A steep gravel road to Monte Telegrafo-Plose in the Dolomites
Italy, europe
9.8 km
2,483 m
hard
Year-round
# Monte Telegrafo-Plose: A High-Alpine Adventure
Perched at 2,483m (8,146ft) in Italy's Trentino-South Tyrol region, Monte Telegrafo-Plose is an incredible high mountain destination that punches way above its weight. From the summit, you can spy more than 100 surrounding peaks stretching across the horizon—seriously humbling stuff.
The peak sits north of Forcella Luson and has accumulated quite the collection of infrastructure over the decades: communication towers, a military base, a heliport, a church, and the cozy Plosehütte mountain hut. There's also some Cold War history here—a radar station that operated from 1958 to 1978, originally accessed not just by road but by an impressive cable car system rising from the valley below.
## The Drive
The road up is called Via Panoramica Dolomiti, and it's gloriously narrow and mostly unpaved as you climb. Fair warning: it gets progressively rougher closer to the top, and the whole route shuts down completely during winter months. The 9.8km (6.08 miles) ascent from the paved Strada Provinciale 29 is no joke—you're climbing 778 meters with some brutal 12% gradients thrown in. Expect an average grade of around 7.93% throughout.
## The View
But here's why you make the drive: a breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the Dolomites spreads out before you. On clear days, you'll take in the Ötztal Alps, Zillertal and Stubai Alps, plus the Ortles, Brenta, and Adamello ranges. It's the kind of vista that makes every hairpin turn worth it.
Where is it?
A steep gravel road to Monte Telegrafo-Plose in the Dolomites is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.1766, 12.5386
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 9.8 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,483 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 42.1766, 12.5386
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