
A paved narrow road to Guspessa Pass in the Alps
Italy, europe
20 km
1,824 m
hard
Year-round
Passo di Guspessa is a thrilling alpine pass sitting at 1,824m (5,984ft) in the province of Brescia, Italy. Tucked away in the Lombardy region near the Swiss border, this is one seriously challenging ride.
Fair warning: this is an old military track that'll keep you on your toes. Yeah, it's fully paved, but the surface is rough and unforgiving, with some sections hitting 20% grades that'll make your palms sweat. Speed limits are capped at 20 km/h—and for good reason. Big rigs are completely banned here, so it's just you, smaller vehicles, and the mountain.
The 21.5 km (13.35 miles) stretch runs north to south from the legendary Mortirolo Pass down to Galleno, rewarding you with absolutely stunning alpine scenery. Just be extra careful navigating oncoming traffic, making passes, and taking those hairpin corners. One wrong move and you'll regret it.
Head up here in summer or early fall if you can—winters turn this road into an impassable snow-covered nightmare. But if you time it right, you're in for an unforgettable alpine adventure with views that'll take your breath away.
Where is it?
A paved narrow road to Guspessa Pass in the Alps is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.9917, 12.8354
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 20 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,824 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 42.9917, 12.8354
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