The Steepest Roads in the World

The title of "steepest road in the world" has sparked fierce competition, with different communities across the globe laying claim to the record. While the Guinness World Record has changed hands a few times in recent years, debates over gradient measurements continue to rage online.

In this article, we've compiled an updated list of the six steepest roads and streets on the planet to answer this question once and for all.

6. Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales, UK

(Image credit: Jonathan Deamer / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0)

Having once boasted a record 37.5% gradient, Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales has since been downgraded to an official 28.6% gradient following an appeal. This downgrade revealed that Ffordd Pen Llech is not even the steepest street in the UK.

This winding Welsh street is a public road and historic landmark that partly surrounds Harlech Castle. Traffic is only permitted to descend Ffordd Pen Llech, which is probably for the best as the street is single track and has tight bends to navigate at the steepest points!

View Ffordd Pen Llech on Google Maps

5. Vale Street in Bristol, England, UK

(Image credit: Jaggery / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0)

The titleholder for the steepest street in the UK goes to Vale Street in Bristol, England. This street has a reported 35% gradient at its steepest sections, requiring cars to be parked at an angle to ensure their vehicle doesn’t roll. Some residents have also been known to tie their parked cars to lampposts when it’s icy.

Every Easter, locals take part in an event which involves rolling eggs down the road to see who can get theirs the furthest.

View Vale Street on Google Maps

4. Canton Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States

(Image credit: Lildobe / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0)

Located in the hilly city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Canton Avenue acts as the centrepiece for many daring cyclists wanting to push themselves to the limit.

Although it’s often reported as having a 37% gradient, Canton Avenue isn’t officially credited as the world’s steepest street. However, it is widely considered the steepest road in the US due to the consistently steep gradient throughout.

View Canton Avenue on Google Maps

3. Bradford Street in San Francisco, United States

(Image credit: Phil Dokas / Flickr / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Bradford Street is one of many steep streets situated in San Francisco in the United States. Much of the road has a respectable 24% gradient slope before it reaches a 41% gradient.

Once you reach the top of the street, you can relax those shaky legs and admire a view of the San Francisco skyline.

View Bradford Street on Google Maps

2. Waipio Valley Road in the Hamakua District, Hawaii, United States

(Image credit: Wasif Malik / Flickr / CC BY 2.0)

Waipi’o Valley Road in the Hamakua District of Hawaii is often described as the steepest road in the United States. The narrow twisting road has a reported average gradient of around 25%, even increasing to 45% in certain sections! Due to its steepness, the sloping road is only open to 4-wheel drive vehicles.

View Waipi'o Valley Road on Google Maps

1. Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand

(Image credit: Mike Thurston / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0)

The official holder of the steepest road in the world is Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand.

Baldwin Street held the record for more than a decade until June 2019, when Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech, Wales, claimed the title. However, Guinness World Records reinstated Baldwin Street as the steepest road in the world in 2020.

The title was reclaimed after the Baldwin Street community issued an appeal. Following an extensive review, the street was reinstated as the world’s steepest street with a recorded 35% gradient. The appeal led to a change in the guidelines which now means that a street’s gradient must be measured using the centreline of the road.

Baldwin Street, which dead-ends in a cul-de-sac on Signal Hill, has become a hotspot for tourists and holds unique events. These slope-based events include the Baldwin Street Gutbuster, where participants see how fast they can run up to the top of the road and back. The record stands at 1 minute and 56 seconds. Another event is the charity Cadbury Jaffa Race, which involves rolling 75,000 individually sponsored Jaffa sweets down the hill.

View Baldwin Street on Google Maps

Find your new car and tackle the steepest roads

If you want to take on some of the steepest roads, you’ll need a reliable vehicle ready to take on the challenge. Hill start assist control (HAC) is essential for stopping and starting on an incline, while hill descent control (HDC) maintains a controlled speed while travelling down sharp gradients. Many cars these days offer both features, such as the Volvo XC90, Volkswagen T-Roc, and Dacia Bigster so you can say goodbye to hill start clutch troubles, and hello to travelling even long roads with ease.

Explore our latest car, EV, and van deals to find your ideal travel vehicle.