The Stelvio Pass or Stilfserjoch, how it is called in German, is one of Italy's roofs with its 2758 m. At the same time, it is one of the highest Alpine Passes of Europe. This is why one should, in case of ascending the Stelvio, consider the possibility of sudden weather changes: you can start with bright sunshine in the valley and arrive on the top in the rain or even in the snow.

Opened from May or June - depending on the snow - to October, the Stelvio connects the provinces of Sondrio and Bozen/Bolzano. Coming from South Tyrol/Alto Adige the pass is reached via the Vinschgau, in Italian called Val Venosta, the distance between Spondinig/Spondigna and Bormio is 49,5 km. Another possibility to get up to the Stelvio Pass is to come via Santa Maria in Switzerland (in the Münstertal/Val Müstair) and going up the Umbrailpass.

Bormio - Stelvio Pass

After the traffic light in Bormio's centre you arrive soon at the first switchback on the way to the Stelvio. Further on a few more turns follow, one of them being the junction to Valdidentro and Livigno. You carry on into the direction of the "Bagni Vecchi", the old thermal baths, and after leaving them behind, you will reach another passage with a bunch of switchbacks. These are followed by a section with not too many curves, but some tunnels to cross, and soon after those you find yourself in front of the steepest part of the Stelvio road, to conquer by numerous switchbacks. In this stretch the maximum gradient will be reached, and you can admire the Braulio-Waterfalls.

After having passed this uphill, you get to the Plateau "Pian de Grembo", where the road gets low running and leads through alpine meadows. At the end of this flat part, the last steep uphill to reach the Stelvio begins. And from here the top of the pass comes even in sight. Passing by the junction into the direction of the Umbrail Pass and Santa Maria, only a few kilometres and about 250 metres in altitude are left to reach the top of the Stelvio Pass.