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Passo Gardena is a climb in the region Dolomites. It is 5.6 mi long and bridges 1969 ft of vertical ascent with an average gradient of 6.6%, resulting in a difficulty score of 429. The top of the ascent is located at 6959 ft above sea level. Climbfinder users shared 26 reviews of this climb and uploaded 74 photos.
Road name: SS243
4.0 by jost_bibicThis is an automatic translation, the original language is: English.My favorite climb in the Sellaronda. Definitely the most scenic one, as you have amazing views throughout the entire climb.... read more
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Very nice climbs, nice views and at the top you could buy something to drink , still one of the most beautiful climbs in the area
Heel mooie beklimmingen, mooie uitzichten en op de top kon je iets kopen om te drinken , toch één van de mooiste beklimmingen in de streek
My favorite climb in the Sellaronda. Definitely the most scenic one, as you have amazing views throughout the entire climb.
Beautiful scenery, "ridden counter-clockwise" to loosen the legs for the Maratona. Real Dolomite scenery.
Mooie omgeving, "tegen de klok in" gereden om de benen los te maken voor de Maratona. Echt Dolomietenlandschap.
10/10 Really quite a beautiful climb! When I rode the Sella Ronda (counter-clockwise) this was the most beautiful or second most beautiful climb. The road surface is good everywhere and after the villages the traffic gets a little less, but never little unfortunately haha. Really continuously you have beautiful scenery and the gradient is also a 'quite nice'.
10/10 Echt een hele mooie beklimming! Toen ik de Sella Ronda reed (tegen de klok in) was dit de mooiste of een na mooiste beklimming. Het wegdek is overal goed en na de dorpjes wordt het verkeer iets minder, maar nooit weinig helaas haha. Echt continue heb je een prachtige omgeving en het stijgingspercentage is ook nog een 'best lekker'.
Nádherné panoramatické stoupání, které má své největší kouzlo po ránu kolem sedmé hodiny, kdy na silnici ještě neexistuje prakticky žádný provoz a máte celý kopec sami pro sebe.
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A beautiful panoramic climb that has its greatest charm in the morning around seven o'clock, when there is practically no traffic on the road and you have the entire hill to yourself.
What a beautiful climb in all its facets. It is an even climb of around 6 to 7 per cent. Here and there the percentage goes up but never that it becomes killing. The scenery in which you cycle is of course to pass through a ring! High rugged peaks and green alpine meadows all around. This climb is a must and should definitely be on everyone's bucket list!
Wat een mooie klim in al zijn facetten. Het is een gelijkopgaande klim van rond de 6 a 7 procent. Her en der gaat het percentage omhoog maar nooit dat het killing wordt. De omgeving waarin je fietst is natuurlijk om door een ringetje te halen! Rondom hoge ruige toppen en groene alpenweiden. Deze beklimming is een must en moet zeker bij iedereen op de bucketlist!
It gets repetitive, but really a Dolomite climb. Superb views, nice tarmac and so really recommended!
Het wordt repeterend, maar echt een Dolomieten klim. Schitterende uitzichten, mooi asfalt en dus echt een aanrader!
Climb during the sellaronda bike day. Starting from Canazei, in my opinion it is the climb that is most challenging. The views are breathtaking and the asphalt good. The ascent by hairpin bends is spectacular because it lets you see a good part of the route that has already been done, giving you satisfaction.
Salita durante il sellaronda bike day. Partendo da Canazei a mio avviso è la salita che mette più in difficoltà. i panorami sono mozzafiato l'asfalto buono. La salita a tornati è spettacolare perchè lascia vedere buona parte del percorso già fatto regalando soddisfazioni.
Passo Gardena from Corvara – A Pure Dolomites Classic
The climb to Passo Gardena from Corvara is simply one of those climbs every cyclist dreams of — not because it's brutally hard, but because it's just perfect. The scenery, the road, the history — this is Dolomites cycling at its very best.
The Climb
Length: ~9.5 km
Average Gradient: 6％
Total Ascent: ~600 m
The first few kilometers out of Corvara already set the tone — postcard views, perfect hairpins, and that unmistakable Dolomites vibe. The gradient is pretty steady throughout, mostly hovering around 6％, making it a very rhythm-friendly climb.
There are a few slightly steeper ramps here and there, but never anything crazy. It's a climb where you can find your cadence, look around, and just enjoy being in the heart of cycling paradise.
Road Conditions
Excellent tarmac, as you'd expect from a famous Dolomites pass. The road is wide and smooth, especially popular during events like the Maratona dles Dolomites. Outside of peak tourist hours, traffic is light, and during the Sella Ronda Bike Days — absolute heaven: bikes only.
Scenery & Atmosphere
Honestly? It's stunning from the first meter to the last.
Towering rocky walls, green pastures, little mountain huts, and all around you the unmistakable jagged peaks of the Dolomites. The view back down towards Corvara as you climb is just spectacular, while the higher you go, the closer you feel to these mythical mountains.
The final section opens up beautifully, and when you see the sign of Passo Gardena — it's smiles guaranteed.
Final Thoughts
Passo Gardena from Corvara isn’t about brutal suffering — it’s about pure Dolomites beauty. A steady climb, breathtaking scenery, perfect roads — this is cycling joy in its purest form.
If you're in the area, it's simply unmissable. And when you reach the top, surrounded by the magic of the Dolomites, it's impossible not to feel lucky to be there.
Very scenic pass, I did it as part of my first Sellaronda tour in 2023. As I departed from Canazei and went anti-clockwise, it was the third pass of the day after Pordoi and Campolongo. In July the road was very busy but nonetheless I enjoyed the majestic mountain surroundings.
Climb done during the Sellaronda bike festival in September 2024. Fantastic ascent on a wide, evenly sloping road where it never tears. Wonderful view from the pass
Salita fatta durante il sellaronda bike festival di settembre 2024. Salita in ambiente fantastico su strada ampia e a pendenza regolare dove non strappa mai. Vista stupenda dal passo
SellaRondaBikeDay 7/9/2024. After the Campolongo here it starts to get serious. The panorama becomes interesting and very beautiful. The asphalt is not perfect in places.
SellaRondaBikeDay 7/9/2024. Dopo il Campolongo qua si comincia a fare sul serio. Il panorama diventa interessante e molto bello. Asfalto in alcuni punti non perfetto.
Beautiful panoramic views throughout, on a wide, constantly ascending road. The last few kilometres are a little tough, but there are lots of hairpins.
Durchgängig wunderschönes Panorama, auf einer breiten, konstant ansteigenden Straße. Die letzten Kilometer sind zwar ein wenig zäh, dafür viele Haarnadeln.
This was our second and longest climb on the Sella Ronda anticlockwise. The climb itself is very nice, the gradient manageable and once you leave Corvara behind, the scenery becomes quite magical. There is unfortunately quite a lot of traffic on this road but also a lot a cyclist which is really motivating as it feels that you are very much amongst friends.
The longest of the Sellaronda passes in an anti-clockwise direction. There is a good stretch on the cycle path when you are still in Colfosco, then the "promiscuity" with motorised traffic begins, and this is the weak point of this peak. A pity, because otherwise it is a pleasant climb with a few more percentage points at the top and a splendid panorama.
Il più lungo dei passi del Sellaronda in senso antiorario. Un buon tratto in pista ciclabile quando ancora si é a Colfosco, poi inizia la "promiscuità" col traffico motorizzato, ed é il punto di debolezza di questa vetta. Peccato, perché per il resto é una salita gradevole con qualche punto percentuale in più in alto e uno splendido panorama.
A very steady climb and not too hard, the scenery is beautiful and the road full of hairpin bends will help you enjoy it.
Salita molto costante e non troppo dura, il paesaggio è stupendo e la strada ricca di tornanti vi aiuterà a godervelo.
My favourite climb in the Dolomites, beautiful and steady. Beautiful scenery .Have climbed it countless times. Also participated in the Dolomites Marathon several times. Also features on my Garmin as indoor training .
Mijn favoriete klim in de Dolomieten, mooi en gelijkmatig. Prachtige omgeving .Heb hem al ontelbare keren beklommen. Door ook meermaals deelname Dolomieten Marathon. Staat ook trouwens op mijn Garmin als indoortraing ..
Wonderful ascent, affordable gradients, quite busy in summer and on weekends when the weather is good.
Salita stupenda, pendenze abbordabili, piuttosto trafficata nel periodo estivo e nei weekend di bel tempo.
3rd climb in sellaronda clockwise, the friendliest in terms of percentages, only some very small parts with tougher gradients towards the end. great views. the tarmac seems new and there are some parts (around 1-2km) a bit delimited for cyclists.
the bad part of this climb is the descend towards plan de gralba where the tarmac is awful
Pleasant ascent, with pluses in the view of Corvara and the mountains, minus the traffic between buses and cars. Fairly steady ascent with nice hairpin bends. Only a short uphill section has a mini bike lane
Salita piacevole, con plus della vista su corvara e sulle montagne, minus invece il traffico tra bus e auto. Salita abbastanza regolare con bei tornanti. Solo un breve tratto in salita ha una mini corsia per le bici
Sublime views, right from the start in the village of Colfosco. You don't know where to look, so much to see. The climb itself is also a treat: mild percentages, a good series of hairpin bends in the second half (you can see them nicely) and good tarmac. In June 2022, at least two steeper sections (one in a hairpin bend) were still unpaved due to work on the road surface. Together with the Passo Sella, this is the most beautiful climb in the Sella Ronda counterclockwise.
Subliem uitzicht, al meteen vanaf de start in het dorp Colfosco. Je weet niet waar je kijken moet, zoveel te zien. De klim zelf is ook een traktatie: milde percentages, een goede reeks haarspeldbochten in de tweede helft (je ziet ze mooi liggen) en prima asfalt. In juni 2022 waren nog minstens twee steilere stroken (een in een haarspeldbocht) onverhard door werkzaamheden aan het wegdek. Samen met de Passo Sella is dit de mooiste beklimming in de Sella Ronda tegen de klok in.
Quite a tough climb, where a recent landslide in the upper half of the climb has led to a diversion of the road and thus a very steep (unpaved) section that completely kills your rhythm. Furthermore, a typical Dolomites climb: good tarmac, many hairpin bends and fantastic views.
Behoorlijk stevige klim, waar een recente aardverschuiving in de bovenste helft heeft gezorgd voor een verlegging van de weg en daarmee een flink steile (onverharde) passage die je ritme volledig om zeep helpt. Verder een typische Dolomieten-klim: goed asfalt, veel haarspeldbochten en fantastische uitzichten.
Beautiful not too long Passo Gardena cycled as 3rd slope in the Sella ronda that for me started in Canazei
(counter clockwise Pordoï/Campolongo/Gardena/Sella).
After the leisurely ride out of tourist Corvara, the wide and sometimes busy road climbs uphill via 19 unnumbered hairpin bends. The pine trees along the mountainside become gradually scarcer and the panoramas all the more beautiful. You can see the tourist crowded top between the Pizes de Cier and the Sella group from far away.
Beautiful pass crossing with 360° Dolomites panorama!
Prachtige niet te lange Passo Gardena op gefietst als 3de helling in de Sella ronda die voor mij startte in Canazei
(tegenwijzerszin Pordoï/Campolongo/Gardena/Sella).
Na het gezapig uit fietsen van het toeristische Corvara klimt de brede soms drukke weg zonder extremen via 19 ongenummerde haarspeldbochten bergop. De naaldbomen langs de bergflank worden geleidelijk schaarser en de panorama's des te mooier. Je ziet reeds van ver de toeristisch drukke top tussen de Pizes de Cier en de Sellagroep.
Mooie pasovergang met 360° Dolomieten panorama!
| 5 mph | 01:08:09 |
| 7 mph | 00:48:15 |
| 9 mph | 00:37:36 |
| 12 mph | 00:28:15 |
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