The Stelvio Pass (Stilfser Joch in German) might not be everybody’s cup of tea but, for some at least, it is on their list of ‘must do’ places to see and ride. One thing for certain, it is iconic.
Whilst looking for something completely different, I chanced upon an article in the Motorrad magazine’s RiDE editions, which gives pretty good details of how to ride the pass twice in one day. It is all in German (of which I speak zero, beyond ordering a beer, a hotel room and counting to 10 *) but Safari offers an instant free translation, which is good enough for most purposes.
If nothing else it goes to show what is out there on the internet. Not least, it demonstrates what is possible with just a bit of surfing around, some instant translation and just a tiny bit of effort or imagination.
Here is what I found.
In one day twice about the furious sweeps of the Stelvio Pass. In between, an ensemble of six very different passes plus a spectacular cul-de-sac with an insider tip character. After this day, you just have to be happy.
Route: 290 km / Tour duration: about 8 hours (with breaks)
1. Start at the hotel in Trafoi. Then up on the yoke (2757 meters): Like a music production, long harmonious arches alternate with shrill hairpin sweeps. The further the east ramp asphalt meander rises into the sky, the faster the curves follow each other. Shortly before the pass height comes the final furious of a sweeping drum vortex. Then relax briefly at the top.
2. Runtersurfing over the western ramp and at the same time the southern flank of the Umbrail. Then over Bormio, San Antonio and Santa Caterina up to the Gavia (2618 meters). The road is rumbled, yet or precisely because of that an experience! Down the southern ramp and over Pezzo, Zoanno, Davena and Monno over the Passo del Mortirolo (1852 meters).
3. Course north to Vernuga. Keep south here again and then west via Lovero and Tirano. Drive almost north from Brusio and circle over Lake Poschiavo to the eastern ramp of the Bernina Pass (2330 meters). Enjoy and turn around the magnificent Alpine panorama.
4. Down the east ramp again. It was just a short detour, a "sniff up and down", because the pass is on the way. Continue over the Forcola di Livigno (2315 meters) and the Foscagno Pass (2291 meters). In Livigno, fuel, spirits, tobacco and cosmetics are cheap.
5. Now follows the insider tip: the cul-de-sac to the Passo di Fraele (1941) along the Cancano lakes. Every meter is worth it. Shortly before the end, the Rifugio Ristoro Val Fraele awaits as a reward. You have to go the same way back. No less spectacular. Now to the final again over the Stelvio and down to Trafoi.
The free PDF of the rout’s map downloads well. You’ll maybe spot that a part of the route links to another in same magazine’s collection.
The free GPX file downloads well. I am reasonably confident it would run, straight off the bat, in a GPS devive or through one of the popular phone based app’s. That being said, always check things before you set sail. Here it is shown in Pocket Earth:
The original magazine article is here:
https://www.motorradonline.de/reise...tilfser-joch-im-bannkreis-des-stilfser-jochs/
Scroll down a bit where, even if you are viewing it in German, it is easy to guess where you’ll tap to find the map PDF and the GPX file.
All this was on an iPad. Tap around, you really cannot break it.
PS Websites have an annoying habit of closing and / or becoming corrupt through a lack of maintenance. If you want to keep something for possible use in the future, download it and save it today. I keep my copies of GPX files in Dropbox and PDF’s in iBooks.
* Oddly enough, I have picked up and now recognise some words, just through looking at German touring magazines’ blurb. It will though be useless when it comes to discussing German monetary policy or what colour to paint the sitting room’s walls.
Whilst looking for something completely different, I chanced upon an article in the Motorrad magazine’s RiDE editions, which gives pretty good details of how to ride the pass twice in one day. It is all in German (of which I speak zero, beyond ordering a beer, a hotel room and counting to 10 *) but Safari offers an instant free translation, which is good enough for most purposes.
If nothing else it goes to show what is out there on the internet. Not least, it demonstrates what is possible with just a bit of surfing around, some instant translation and just a tiny bit of effort or imagination.
Here is what I found.
In one day twice about the furious sweeps of the Stelvio Pass. In between, an ensemble of six very different passes plus a spectacular cul-de-sac with an insider tip character. After this day, you just have to be happy.
Route: 290 km / Tour duration: about 8 hours (with breaks)
1. Start at the hotel in Trafoi. Then up on the yoke (2757 meters): Like a music production, long harmonious arches alternate with shrill hairpin sweeps. The further the east ramp asphalt meander rises into the sky, the faster the curves follow each other. Shortly before the pass height comes the final furious of a sweeping drum vortex. Then relax briefly at the top.
2. Runtersurfing over the western ramp and at the same time the southern flank of the Umbrail. Then over Bormio, San Antonio and Santa Caterina up to the Gavia (2618 meters). The road is rumbled, yet or precisely because of that an experience! Down the southern ramp and over Pezzo, Zoanno, Davena and Monno over the Passo del Mortirolo (1852 meters).
3. Course north to Vernuga. Keep south here again and then west via Lovero and Tirano. Drive almost north from Brusio and circle over Lake Poschiavo to the eastern ramp of the Bernina Pass (2330 meters). Enjoy and turn around the magnificent Alpine panorama.
4. Down the east ramp again. It was just a short detour, a "sniff up and down", because the pass is on the way. Continue over the Forcola di Livigno (2315 meters) and the Foscagno Pass (2291 meters). In Livigno, fuel, spirits, tobacco and cosmetics are cheap.
5. Now follows the insider tip: the cul-de-sac to the Passo di Fraele (1941) along the Cancano lakes. Every meter is worth it. Shortly before the end, the Rifugio Ristoro Val Fraele awaits as a reward. You have to go the same way back. No less spectacular. Now to the final again over the Stelvio and down to Trafoi.
The free PDF of the rout’s map downloads well. You’ll maybe spot that a part of the route links to another in same magazine’s collection.
The free GPX file downloads well. I am reasonably confident it would run, straight off the bat, in a GPS devive or through one of the popular phone based app’s. That being said, always check things before you set sail. Here it is shown in Pocket Earth:
The original magazine article is here:
https://www.motorradonline.de/reise...tilfser-joch-im-bannkreis-des-stilfser-jochs/
Scroll down a bit where, even if you are viewing it in German, it is easy to guess where you’ll tap to find the map PDF and the GPX file.
All this was on an iPad. Tap around, you really cannot break it.
PS Websites have an annoying habit of closing and / or becoming corrupt through a lack of maintenance. If you want to keep something for possible use in the future, download it and save it today. I keep my copies of GPX files in Dropbox and PDF’s in iBooks.
* Oddly enough, I have picked up and now recognise some words, just through looking at German touring magazines’ blurb. It will though be useless when it comes to discussing German monetary policy or what colour to paint the sitting room’s walls.