39.9
PDI
11.5 mi
DISTANCE
5,246 ft
GAINED
8.7 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
INTRO
The Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm in German) is Europe's largest high-altitude alpine meadow, a rolling plateau beneath the Sciliar-Rosengarten massif in South Tyrol's Dolomites. This climb covers about 11.5 miles from the valley near Ponte Gardena, up through Fiè allo Sciliar and Siusi allo Sciliar before switchbacking onto the plateau, gaining 5,246 feet at an average grade of 8.7% and finishing above 6,800 feet. What sets this climb apart is the traffic - the lack of it.
Because the plateau is a protected landscape, the upper road is closed to private motor vehicles daily from 9:00am to 5:00pm, so for most of the riding day cyclists have the wide, well-paved switchbacks mostly to themselves, aside from occasional farm vehicles or permitted hotel guests - a rare break from traffic in a busy corner of the Dolomites.
The reward at the top is just as distinctive: instead of a narrow pass, the road opens onto a vast expanse of green pasture framed by the jagged Sciliar and Sassolungo peaks.
This climb is currently #101 in the world by difficulty, barely missing out on Top 100 prestige. It lacks the Grand Tour pedigree of nearby Passo Gardena or Passo Sella, but pairs naturally with those bigger passes for riders based in Val Gardena.
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 climb averages 8.7% over 11.5 miles, which is a genuinely consistent grade rather than a series of ramps and flats - there's rarely a stretch long enough to fully recover on. The lower miles through Fiè allo Sciliar are the most uneven, with short double-digit pitches around the switchbacks; the middle and upper sections settle into a steadier rhythm as the road climbs in open hairpins onto the plateau.
Nothing on this route is sustained double-digit steep, but the lack of any real flat sections is what makes the overall effort add up, especially with 5,246 feet of total gain.
Roadway: The road is paved the entire way, wide, and in good condition, with a mix of open switchbacks and a handful of tighter hairpins in the lower half. No closures or repair work have been reported for the 2026 season.
Traffic: This is a protected landscape, and the upper road onto the plateau is closed to private motor vehicles every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm. During that window traffic is limited to farm vehicles, buses, and hotel guests with an access permit - genuinely light for a climb this close to a major tourist destination. Expect more car traffic in the early morning and evening, when day-trippers are driving up or down outside the restricted hours.
Parking: A free outdoor lot at the Alpe di Siusi cable car's valley station in Siusi allo Sciliar works well as a starting point if you'd rather skip the lower valley miles from Ponte Gardena. If you're driving up to the plateau itself rather than riding, note that as of June 29, 2026 the summit lots at Compatsch and Spitzbühl require an online reservation made in advance.
Compact gearing is the right call here - a 34-tooth chainring paired with a 30-32 tooth low cog will make the steadier lower and middle sections much more manageable, especially if you're riding up after a full day already spent in Val Gardena. The lower slopes near Fiè allo Sciliar can get hot and exposed in summer, so bring more water than you think you'll need and start early if the forecast calls for heat.
Conditions change fast once you're up on the plateau at nearly 7,000 feet - pack a light shell for wind and temperature swings, even on a warm day in the valley. Food and water are available in Siusi allo Sciliar partway up and again at cafes around Compatsch near 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.
Base yourself in Ponte Gardena, Fiè allo Sciliar, or Siusi allo Sciliar to keep this climb close to home - all three sit right along the route. Because the upper road is car-free from 9:00am to 5:00pm, there's no real need to start at dawn to beat traffic the way you would on most Dolomites climbs; a mid-morning start still gets you the quiet window.
This region is dense with other well-known climbs - Passo Gardena and Passo Sella are both a short transfer away - so it's worth combining this one into a bigger loop or a multi-day trip rather than treating it as a standalone ride. Given how much the temperature and wind can shift between the valley floor and the plateau finish nearly 1,600 meters higher, it's worth checking conditions at both ends with our Weather tool before you head out.
ROUTE MAP
MEMBER RATING
CURRENT WEATHER
PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES
Check out PJAMM Adventure's prepackaged (self-guided) cycling trips. They will help you plan, document and conquer your next adventure.
NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY
FROM No Climbs Found
MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS
Let us know what you thought of this climb. Signup for our FREE membership to write a review or post a comment.
Already have an account?
LOG IN HERE
