Anywhere in the US where you could find climbs similar to the Alps ? Something like 12 miles, 7%, just as an example.
San Gabriel Mountains in LA?
Crystal Lake (even stretch it out to Dawson Saddle via the closed section of 39)
East Fork-Baldy Ski Lifts
Highway 2-> Mount Wilson (or Dawson Saddle/Cloudburst Summit)
Plus many more gravel (and road) climbs
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This one is almost 11 miles at about 6%, I’ve done it but it was a long time ago.
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Onion Valley Rd?
If you go to BC there are many steep climbs with distance.
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Blue ridge parkway, 480+ miles of solid climbs
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Colorado for sure, but you have to be prepared to contend with the altitude. Dozens (or probably even hundreds) of climbs that fit that description.
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North Carolina Mountains are pretty close. More 4-5%, but a few good climbs if you hunt for segments. The other advantage as someone said is the parkway.
This one is almost 6%
https://www.strava.com/segments/11687193
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In the Eastern Sierras of California and Nevada there are several:
- Mount Rose Hwy and Kingsbury Grade near Tahoe
- Monitor and Ebbetts are part of the Deathride
- Sonora Pass
- Tioga into Yosemite
- Onion Valley
- Whitney portal
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Mt Mitchell, Mt Lemmon are two but closer to 5%, but very long.
This is a good resource: https://pjammcycling.com/
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Little known, but Ruidoso NM has a 12-mile climb that averages 5.4% w/ pitches upwards of 10-15%. You could also look at the Bogus Basin climb near Boise ID.
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Mt. Washington is 7.4miles at 12% average…
…but you can only ride it one day a year.
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Twice, technically. They have the untimed “early bird” ride.
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Salt Lake City/Park City area. Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, Millcreek Canyon, Emigration Canyon, Big Mountain, Cascade Springs, American Fork Canyon, Guardsman Pass, Pine Canyon, and many others along the Wasatch front.
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Auburn, CA.
We’re lucky to have Tahoe National Forest here, and be low enough in altitude that you can ride much of it year round (it does get hot in summer). There are a number of crossings of the North fork of the American river, I can think of 4 for sure. So that is 8 potential climbs up. And Forest Hill road goes all the way to like 6500 ft or something at Robinson Flat.
There’s also climbing Auburn to Gold Run, which again has long long sustained climbs, and there’s a dirt road that goes even higher, although some unfriendly signs along it make you feel unwelcome.
Here’s a random loop from Strava. They rode back down Forest Hill Rd, rather than climbing up it. So riding Auburn to Forest Hill, is about 1000m of climbing over 40km.
Mosquito Ridge Rd is another great climb. And if you go all the way to French Meadows, there are campsites and a lake to cool off in.
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This thread reminds me that I’m bummed out that Strava changed their segment finder and you can’t sort by category of climb any more. I liked being able to filter and just look at all the HC climbs in an area.
I have 4 HC climbs (2 paved, 1 mixed surface, and 1 mtb) near me (Spokane, WA/CDA, ID area). Not as many as a certain places in Colorado, Utah, or California. But it’s better than nothing.
Mt Spokane: 13.5 mi, 4099 ft, Avg Grade 5.5%
https://www.strava.com/segments/4386861
Schweitzer Mountain: 8.9 mi, 2665 ft, Avg Grade 5.7%
https://www.strava.com/segments/20983569
Mica Peak Idaho: 8 mi, 2679 ft, Avg Grade 6.4%
https://www.strava.com/segments/17797715
Mica Peak Washington: 5.1 mi 3035 ft, Avg Grade 11.1% (this one is the shortest climb distance was but has taken me longer than the other 3)
https://www.strava.com/segments/20717475
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That’s the old route. The new route does Pacific Grade to Lake Alpine on Ebbetts and skips Carson. I think due to the afternoon traffic on Carson. Either way, great climbs!
Another option to consider, but as a tour, is one of Jobst Brandt’s big spring tours.
https://bicyclinglife.com/Recreation/SierraSpring.htm
Also, one great climb (I’ve not done yet), is Tioga Pass when it opens to bicycles for a day or a few days before cars in the Spring
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100%. Strava have made it so much harder to find the type of climbs you want
Bishop, CA and the old Everest Challenge Route. You can always turn around early if the climb is too long 
Day 1:
Rock Creek Road Rock Creek Road | Strava Ride Segment in Mammoth Lakes, CA
Pine Creek BOG to Top of Pine Creek | Strava Ride Segment in Bishop, California
South Lake https://www.strava.com/segments/8239914
Day 2:
Glacier Lodge Hwy 395 to Glacier Lodge Ascent | Strava Ride Segment in Big Pine, CA
168 168 to Devil's Gate | Strava Ride Segment in Bishop, CA
White Mountains White Mountain Climb 6000+ ft. | Strava Ride Segment in Big Pine, CA
These are the full day segments
https://www.strava.com/segments/769013
https://www.strava.com/segments/771179
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