32.3
PDI
7.5 mi
DISTANCE
3,934 ft
GAINED
10 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Ard Oostra, Montreux, Switzerland.
INTRO
This 7.5-mile climb rises from Lake Maggiore in Vira Gambarogno to the Alpe di Neggia pass, gaining 3,934 ft at an average gradient of 10.0% and topping out at 4,641 ft in the saddle between Monte Tamaro and Monte Gambarogno. It's currently ranked #249 in the world in our database.
The road winds up through chestnut forest and small Ticino hamlets before opening onto pasture in the upper kilometers, with views back over Lake Maggiore and, from the pass itself, into the Verzasca valley. The pass has hosted the Red Bull Alpenbrevet cyclosportive, and the road continues on to Indemini on the far side as one of the more scenic border-area crossings in Ticino.
Traffic is light and the surface has been repaved in sections in recent years, making this a reliably good-condition climb for a canton with plenty of rougher backroads.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE
We've partnered with Sherpa-Map.com to bring you the best route planning tool. With a PRO Membership you can use this climb as a reference when creating your route. This climb averages 10.0% over 7.5 miles, with the hardest riding concentrated in the first half. The steepest 100 yards reaches 13.0%, and the steepest quarter mile averages 12.5%; the steepest continuous kilometer comes in at 12.3%, easing gradually toward the pass. Our FIETS difficulty score for this climb is 12.31.
Pace yourself on the lower, steeper kilometers out of Vira - the gradient relents in the upper half, so there's no need to hold back reserves for a final ramp the way many alpine climbs demand.
Roadway: The road is paved the entire way from Vira to the Alpe di Neggia pass. The Vira-Indemini road has been repaved in sections in recent years, and current accounts describe the surface as being in good condition throughout.
Traffic: Light. This is a secondary cantonal road serving Gambarogno's hillside hamlets and, beyond the pass, the village of Indemini - it sees local and touring traffic rather than through-commuter volume, and it's a regular feature of organized rides like the Red Bull Alpenbrevet.
Parking: There's no dedicated trailhead lot. Riders typically start from the lakefront in Vira, where there's ample informal parking near the shore, or from the Vira bus stop if arriving by public transport.
A standard road bike and gearing are fine here - the road is paved throughout and the gradient, while sustained, doesn't demand the ultra-low gearing some Ticino climbs require. A compact crankset with a wide-range cassette will make the steeper lower kilometers more comfortable.
Pack a layer for the pass - Alpe di Neggia sits at nearly 4,600 ft, and the saddle between Monte Tamaro and Monte Gambarogno can funnel wind even on a calm day at lake level.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
Vira Gambarogno sits on Lake Maggiore, about 20 minutes by car or postbus from Locarno and well connected by regional bus along the lake. It's a good base for a multi-day Ticino trip - the Gambarogno shoreline has swimming and cafes for a pre- or post-ride stop, and the pass itself connects onward to Indemini, one of the more remote villages in the canton.
See what else is worth combining with this climb, or plan a custom route from here, using our Routes in the Area tool.
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