The Gavia Pass, between the provinces of Sondrio and Brescia, is one of the highest and even most beautiful passes of the Alps. The uphill starts in the Valfurva in the north or in Ponte di Legno (BS) in the south. On top of the Gavia Pass you find the pittoresque lake "Lago Bianco", surrounded by the mountain "Corno dei Tre Signori", 3359 m. Even more beautiful is the lake "Lago Nero" on 2386 m, which is situated just underneath the pass on the south side. The Gavia Pass is opened from June to September.

Bormio - Santa Caterina - Passo del Gavia

The side facing the Valtellina is less steep than the other one, even if it is a longer way up to the pass. The road is mostly constantly uphill, with some short but very steep stretches.

Starting in Bormio, take the road SS 300 which leads through the Valfurva: you pass by its little villages Uzza, San Nicolò, S.Antonio und San Gottardo and will arrive, after 13 km and 600 metres in altitude, to Santa Caterina. After Santa Caterina the "real" road up to the Gaviapass begins with its first switchback. From here one, the gradient is most of the time at about over 7 %, it reaches, however, quite often the 10 % mark for short stretches. The tight road brings you constantly higher in altitude. Before the top of the Gavia you will cross a bridge over the "Rezzalasco", then you arrive at the alpine lodge "Berni" on a level of 2545 m, where a war memorial reminds us of the First World War. The road gets a little less steep now and after a couple of kilometres you reach the Gavia Pass.