21.7
PDI
13.1 mi
DISTANCE
4,024 ft
GAINED
5.4 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
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. The average grade is 5.4% over 21.1 km (13.1 mi), but that number hides a very uneven climb. The steepest 0.5 km (0.3 mi) averages 10.9%, the steepest kilometer (0.6 mi) 10.3%, the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) 8.3%, and the steepest 10 km (6.2 mi) 6.2%.
Roughly the middle third, from about km 10 to km 16 (mile 6.2 to 9.9), averages only about 1.5%, and the last 4.5 km (2.8 mi) averages about 9%, so save something for the finish.
Roadway: The SP5 and its Swiss continuation are paved the whole way. The road is relatively narrow, with a run of hairpins in the upper part before the pass. The route crosses the Swiss border, so carry a passport or ID card.
Traffic: Moderate. Traffic is lighter on weekdays and heavier on weekends and holidays, when motorcyclists and car tourists are drawn to the road's switchbacks.
Parking: The SP5 turns off at the level of Maccagno's railway station, which is the natural starting point. Maccagno is served by TILO S30 regional trains on the Cadenazzo-Luino line, so arriving by rail and riding straight from the station is an easy option.
Provisions: Fill your bottles in Maccagno before turning onto the SP5, and again at the restaurant at the pass. The villages of the Val Veddasca along the middle section are a natural place to eat and drink before the final climb.
Gear: The closing 4.5 km (2.8 mi) at about 9% is where compact gearing pays off. The pass sits at 1,395 m (4,577 ft) and can be cool and windy even when the lake is warm, so pack a layer for the descent. Carry an ID card or passport for the border.
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.
Maccagno is a good base in its own right. The Maccagno Imperiale quarter is listed among Italy's most beautiful villages (I Borghi più belli d'Italia), the Museo Parisi Valle is a contemporary art museum built inside a bridge over the Torrente Giona, and the 16th-century Santuario della Madonna della Punta has views over Lake Maggiore from its courtyard. The Parco Giona beach is one of the largest on the Lombard shore.
Up the valley, Lago Delio, a small mountain lake at 930 m (3,051 ft) about 10 km (6.2 mi) from Maccagno, is a pleasant stop if you want a shorter ride. The Swiss side of the pass, with the Gambarogno shoreline and the Ticino cantonal road, is covered on Alpe di Neggia - Vira, and Mergugno (Brissago) is another Swiss climb from the lake nearby.
To see other climbs around Lake Maggiore, or build a custom route from here, try our Routes in the Area tool.
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