
Where is Cibiana Pass?
Italy, europe
20.7 km
N/A
hard
Year-round
Okay, adventure seekers, buckle up for the Cibiana Pass! Nestled high in the Dolomites at a seriously breathtaking altitude, this Italian gem is also called "Passo Cibiana" by the locals. You'll find it in northern Italy. Up top, an old WWI road, now a gravel track, branches off to a mountain refuge where you can find some relics from back in the day.
The main road, SP347, isn't for the faint of heart. It's paved but super twisty and not suitable for longer vehicles. Landslides? Yeah, they can happen.
Clocking in at just under 13 miles (20.7 km), the pass links Forcella Cibiana with Ponte Cadore in a south-north dash. Keep your eyes peeled because this road has been so stunning, it has starred in a movie!
Heads up: winter closes things down. Snow's a no-go.
And those slopes? Get ready for some serious climbing! Some sections hit gradients of 15%. You're looking at a 724-meter ascent from Forcella Cibiana and an average gradient of 7%.
Road Details
- Country
- Italy
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 20.7 km
- Difficulty
- hard
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