Story by MARISA MCINTURFF
ROAD WORTH RIDING
A legendary road through the Italian Alps, Stelvio Pass climbs through 48 hairpin turns and is one of Europe’ s highest paved mountain passes.
The Roof of Italy— Stelvio Pass
Stelvio Pass is one of those bucket-list roads you dream about riding long before you imagine ever actually going there. It is so iconic that motorcycles have been named after it and photographs of its seemingly endless switchbacks have become shorthand for great motorcycle roads. But no photograph quite prepares you for the experience of riding it.
At 9,045 feet, Stelvio is the highest paved mountain pass in Italy. The SS38 climbs from the town of Prato Allo Stelvio in South Tyrol, while another approach comes from Bormio in Lombardy. Both sides are spectacular, but the South Tyrol approach is the one that delivers the famous wall of switchbacks that makes Stelvio instantly recognizable.
Once the road begins climbing in earnest, the scenery changes quickly. Forest surrounds the lower sections, but the higher you climb, the more the mountain opens up. Then comes the first switchback.
The famous Stelvio switchbacks seem to stack one on top of another as the road ascends the mountainside. There are 48 hairpins on the South Tyrol side, and riding them is a physical experience. Corner after corner requires concentration, precise lines, and a smooth throttle. Before long, I could feel tension building in my shoulders, and I had to remind myself to relax my grip and let the motorcycle work.
One particularly steep hairpin has become something of a celebrity in its own right. Its combination of grade and tight radius has made it a notorious spot for motorcycle tipovers, and videos of riders losing their balance there have become popular online. Seeing the clips is funny from the comfort of your couch. Sitting on a motorcycle at the bottom of that corner is another matter entirely.
TOP OF THE WORLD
The pass is more than a point on a map. At the top, you’ ll find restaurants, food stands, and souvenir shops selling patches, stickers, T-shirts, and other Stelvio memorabilia. On a busy day, the summit becomes a gathering place for motorcyclists, bicyclists, and tourists from around the world.
8 / OCTOBER 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM