Facing the Climb of Gavia Pass
Italy, europe
44.9 km
2,700 m
extreme
Year-round
Get ready for Passo di Gavia, an epic mountain pass straddling Sondrio and Brescia in Lombardy, Italy! This is one of Italy's highest roads, peaking at a whopping 2,627m (8,618ft). The SP29 winds for nearly 45 km (28 miles) from Ponte di Legno to Bormio.
Trust me, this climb is a beast. Think serious gradients that regularly push past 7%, often spiking to 10%, and switchbacks galore. Small parking spots are carved out of the mountain so you can pull over.
Located in northern Italy, Gavia is seriously gorgeous, dividing Sondrio and Brescia.
The road is usually in great condition, and while you won't see tons of cars, watch out for the motorcycles! If you're heading up, pack layers, even in summer, as it can get chilly near the glacier-covered summit.
The views? Stunning. The descent towards Santa Caterina Valfurva and Bormio is worth every drop of sweat from the climb. And yeah, you might even see snow in the summer months!
The road closes on the south side during winter, but the north stays somewhat open thanks to the Bormio ski resort.
At the top, check out the super scenic Lago Bianco with Corno dei Tre Signori towering above. Don't miss Lago Nero just below the pass on the south side, either!
This road is no joke. Prepare for tight curves, hairpin turns, and some seriously steep sections. Oh, and in many spots, there are no guardrails between you and a long, long way down.
Just before the summit, you'll cross a bridge over the Rezzalasco. Not far after, you will find the alpine lodge "Berni". Then you're near the summit, on the south side is *that* tunnel.
About 3 km from the top, you will find this dark, steep, gravel-lined tunnel. Thankfully, it's paved now, with reflectors to guide you.
The northern side? It's been showing its age, especially the higher sections. Watch out for the tunnel police – they love to catch motorcyclists speeding through the 30 km/h zone.
For cyclists, the climb from Bormio is about 25.6 km with an average gradient of 5.5%. If you're coming from Ponte di Legno, it's a shorter 17.3 km, but with a steeper 7.9% average gradient (and maxing out at 16%!).
On the south side, there's this stretch so narrow that cars can barely pass each other, making it…intense. Some of the hairpin bends on the south side are so tight that larger motorcycles might have to do a little maneuvering to get through. And remember, no guardrails in many places, so focus!
At the summit, you'll find a simple restaurant with cheap lodging. If you're coming from the south, look to your right and you might catch a glimpse of an ancient Roman road about 50 meters from the modern route.
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 44.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,700 m
- Difficulty
- extreme
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