concrete is used instead of asphalt on some steep streets because asphalt can flow downhill in heat.

Fun Facts

• Baldwin Street's asphalt was replaced with concrete on the steep upper section because the asphalt literally melted and slid downhill on hot summer days.
• San Francisco has over 50 streets with gradients exceeding 20%, making it one of the steepest cities in the world.
• The annual Jaffa candy roll down Baldwin Street sends thousands of chocolate balls racing to the bottom, with proceeds going to charity.
• Pittsburgh was once called the "City of Steps" — it has 712 public staircases because many of its hillside streets are too steep for vehicles.

Final Thoughts

The steepest roads in the world challenge vehicles, pedestrians, and civil engineers alike. From New Zealand to Wales to Pittsburgh, these vertiginous streets are products of geography meeting urban planning — and the results are both terrifying and fascinating. Whether you visit to break a sweat running up them or simply to marvel at the angle, the world's steepest roads are unforgettable.