17.5
PDI
7.5 mi
DISTANCE
2,740 ft
GAINED
6.8 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
Page Contributor(s): Luke Hise, Phoenix, Arizona
INTRO
Passo Staulanza from Dont climbs 12.0 km (7.5 mi) up the head of the Val di Zoldo, from 968 m (3175 ft) to 1783 m (5850 ft) at Forcella Staulanza, gaining 835 m (2740 ft) at a 6.8% average. The pass is the saddle between two of the great Dolomite peaks, Monte Pelmo and the Civetta, and it crosses from the Zoldo valley into Val Fiorentina above Selva di Cadore. It currently ranks #1284 in the world on our list.
This is the steeper of the pass's two sides, and it starts hard - the second kilometer averages 10%. The road then climbs into Zoldo Alto, where the wooden houses of Mareson, the onion-domed bell tower of its church and the ski slopes of Pecol (part of the Civetta ski area) mark the halfway point and the gradient briefly relaxes. Above Pecol the climb settles back into 7-8%, with a stack of hairpins giving views back down the valley, then passes the campground and ski area at Palafavera and finishes with wide, steady curves through forest to the pass.
The Zoldo side has Giro d'Italia history: in 2005, stage 11 from Marostica crossed Passo Duran and finished in Zoldo Alto, where Paolo Savoldelli beat Ivan Basso to the line and Basso took the pink jersey. From 1987 to 1989, Staulanza and Duran were also part of the route of the Maratona dles Dolomites.
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 Staulanza from Dont is 12.0 km (7.5 mi) long and gains 835 m (2740 ft) from 968 m (3175 ft) to 1783 m (5850 ft), an average of 6.8%.
The climb wastes no time: after a 7.1% first kilometer, the second averages 10.0% and holds the steepest 500 m of the day at 11.4%. Kilometer 3 eases to 4.3%, and then kilometers of 8.4% and 7.1% lead up to Mareson. Through Mareson and Pecol, around km 6 (mi 3.7), the road nearly levels out at 2.6% - the one real breather.
From Pecol to the pass, the last 6 km (3.7 mi) average 7.0%, in kilometers of 8.0%, 7.5%, 5.5%, 7.3%, 6.8% and 7.3%. Overall, the steepest kilometer averages 10.1%, the steepest mile (1.6 km) 9.0%, the steepest 2 km (1.2 mi) 8.5% and the steepest 5 km (3.1 mi) 7.5%, and the steepest 100 yards reach 14.7%.
Roadway: Paved all the way on the SP251, the main road up the Val di Zoldo and over the pass to Val Fiorentina, and riders rate the surface highly. Lower down the valley, the SP251 near Soffranco has been closed by rockfall before - most recently in August 2025 - and when that happens Passo Duran, Forcella Cibiana and Staulanza itself become the ways into the valley, so check current road status with the Provincia di Belluno if you're driving in. Snow and ice are possible near the pass from late autumn into spring.
Traffic: Generally light - mostly residents and visitors heading for Zoldo Alto. The pass is part of popular Dolomite loops, though, so expect some motorcycles and more cars on summer weekends.
Parking: Dont is a small village where the Duran and Staulanza roads part ways, with limited space in the center, so most riders start from their accommodation in Forno di Zoldo or Zoldo Alto rather than driving to the bottom. If you're meeting a support car, the rifugio at Forcella Staulanza is the natural spot at the top.
Provisions: Fill your bottles before leaving Dont - riders note there's little water along the road itself until you reach the Fiorentina side. Mareson and Pecol, about halfway up, are the obvious places for a coffee stop, and at the top the rifugio at Forcella Staulanza serves food and drinks right on the pass.
Gear: The pass sits at nearly 1800 m (5900 ft) between two big Dolomite walls and can be windy and much colder than the valley, so pack a layer for the descent. A compact crankset helps for the 10% second kilometer.
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 Val di Zoldo has a remarkable claim to fame: it's the home valley of many of Europe's artisan gelato makers. Zoldani started out as street vendors in the 19th century, and by the 1930s families from the valley ran dozens of gelaterie in Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Poland. Seasonal ice-cream making abroad is still the valley's main source of income today.
At Forcella Staulanza you're at the foot of Monte Pelmo, and the pass is a trailhead worth knowing: paths lead to the Monte Crot viewpoint, around the Pelmo to Rifugio Venezia, and in about 1 hr 15 min on foot to a boulder at the base of the mountain marked with roughly a hundred dinosaur footprints. Lower down, Palafavera is the start of the walk to Lago Coldai beneath the Civetta walls - see our Val di Zoldo (Palafavera) page.
Dont is also the start of the Zoldo side of Passo Duran, and the two passes together make a classic ride around the Civetta via Agordo. See other climbs nearby, or build a custom route from here, with our Routes in the Area tool.
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