Cinque Croci Pass

Cinque Croci Pass

Italy, europe

Length

N/A

Elevation

2,018 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Passo Cinque Croci

Ready for a serious mountain adventure? Passo Cinque Croci sits pretty at 2,018 meters (6,620 feet) in the Eastern Alps of Trentino, northern Italy, and it's absolutely not your typical Sunday drive.

This is legit gravel territory—we're talking narrow enough that two cars literally can't pass each other, with brutal grades hitting 16% in places. Yeah, you read that right. The road pretty much hibernates during winter thanks to heavy snow, and heads up: it's actually been closed to motor vehicles recently, so check before you head out.

The route connects Canal San Bovo in the upper Val Cortalla (passing through Caoria village) with Strigno down in the southern Val Sugana. If you're game to tackle it, you'll find Rifugio Consèria near the summit—perfect for a pit stop and some serious mountain views.

Here's the real talk: this is a maintained gravel road, so a decent high-clearance 2WD vehicle can handle it in good conditions, as long as you take your time and stay patient through the washboard sections. Dry conditions are basically mandatory. This isn't the place to push your luck or your car—but if you're up for some genuine Alpine exploration with serious elevation and serious scenery, Passo Cinque Croci absolutely delivers.

Where is it?

Cinque Croci Pass is located in Italy (europe). Coordinates: 42.7247, 12.1429

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Road Details

Country
Italy
Continent
europe
Max Elevation
2,018 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
42.7247, 12.1429

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