20.8
PDI
12.3 mi
DISTANCE
3,694 ft
GAINED
5.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Passo Rolle from Siror climbs 19.8 km (12.3 mi) up the SS50 from the Primiero valley, gaining 1,126 m (3,694 ft) at a steady 5.7% average. It is the southern approach to a pass that joins Primiero with the Fiemme and Fassa valleys, set inside the Paneveggio - Pale di San Martino Natural Park, with the summit signed at 1,984 m (6,509 ft).
We rate Rolle below Giau and Pordoi for drama, but it is a lovely, quiet-feeling ride: mostly forest and meadow rather than sheer rock walls, with the Pale di San Martino coming into view as you near the resort. The grade hardly changes - nearly every kilometer sits between 5.5% and 6.8%, with one flat breather around km 6 (3.7 mi) and an easy final stretch. San Martino di Castrozza arrives around km 11 (6.8 mi), and the steepest kilometer (7.1%) comes soon after you leave town.
The Giro d'Italia has crossed Rolle several times, most recently in 2009. A new 1.5 km (0.9 mi) realigned section of the SS50, the Busabella variant, opened near the top in November 2025 to take the road out of an avalanche path.
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. Passo Rolle from Siror is 19.8 km (12.3 mi) long and gains 1,126 m (3,694 ft) at a 5.7% average, rising from 796 m (2,613 ft) in the Primiero valley.
Km 0-5: 5.5% to 6.8%, a steady opening with the grade nudging up to 6.8% by km 5 (3.1 mi).
Km 5-6: 2.0% - the one real flat on the climb, and a good place to settle your breathing.
Km 6-18: back to 5.5% to 6.7% almost without variation. San Martino di Castrozza sits around km 11 (6.8 mi), where the grade eases to 5.5% before the steepest kilometer just beyond town.
Km 18-19.8: 2.4% to 3.0% - a gentle run along the pass.
Steepest sections: 100 yd (91 m) at 9.9%; 0.5 km (0.3 mi) at 8.1%; 1 km (0.6 mi) at 7.1%; 1 mi (1.6 km) at 6.7%; 2 km (1.2 mi) at 6.5%; 5 km (3.1 mi) at 6.2%; 10 km (6.2 mi) at 6.2%. Because nothing stays steep for long, this is a climb to ride at a steady rhythm rather than attack in bursts.
Roadway: The whole climb is on the SS50 (Strada Statale 50 del Grappa e del Passo Rolle) and is paved to the top. The pass road dates to the 1860s and 1870s, and avalanches have long been its weak point - in 2014 the pass was closed for more than 70 days. To fix that, a new 1.5 km (0.9 mi) section, the Busabella variant with a 35 m (115 ft) steel bridge over the Cismon torrent, opened on 5 November 2025, and the old alignment is being returned to nature, so older maps may not match the road near the top. Most ascents are ridden from June through September.
Traffic: Steady in summer but lighter than on the better-known Dolomites passes. Rolle is a through road between Primiero and the Fiemme and Fassa valleys, and San Martino di Castrozza is a busy resort, so expect cars, motorcycles and buses, especially on weekends and in August. The summit area gets busy with visitors.
Parking: Siror is a small village on the valley floor, so keep to village streets and be considerate of residents. If you would rather shorten the ride and start from the resort, the car park at the Segantini chairlift in San Martino di Castrozza is the usual option, and a car park also serves the pass for support vehicles.
Gear: A standard compact is plenty - nothing here is steeper than about 7% for long - but pack a wind jacket. The weather station at the pass records a July average of only 11.8 C (53.2 F), and the descent is 20 km (12.4 mi) of cold air.
Provisions: San Martino di Castrozza has shops, cafes and restaurants about halfway up, and there are several cafes at the top. Baita Segantini, reached by a gravel road just below the summit, is a worthwhile stop if you have time.
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.
Rolle is the quieter southern door into the Dolomites. The base for this side is the Primiero valley (Fiera di Primiero and its neighboring villages), while San Martino di Castrozza halfway up is the area's main resort and sits at the foot of the Pale di San Martino, part of the UNESCO-listed Dolomites. The peaks around the pass include Cimon della Pala (3,184 m / 10,446 ft), and the lower Colbricon lake is a short walk about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the summit.
Our Passo Rolle (Predazzo) page covers the western approach from the Fiemme side - 20 km (12.4 mi) at a gentler grade - so a one-way crossing of the pass is an easy day if you can arrange a pick-up. Passo Cereda also starts in the Primiero valley, within a couple of kilometers of this one.
Summit conditions can differ a lot from the valley, so check them before you go with our Weather tool.
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