Stelvio Pass High Alpine Road — Bormio to Prato allo Stelvio via 48 Hairpins and the Italian Alpine Roof
48 hairpins. The roof of the Italian Alps.
The Passo dello Stelvio sits at 2,758 meters on the border of Lombardy and South Tyrol, and every one of those 48 hairpins on the eastern ramp is numbered in stone so you can count your suffering on the way up from Prato allo Stelvio. Built by Austrian engineers between 1820 and 1825 to connect the Empire’s provinces, the road cuts through exposed talus fields, squeezes past waterfalls, and delivers you to a summit packed with cyclists, motorcyclists, and a weather station that measures snowfall year-round. The western descent into Bormio is faster and less technical — the real drama is the Prato side. The Three Languages Point nearby marks where Italy, Switzerland, and Austria converge.
This is a paved road, not a 4×4 trail, but high-clearance helps nothing here — what matters is brake discipline and patience with tourist traffic in July and August. The pass typically opens late May and closes hard by October or November depending on snowpack. No permits, no fees. Fuel up in Bormio or Prato before the climb — there’s nothing at the summit worth trusting. If you want alpenglow on those hairpins without the chaos, drive it at dawn on a weekday.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 15 mi / 24.1 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9045 ft |
| Best season | Late May–October |
| Minimum vehicle | Any road vehicle with good brakes |
| Nearest town | Bormio, Lombardy, Italy |
| Land manager | Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano / ANAS S.p.A. |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Province of Bolzano road info ANAS SS38 road status |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need a lifted 4x4 or can any vehicle drive Stelvio Pass?
Any road vehicle can drive it — the road is paved and maintained. What actually matters is brakes: 5,840 feet of descent through 48 hairpins will boil bad brake fluid fast, so check your pads and fluid before you go.
When does Stelvio Pass open and close each year?
Typically late May through October, depending on snowpack. It can close earlier or open later — ANAS SS38 road status at anas.it is the most reliable source for current conditions before you commit to the drive.
Are there tolls or permits required to drive the pass?
No permits, no tolls. It's a public state road (SS38) managed by ANAS and the Province of Bolzano. Just show up and drive it.
What's the hardest part of the road — what should I actually be ready for?
The numbered hairpins on the Bormio side are the most intense — they're tight, steep, and heavily trafficked by cyclists, motorcycles, and tour buses simultaneously. The pavement is narrow; pulling over for oncoming traffic is constant work, not occasional.
Is there gas near the pass, and is there anywhere to camp at the top?
Gas up in Bormio before you climb — there's nothing at the summit. Camping at the pass itself is not permitted; the top is developed with hotels, restaurants, and tourist infrastructure. Dispersed camping options exist in the valleys below on either side.
Trail track
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