38.9
PDI
18.4 mi
DISTANCE
6,405 ft
GAINED
6.2 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Dave Parsons, West Sussex, UK
INTRO
Blockhaus is the highest paved climb in Italy's Abruzzo region, deep in the Maiella massif, and it can be reached by three different roads that all converge on the same summit. This route starts in Fara Filiorum Petri, a small town in the Chieti province, and it's the longest and lowest-starting of the three - 18.4 miles with 6,405 feet of climbing at a 6.2% average grade, finishing above 6,700 feet near the Blockhaus refuge.
Because it starts nearer sea level than the other two approaches, this side delivers the most total elevation gain of any way up. The road climbs steadily through Abruzzese hill country before reaching the Passo Lanciano-Majelletta ski area, then continues higher into open pasture and meadow as the trees thin out toward the summit.
Blockhaus has been part of the Giro d'Italia since 1967, when it hosted the first Giro stage win of Eddy Merckx's career, and it has since crowned climbers like Nairo Quintana (2017) and Jai Hindley (2022). It returned to the Giro as the summit finish of Stage 7 in the 2026 race, a 244-kilometer stage from Formia.
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 route from Fara Filiorum Petri averages 6.2% over 18.4 miles, gaining 6,405 feet to a finish above 6,700 feet - the most elevation gain of any of the three roads to the Blockhaus summit. The grade builds gradually rather than pitching hard early: the lower miles through the hills below Fara Filiorum Petri are the gentlest part of the ride, and the climbing becomes more sustained once the road merges with the route from Passo Lanciano.
One of the tougher sections comes in the second half, near the Passo Lanciano-Majelletta ski area, where a measured kilometer averages around 11% - the toughest test on this side of the mountain. Expect a long, steady grind more than a series of brutal pitches, but 18-plus miles at this grade is still enough to make Blockhaus one of the world's toughest climbs, currently ranked 117th.
Roadway: The entire route is paved and in good condition, climbing through the Maiella foothills before joining the road from Passo Lanciano at the ski area, then continuing on tarmac all the way to the Blockhaus summit near the mountain refuge.
Traffic: Away from race days, this is a quiet rural provincial road with light local traffic - mostly farm vehicles and the occasional car headed to the Passo Lanciano-Majelletta ski resort. It gets busier on summer weekends when the resort's warm-weather facilities and hiking trailheads are active, and during Giro d'Italia visits - Blockhaus hosted the summit finish of Stage 7 of the 2026 Giro, and roads in the area saw temporary closures for the race.
Parking: Start from the roundabout in Fara Filiorum Petri, where there's roadside parking near the town center. Riders looking to shorten the climb can also park at the Passo Lanciano-Majelletta ski area lot, roughly two-thirds of the way up, and finish from there.
Fara Filiorum Petri has a few small shops and cafes for a final coffee or water top-up before starting. Beyond that, the only real services on the route are at the Passo Lanciano-Majelletta ski area, which has restaurants and bars open in the warmer months - plan to carry enough water and food for the final push above it, since nothing is open near the Blockhaus summit itself.
Temperatures at the 6,700-foot finish can be dramatically cooler and windier than at the start, especially outside of peak summer, so pack a light jacket or vest even on a warm day in town.
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.
The closest larger towns are Chieti and Pescara, both roughly 45 minutes away by car, with Abruzzo Airport in Pescara the most convenient airport. Late spring through early fall (May-October) is the most reliable window - snow can linger into spring at this elevation, and the road above Passo Lanciano was closed for weeks in early 2026 by heavy snowfall before finally clearing ahead of the Giro's visit in May.
Since all three routes up Blockhaus share the same summit, it's easy to combine this ascent with a descent down one of the other two sides via Roccamorice or Lettomanopello. Check conditions before heading up with our Weather tool, since the summit sits well above 6,000 feet and can see very different weather than the coast.
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