This is not a complete map of passes, but contains most of the great climbs in the area (yes, I realize the map is bigger than the Dolomite region). 😉
The Red pins are passes I have climbed. Blue pins are other climbs …. feel free to suggest any fun climbs that are missing. Below the map are 8 rides that I have done and can strongly recommend – with links to route maps and more details for each.
View Dolomites in a larger map
The first four routes all start in beautiful Corvara – a perfect base if you want to stay in one place for a few days.
1. The Maratona dles Dolomites course
138 kms, 4000 metres climb, 7 climbs. One of the most beautiful rides I have ever done. Details here.
2. Selle Ronda – counter clockwise
The classic loop with 4 passes. The first 55 kms of the Maratona course but in the opposite direction. Paradise. Details here.
3. Passo delle Erbe
A local favorite. A big, beautiful climb …. at least we have been told it is beautiful …. but we were rained on throughout and fog/clouds blocked the big views. Details here.
4. Passo Falzarego via Passo Campolongo
This is basically the second half of the medium (106 km) course in the Maratona dles Dolomites – so it climbs Passo Falzarego (and 1.3 kms further Passo Valparola) from a different side than the full 138 kms Maratona course. Details here.
5. Passo delle Stelvio – north side
On the edge (but outside) of the Dolomite region. One of the most famous and awe inspiring cycling climbs anywhere. Epic. Details here.
6. Passo delle Stelvio (south side) and Umbrailpass
The less famous side of Stelvio is still awe inspiring. This route also includes Umbrailpass – the highest Swiss pass I have ever cycled. Details here.
7. Passo Gavia (both sides)
One of the greatest days on a bike. Details here. Also not quite in the Dolomites.
8. Passo delle Foppa (Mortirolo)
Short, famous, and very steep! Details here. Again, not quite in the Dolomites.
16 Comments
Personnellement, je rajouterai le Klammljoch (2288m) et le Staller Sattel (2052), tous deux splendides…ainsi que le Pfistcher Joch (2246m)
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=klammljoch&w=all
http://www.alpen-biken.de/dyn/alpenimg_dir_alpentour2002_ident_alp2002_13.html
Simon
Merci, Je les ai ajouté
Thanks I have added those 3 passes. Anyone interested, they are all at the very top on the Italian/Austrian border
Wow some awesome views there. Thanks for a great blog site by the way. Awesome articles and advice.
I am also a cyclist based in Geneva (often ride with CTC) and will be doing a tour in the Dolomites with some English friends in September, so thanks for the blog and the great photos. We will be setting off from Ascona and ending in Cortina 7 days later. Mostly we will follow the Thonon – Trieste route except for an extra day around Bormio so that we can attempt the Mortirolo and the Gavia. I also saw your report on the Sanetsch which I am planning to do next week – should be good training for some of the steeper cols in Italy.
Tony
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Thank you for such a complete blog site. Information is great. I am planning a trip to the Dolomites next summer with a group of friends. Can you recommend a town to stay in that is ideally suited to attempting all these great climbs?
Hello Cathy
We stayed in Corvara (a ski resort) – which is beautiful and on the Sella Ronda. The first 4 rides above all started in Corvara – no need to drive anywhere.
I would highly recommend it.
But Stelvio, Gavia, and Mortirolo (for example) are pretty far by car – and it can be slow driving. So you might consider staying in two locations.
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These climbs aren’t really the Dolomites, but they don’t fit anywhere else on your site:
-Kühtai Sattel, 2017m
-Bielerhöhe Pass, 2071, (this is an absolutely beautiful ride once you get past the Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse toll gate (I rode it from the East). the pass area is particularly gorgeous)
see here for my ride report on these two: http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=338437&v=28
-Hochtor Pass/tunnel, 2504m. on the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. Also a beautiful climb. Only the abundance of traffic takes away from it. I’ve heard that it is good to ride it very early in the season because there is less traffic.
see here for my report (from the South): http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1&page_id=337750&v=1r
Hi Will . Your website is very helpful. Thank you for sharing your experiences and knowledge – most appreciated. Are you still fielding questions?
feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to answer 🙂
You can also try the Monte Baldo SP8/SP3.
I did it from Torri del Benaco, but I think if you climb it from the side of Torbole it is much beautify
Alt. 1760m
see it on my strava from 27/7/15
Hi,
Monte Baldo (from Avio) certainly deserves to be on this list (and maybe even in your top 100 better than Alpe D’Huez). The view on Garda lake from Bocca di Navene is splendid.
Monte Bondone is nice as well. Up from Trento, down on the west side: This is a superfast decent: wide road, no hairpins. Return via Passo di Santa Barbara a.k.a. Monte Velo.
Passo Vezzena is on your list, but the nicest part of this climb is the spectacular Kaiserjägerstrasse from Levico Terme until the SS349 at Monte Rovere.
Rifugio panarotta from Pergine Valsugana is a good climb. Not the most beautiful views, but steady percentages on good, quiet roads. It was a stage finish in the 2014 Giro d’ Italia.
Finally a note on the passe della Fittanze della Sega, which is marked on your map. It’s a very tough climb, with 980 meters vertical in the first 10 km, and 2 passages of 20%. The last part to the top is much easier, but really nice. Despite the relatively low altitude, it looks like a alp meadow like they usually appear above the tree line.
Beware that the sp57 is closed for bicycles, so you either have to go back to where you came from, or continue all the way to Sant Ambrosio di Valpolicella.
Hi
Since you included Stelvio and Mortirolo, you could take a step further, call the page “Dolomites and Lombardia Alpes” (or something like that 🙂 ) and include in the list also Lombardia climbs like, for instance, Passo San Marco (which I saw you already climbed) and Maloja (http://www.salite.ch/maloja3.asp?Mappa=) and Spluga (http://www.salite.ch/splugen1.asp?Mappa=), both starting from Chiavenna… they are both great climbs (Maloja pass is easier but more panoramic imho)
Alessandro
Grazie mille per le idee
Hi,
The climb from Aviano to Piancavallo ski area looked stunning when I drove up it a couple of years ago (sadly no bike on that trip!). I think the Giro has been up there too. It’s a little bit out of the way, but could be an option if it’s bad weather in the mountains, as it’s on the periphery.
Cheers,
Ieuan