Exploring the World's Steepest Road and 9 Other Notable Slopes

New Zealand's Baldwin Street currently holds the Guinness World Record for being the world's steepest road, a distinction it proudly maintains.

Cities with one of the steepest streets often turn them into tourist hotspots, sometimes even hosting special local events to celebrate their unique geography.

From the scenic South Island of New Zealand to the iconic hills of San Francisco, here’s a journey through the globe’s most extreme inclines.

1. Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand (34.8%)

Built in the 1860s, Baldwin Street has grown into a major tourist draw. To honor its status as the world's steepest street, New Zealanders organize the annual Baldwin Street Gutbuster, where participants run to the summit and return.

2. Ffordd Pen Llech, Harlech, Wales (37.5%)

From the summit of Ffordd Pen Llech, breathtaking vistas unfold, showcasing the rolling Welsh countryside, the expansive Irish Sea, and the dramatic peaks of Snowdonia National Park. The historic Harlech Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is also visible from this vantage point.

3. Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA (33.3%)

Known as the steepest road in the U.S., Canton Avenue is a key feature of the annual Dirty Dozen cycling race, attracting biking enthusiasts eager to conquer its challenging cobblestone ascent.

4. Vale Street, Bristol, England (33%)

Vale Street in Bristol, the steepest residential road in the U.K., is famous for its annual Easter egg-rolling contests, where children and adults compete to roll their eggs the farthest. Located in the vibrant Totterdown neighborhood, it's also celebrated for its picturesque, colorful homes.

5. Eldred Street, Los Angeles, CA (33%)

In Los Angeles' Highland Park area, Eldred Street challenges visitors with its extreme incline, a feature that has stood since 1922. Such steep roads are rare in L.A., as the city has enforced grading restrictions capping street slopes at around 15 percent since the 1950s.

6. Baxter Street, Los Angeles, CA (32%)

Echo Park's Baxter Street is famous for its steep slopes and sudden descents. A 2022 viral video captured a Tesla soaring off the street and colliding with two vehicles, sparking outrage among locals over the reckless act.

7. Bradford Street, San Francisco, CA (31.5%)

Bradford Street lies in San Francisco's Bernal Heights, a neighborhood in a city renowned for its steep terrain. Those who brave this road by car or bike are treated to stunning vistas of the San Francisco skyline.

8. Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA (31.5%)

Filbert Street, found in San Francisco's Russian Hill district, shares Bradford Street's 31.5 percent slope and stands as one of the city's most famous inclines. It has been featured in several Hollywood films and TV shows, including the 1972 comedy "What's Up, Doc?" and the series "Monk."

9. Waipi'o Valley Road, Big Island, Hawaii (25%)

Waipi'o Valley Road on Hawaii’s Big Island is a perilous route with an average gradient of 25 percent, peaking at 45 percent in some sections. It provides breathtaking views of the valley's cliffs, waterfalls, and lush greenery. Known as the "Valley of the Kings," it was once the residence of Hawaiian royalty.

10. Signal Hill Road, Cape Town, South Africa (20.8%)

Signal Hill Road leads to one of Cape Town's most breathtaking vantage points, offering sweeping views of Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean. It is also known for the historic "Noon Gun" tradition, which began in the 1880s and involves firing a cannon precisely at midday.

Measuring Steepness

Guinness World Records calculates the steepest street by evaluating the maximum gradient across a 32.8-foot (10-meter) horizontal stretch. This approach ensures accuracy by concentrating on the steepest uninterrupted segment, rather than averaging the slope over the entire road, which might obscure its true steepness.

In 2020, Guinness World Records revised its measurement standards to focus on the road's central axis. This change followed Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales, securing the record in 2019, and subsequent appeals from supporters of Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, the former titleholder.

Originally, Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, held the title of the world's steepest street with a 34.8 percent gradient. However, Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales, later claimed the record with a reported 37.5 percent incline.

After the revised measurement criteria were applied, Ffordd Pen Llech's gradient was recalculated to 28.6 percent, allowing Baldwin Street to reclaim its status as the world's steepest street in April 2020.