Driving the challenging steep road to Passo Muazz in Ticino

Driving the challenging steep road to Passo Muazz in Ticino

Switzerland, europe

Length

6.1 km

Elevation

1,252 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Passo Muazz

Ready for a Swiss mountain adventure? Passo Muazz sits at 1,700m (5,567ft) in Ticino's Blenio district, right near the Grisons border in the southern part of the region.

Starting from the charming town of Ghirone at 1,252m, this 6.1 km (3.79 miles) route is definitely not for the faint of heart. You'll tackle 13 wickedly sharp hairpin turns while climbing 448 meters—that's an average gradient of 7.34%. The road's mostly paved, though you'll hit some gravel sections toward the end.

The real magic? You'll pass Lago di Luzzone, a stunning high mountain lake at 1,606m that's home to the world's highest artificial climbing wall on its dam. Then things get serious: the road gets narrow, twists get tighter, and you'll enter the famously claustrophobic Carassina (or Luzzone) Tunnel. Built way back in 1963, it's probably the narrowest tunnel you'll ever drive through on a public road—pretty wild!

After emerging from the tunnel, a final 500m of gravel road with a gentle climb gets you to Passo Muazz itself. Park up and soak in the views, or continue on to Lago di Carassino and the Capanna Adula mountain refuge if you're feeling the adventure vibes.

Where is it?

Driving the challenging steep road to Passo Muazz in Ticino is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 46.7068, 8.2518

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Switzerland
Continent
europe
Length
6.1 km
Max Elevation
1,252 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
46.7068, 8.2518

Related Roads in europe

A Steep Paved Road to Alto del Moncalvillo in La Riojahard

A Steep Paved Road to Alto del Moncalvillo in La Rioja

🇪🇸 Spain

Alto del Moncalvillo is a 1,480-meter (4,855ft) mountain peak tucked away in Spain's La Rioja region, and it's got some serious mountain cred—the Vuelta has tackled this climb before! The road up to the summit is fully paved, though you'll notice some rough patches along the way. What really keeps you on your toes are the 6 hairpin turns and several sections where the road gets pretty narrow. Fair warning: bring your A-game driving skills. Starting from the LR-341 near Daroca de Rioja, the climb stretches 8.6 km (5.34 miles) with a brutal 752 meters of elevation gain. You're looking at an average gradient of 8.74%, but some sections spike up to a punishing 14%—the kind of grades that make your legs (or engine) really feel it. Once you make it to the top, you'll find communication towers, various facilities, and a fire lookout tower, all perched up there in the Sierra de Moncalvillo range. It's a challenging, rewarding drive through some stunning Spanish mountain terrain that's earned its place in cycling history.

The Road to Rifugio Cornisello in the Alps is Not for Timid Driversextreme

The Road to Rifugio Cornisello in the Alps is Not for Timid Drivers

🇮🇹 Italy

# The Wild Ride to Rifugio Cornisello Looking for one of Italy's most heart-pounding drives? Head to the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region and buckle up for the road to Rifugio Cornisello, sitting pretty at 2,160m (7,086ft) in the stunning Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta Geoparco. This beast of a road was carved out in the 1950s to support dam construction near the Cornisello lakes, and it's earned its reputation as Italy's most nerve-wracking drive. Starting from Sant'Antonio di Mavignola at 1,077m, you're looking at a 12.3 km (7.64 miles) climb that'll gain you 1,109m of elevation—that's a punchy 9.01% average gradient, folks. What awaits you? Seventeen hairpin turns that'll test your driving skills, mostly on paved asphalt that's in fair condition (though potholes and water can surprise you). The real kicker? A pitch-black, unlit one-lane tunnel mid-climb that's genuinely terrifying. Add in the narrow lanes, minimal guardrails except on the gnarliest curves, and that rough, unpaved final stretch, and you've got yourself a serious challenge. Fair warning: this road is only passable from July to September when the snow clears. Come October, it's locked up tight until June. Plus, tourist season brings crowds and inexperienced drivers, cranking up the difficulty even more. But here's the payoff—those epic views of the Brenta Group are absolutely worth every white-knuckle moment. Mountain refuges pepper the route if you need to catch your breath and soak in the Alpine scenery.

Where is Collado del Hornillo?hard

Where is Collado del Hornillo?

🇪🇸 Spain

Okay, road trip lovers, let's talk about Collado del Hornillo! You'll find this awesome mountain pass chilling at 2,115 meters (that's 6,938 feet!) in the southern part of the country, just east of . Nestled way up in the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains, this route is a real beauty, clocking in at about 32.4 kilometers (or 20.13 miles). The road is paved, mostly, but be warned, heavy snowfall can mess things up. Expect some seriously steep climbs, with gradients hitting a maximum of 10% in places – you'll feel it! The good news is you probably won't run into much traffic. Get ready for incredible scenery as you wind your way up this amazing pass!

Trollstigenextreme

Trollstigen

🇳🇴 Norway

# Trollstigen: Norway's Most Jaw-Dropping Mountain Drive Ever dreamed of conquering one of Europe's most dramatic roads? Welcome to Trollstigen—"The Troll's Path"—a legitimately legendary mountain route that lives up to the hype. Nestled in Rauma Municipality in More og Romsdal county, this serpentine masterpiece gains 858 meters over eleven perfectly choreographed hairpin bends that'll have your hands gripping the steering wheel (and maybe some passengers gripping their seats). Built between 1928 and 1936, this engineering marvel has become a bucket-list pilgrimage for road-trippers and thrill-seekers worldwide, pulling in hundreds of thousands of visitors every single year. The real magic happens as you climb alongside the absolutely stunning Stigfossen waterfall, which crashes down 320 meters in a mesmerizing freefall. At the top, you'll find an architectural gem—a viewing platform that seems to defy gravity, jutting out over the valley to give you the ultimate Instagram moment. From up there, you can trace every zigzag of the road below while soaking in views of the surrounding peaks: Bispen, Kongen, and Dronningen. Fair warning: with gradients hitting 9% and hairpins tight enough to make you sweat, this isn't a leisurely cruise. Anything longer than 12.4 meters is banned, and even regular-sized vehicles need respect and caution here. The catch? This road only plays along during summer—typically late May through October. Winter snows shut it down completely. But when it's open, it's part of the legendary Geiranger-Trollstigen scenic route, one of Norway's eighteen officially designated masterpieces of natural landscape driving.