Figuring out grade % of hills

I was just wondering if there is a simple way to figure out what percent grade a hill is? I live in a very hilly area and a few of the hills are really steep. I have started doing hill repeats to build up my stamina because this is an area where I am really lacking. Lots of the training programs I've read online tell you find hills of 2-4% or whatever - I'm always curious to know what % the hills I'm riding are. Is there a simple way to figure it out? (PS I do understand that 10% grade is 1 foot in height increase over a 10 foot distance. Problem is, I have no idea what the vertical change has been over a particular length.)

PS I did find this calculator online....

http://www.csgnetwork.com/inclinedeclinegradecalc.html

I use Google Earth: http://earth.google.com/

It gives you the altitude of the point where you have your mouse. You have to figure out the distance between the beginning and the end of the climb, get the altitude of both points from Google Earth, and then it's a simple calculation, as you just described...

OMG that is an awesome program!! And it has Canada on the map (OK, my subdivision is blurry if it's too close, but at least it's there!) and it worked on my Mac. Thank you!!

So I figured out the hill I practiced on has a 90 foot increase over a half km and is about a 5.5% grade. Cool... :) Gotta do the translation for km to miles, oh well. Maybe if I play around with Google Earth, I can change it to metric...

Very cool! I've been wondering about the grade of a particular hill and now that I know the elevation gain (63 feet) I just need to drive it to figure out the exact distance.

Yes yes you can set it to metric...

The other way to get the distance is to check your bike computer (and first to get one if you can). You can find a simple one for about $20-25 and it's really a good investment...

Yup, I have a bike computer so went out and measured the hill today. Was a tad longer than I thought (.6k) so will go and recheck the grade again. So cool - thanks again!

PS You're in Vancouver? I grew up in Richmond...

... am indeed in Vancouver, land of hills (coming from fairly flat Montreal). I live very close to the Anthropology Museum so Spanish Banks hill is my usual hill-reps hill. :)

I still have to go to Kelowna and unfortunately it won't be this Summer because my partner and I will be all over the country but not here! Hopefully during this year I'll have a chance to visit your area...

By the way I don't think you've visited the Getting to know you thread yet. See you there!

I did post in the Getting to Know You thread a little while back but I haven't posted anywhere else until now. Short version so you don't have to go look for me - I'm 46, live in Kelowna, I'm a teacher, have two grown daughters, and one 8 yo son, have returned to cycling about 2 months ago and LOVE it. Have a very avid cyclist hubby (fairly new relationship so I've just joined him in his sport). I have a Rocky Mountain MTB because hubby wants me to be able to ride in the hills with him but I covet the road bikes... drool... I like going fast...