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Ascent to Passo dello Stelvio from Bormio
03:06
43.5km
1,580m
Road cycling
Embark on the difficult Ascent to Passo dello Stelvio from Bormio, a legendary road cycling challenge covering 27.1 miles (43.5 km) with a formidable 5186 feet (1581 metres) of elevation gain. This route typically takes around 3 hours and 6 minutes to complete. You will begin with immediate significant slopes and switchbacks, riding through sparse woodland and the Braulio valley before encountering tunnels carved into the rock. As you climb higher, the scenery transforms into lush green pastures, with jaw-dropping waterfalls appearing alongside hairpins in the central section, eventually leading to an austere high-alpine environment near the summit.
Prepare for a sustained test of endurance, as the average gradient is 7% to 7.4%, with sections reaching 14% to 15%. The final 3-4 kilometers are particularly demanding, rarely dropping below an 8% gradient. Given the high altitude of 2,758 meters (9,045 feet), reduced oxygen levels will add to the physical challenge. Always be prepared for unpredictable weather, even in summer months, as snow is possible at the summit, so pack appropriate clothing.
This ascent is more than just a climb; it is an iconic part of cycling history, known as the highest road pass in Italy. It has frequently featured as a decisive stage in the Giro d'Italia, with a monument at the summit dedicated to Fausto Coppi's legendary 1953 performance. The road itself, with its numerous switchbacks, is an architectural marvel. Many cyclists consider riding the Stelvio a spiritual experience and a must-do adventure, embodying the spirit of mastering one of cycling's most revered ascents.
Last updated: April 23, 2026
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After 4.22 km for 35.1 km
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
Get Directions
781 m
Bormio Old Town
Highlight • Settlement
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13.8 km
Stelvio Pass Hairpin Turns
Highlight • Mountain Pass
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15.7 km
Stelvio Pass Straight Stretch
Highlight • Mountain Pass
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21.7 km
Stelvio Pass
Highlight • Mountain Pass
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43.5 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
42.0 km
1.48 km
106 m
Surfaces
41.7 km
1.75 km
129 m
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Elevation
Highest point (2,760 m)
Lowest point (1,190 m)
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Weather
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Saturday 23 May
17°C
3°C
22 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 5.0 km/h
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This route was planned by komoot.
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Trail Reviews
I took advantage of the day when the road to the Stelvio was closed to motor vehicles (a commendable and well-organized initiative). The context is fabulous, the views of the surrounding mountains and the road snake are worth the effort and expense of getting to Bormio from Chiavari. For the rest, what can I say? I was expecting a much tougher climb. Making a comparison with the Mortirolo, apart from the technical data, I was able to notice that on arrival on the Mortirolo we must have been about thirty, on the Stelvio there would have been at least 300, as well as people on foot, including a lady certainly over seventy who is done everything in a hurry, a unicycle (the ones you see at circuses), someone on skis (with wheels) etc. But for me the real fun was the descent, a real buzz....
The Stelvio Pass (in Italian: passo dello Stelvio, in German: Stilfser Joch) is the highest road pass in the Italian Alps at 2,760 meters above sea level. Linking Bormio in Lombardy to Prato allo Stelvio in Trentino-Alto Adige, it is also the second highest road pass in the Alps after the Col de l'Iseran (2,764 m). The pass, located in the Stelvio National Park, is at the foot of imposing peaks such as Ortles, Mount Scorluzzo or Piz Umbrail.
Second day of the Enjoy Cancano Stelvio Gavia September 2023. Lots of participation and lots of beauty along this iconic climb. The last time I did this climb I had my bags in cycle touring mode. Now, without bags, it's much better. Unfortunately Umbrail is closed, otherwise there would have been a quick visit.
From Bormio to the Stelvio pass and back. What is par excellence called the Coppi peak. In theory it changes from year to year depending on the stage of the Tour of Italy that reaches the highest altitude, but in the end when we talk about Cima Coppi we are referring to the Stelvio pass. The degree of difficulty depends on the legs and breath of each of us. For me personally, no longer very young and with little training. I found it challenging, not so much because of the slopes, but because of the length; 21 km of climbing, without respite. Then there were some guys who went like rockets, others a little less. It's all on asphalt, not very wide and a bit busy. Cars, motorbikes and bicycles. Motorcycles are sometimes a little dangerous. When I was getting on I passed some motorbikes that, while getting off, overtook the car in front of them, regardless of my existence in the opposite lane. A couple of times they gave me the "hair". The first piece is a bit boring because it is closed in the valley, then it becomes very beautiful. Starting early in the morning, before 9 I had the part at the bottom of the valley in the shade, then it was all in the sun, but I think it changes season by season. The Umbrail Pass was closed due to a landslide. There are no drinking fountains along the route, but a bar approximately halfway along the route, precisely at hairpin bend 22 (the hairpin bends are numbered),
The climb to the Passo dello always remains one of the most beautiful 🚴😁
We did most of this side of the Stelvio a few days ago but turned off 3km from the summit to drop down the Umbrail Pass. So today was the day to complete the full climb from the Bormio side. We'd been told that the last 3km were a little vicious & they didn't disappoint! Still definitely easier than the ascent from the other side though. However, when you reach the town at the top, don't miss the opportunity to climb a few more metres to the viewpoint just above the town! An excellent spot to gaze in awe at the incredible engineering feat that is the Stelvio Pass snaking up these immense mountains 😍 Incredibly busy at the summit today, which made for an unpleasant descent due to the volume & frequency of traffic.
Exciting day on the Stelvio, apart from a few inconveniences: pinion problem (it was stuck, it didn't go up in gears), motorcyclists (an unimaginable flood from Switzerland), high prices in the bars of the pass (a simple sandwich costs 12 euros) and car traffic at return (queue from Colico to Capriano). The splendid weather and the excellent organization from Bormio to the top mitigated the aforementioned drawbacks of this always splendid ride
A cold and rainy ascent that turned into frozen rain. After the Gavia, my legs gave up after 10km. The most challenging descent ever, while battling the cold. What an experience