 The steepest section, which ascends up the side of the area called Devil's Kitchen, starts at the corner of Becker Road in West Saugerties and climbs 1,200 vertical feet (366 m) in 2.1 miles (3.4 km) into Elka Park.This section is renowned as one of the hardest climbs in the United States.It has an average grade of 12% and a maximum grade of 31%.