
A paved road to Coe Pass in the Venetian Prealps
Italy, europe
19 km
1,610 m
moderate
Year-round
# Passo Coe
Tucked away in Italy's Trentino-Alto Adige region, Passo Coe sits pretty at 1,610 meters (5,282 feet) above sea level. This mountain pass is a serious climb that'll test your driving skills—and your patience.
The route up is via Strada Provinciale 143 (SP143), starting from Calliano. You're looking at 19 km (11.8 miles) of steady ascending with a brutal 1,428 meters of elevation gain. That works out to an average gradient of 7.5%—totally doable, but definitely demanding. The good news? The entire road is paved and generally well-maintained, so at least you won't be wrestling with a rough surface while you're grinding your way up.
This climb has serious pedigree too—it's a former Giro d'Italia mountain stage, so you'll be following in the tire tracks of professional cyclists who've conquered it.
Once you reach the top, you'll find a decent-sized parking lot (paid), plus a handful of bars and restaurants where you can catch your breath and grab some fuel. There's also a mountain refuge if you're planning to stay overnight.
One thing to keep in mind: the upper sections can get sketchy during winter. Snow and ice might force temporary closures from late autumn through early spring, so always check local conditions before heading up if you're visiting outside the warmer months.
Where is it?
A paved road to Coe Pass in the Venetian Prealps is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 41.9913, 13.3680
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 19 km
- Max Elevation
- 1,610 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 41.9913, 13.3680
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