Stelvio Pass
The ultimate Alpine classic: a technical GPX track over Stelvio with hairpins and altitude.
I have ridden this route myself. From Bormio you climb through 40 corners to the top at 2,758 meters, where the Stelvio immediately lives up to its reputation: narrow strips of asphalt, cold air, and a view that makes every downshift worth it.
Expect crowds in high season: campers, cyclists and photographers share the same corners. Leave early, take your time in the hairpins, and treat the top as a place to rest rather than a finish line.
Elevation profile
Stops & viewpoints
- 1IV GalleriaA narrow, dark rock tunnel with limited lighting. Watch for oncoming traffic.
- 2Cascata del BraulioAn impressive waterfall along the mountain road, between steep rock walls.
- 3Curvafoto Passo dello StelvioA well-known photo spot where photographers snap action shots of passing riders.
- 4Top of the Stelvio PassThe legendary summit at 2,757 meters, with souvenir shops and places to eat.
- 5Aussichtspunkt Stilfser JochAn iconic viewpoint over dozens of hairpin bends on the pass's eastern side.
Based on the GPX track. Small deviations are normal.
Things to know about the Stelvio Pass
Bikers’ paradise at the top
The top is genuinely a bikers’ paradise: every kind of model is crammed up there. If you like looking at other bikes, plan some extra time.
Photographers along the road
Photographers line the road on both the Bormio and Stelvio sides. Remember the number where you start climbing, and you’ll find yourself again much more easily afterwards.
Hot dog stand at the top
There’s a hot dog stand at the top. Not the finest lunch, but exactly what you need at 2,758 meters.
Second highest in the Alps
At 2,758 meters, the Stelvio is the second-highest paved mountain pass in the entire Alps, after the Col de l’Iseran.
Built between 1820 and 1825
The road was built by the Austrian Empire under engineer Carlo Donegani. The route has barely changed since.
48 numbered hairpins
On the north side the hairpins are numbered from 1 at the top down to 48. In the Giro d’Italia, the Stelvio is often the highest point of the entire race.
Practical info on the road
Fuel
Bormio and Prato. There’s nothing on the pass itself, so leave with a full tank.
Food and rest
Hot dog stand and rifugio at the top. It gets packed after 11am.
Best time
Early morning on a weekday. Later in the day you’ll share the corners with campers and cyclists.
Watch out for
Leftover snow in May, thin air above 2,000 m, and oncoming traffic cutting corners wide.
Cara's tip
Ride this pass at your own pace
I didn’t necessarily ride the Stelvio too fast, but I did ride it too early: at that point I’d barely ridden any hairpins or mountain passes, and this was suddenly 0 to 100. On the descent I grabbed the front brake in a panic, and that nearly did me in. Ride at your own pace and try to look through the corners. I was honestly glad I did the descent and not the climb. Don’t attempt this pass until you’ve built up enough experience, and if you decide to ride it in a group: don’t get swept along by the group’s pace, ride within your own ability.
On the road on the Stelvio Pass
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