Jamison Creek, the northernmost paved route from Hwy 9 (via Hwy 236) to Empire Grade, nestled in the Santa Cruz Mountains, starts out steep, then gets steeper and steeper. Near the top it sustains very interesting grades, making the summit a long-overdue sight. Along the way, if you have time, you can enjoy the sound of the water in the creek as well as nice vista of the valley.