17.9
PDI
9.3 mi
DISTANCE
3,009 ft
GAINED
6.2 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
Passo del Tonale from Ossana is the Trentino approach to one of the great crossings of the central Alps, the pass linking the Val di Sole with Lombardy's Val Camonica. From Fucine it climbs 14.9 km (9.3 mi) and gains 917 m (3009 ft) at a 6.2% average, from 963 m (3161 ft) to 1879 m (6164 ft) at the pass. By our rankings it is #223 in Italy and #1227 in the world.
This is a steady, big-road climb rather than a wall. The grade sits between 5% and 8% almost the whole way, the steepest kilometer averages 8.2%, and the last 3 km ease to around 4-5% as the road rolls onto the broad plateau of the pass. Past Vermiglio, about 5 km in, there are no more villages, and the road runs fairly straight up the sunny side of the valley with the Presanella group rising to the south, with its bigger bends saved for the top.
The Tonale has a long Giro d'Italia history, and this exact side was the first big climb of Stage 17 in 2025, rated category 2 on the way from San Michele all'Adige over the Mortirolo to Bormio. It was also a First World War front line, and at the top the Sacrario Militare holds the remains of more than 800 Italian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers. For the Lombardy side, see our Passo del Tonale page from Ponte di Legno.
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 del Tonale from Ossana climbs 14.9 km (9.3 mi) and gains 917 m (3009 ft) at a 6.2% average grade, from 963 m (3161 ft) in Fucine to 1879 m (6164 ft) at the pass.
The steepest sections:
- Steepest 500 m (0.3 mi): 10.0%
- Steepest 1 km (0.6 mi): 8.2%
- Steepest 2 km (1.2 mi): 7.6%
- Steepest 5 km (3.1 mi): 7.2%
Kilometer by kilometer the grades run roughly 5.4%, 6.3%, 7.1%, 7.0%, 6.0%, 6.2%, 6.6%, 8.1%, 7.0%, 7.1%, 7.0%, 5.4%, 5.2%, 3.9% and 3.7%. The hardest stretch is kilometers 8 to 11 above Vermiglio, which hold about 7.3%, and the final 3 km are the easiest of the climb.
Roadway: The SS42 is a wide, two-lane state road, paved the whole way, with sweeping bends rather than tight hairpins. It is the main road over the pass and serves the Tonale ski area, so it is kept open through winter, though heavy snow can close it for short periods. The province has funded two safety projects on this section - widening a 150-200 m stretch just below Vermiglio where two trucks struggle to pass, and a junction upgrade with the Val di Peio road at Fucine - so watch for roadworks.
Traffic: This is the busiest climb in the area. The SS42 is the main route between Trentino and Lombardy's Val Camonica, so expect steady car, bus and truck traffic all day, heavier on summer and winter weekends with resort traffic. Ride early, hold your line on the right and use lights.
Parking: Fucine is a small hamlet at the junction with the road to Val di Peio, and Ossana, one of the Val di Sole's most attractive villages, is right alongside - park in either and you're at the start. The Val di Sole cycle path passes through Fucine on its Cogolo branch, so you can also leave the car further down the valley and ride up traffic-free, and the Trento-Malè railway's bike-equipped trains run as far as Mezzana.
Gear: The steady 6-7% grade suits a standard compact or mid-compact drivetrain. The pass is more than 900 m (3000 ft) above Fucine and often windy, so pack a layer for the long, fast descent - and expect the trucks to be just as fast.
Provisions: There is a public fountain on the roadside in Fucine for filling bottles. Vermiglio, about 5 km in, is the last village with services, and the Tonale itself is a ski resort with bars, restaurants and hotels at the top.
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.
Ossana's Castel San Michele, first recorded in 1191, was held by the prince-bishops of Trento until Meinhard of Tyrol took it at the end of the 13th century. It keeps a 25 m keep and two rings of walls, and it is open to the public after the province restored it. At Christmas the village becomes the Borgo dei Mille Presepi, with nativity scenes set up throughout its lanes.
Up the road, Vermiglio gave its name to Maura Delpero's film Vermiglio, shot here and at the Tonale, which won the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Forte Strino, built by the Austrians in the early 1860s to guard the road to the pass, now holds a First World War museum and runs guided summer tours to the other forts of the Tonale barrier. Conditions at 1879 m can differ sharply from the valley floor, so check current conditions before you go with our Weather tool.
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