Stelvio Pass in a car with low clearance

[vx_villa]

I'm planning on doing the pass this June - is there a preferred direction to go ?

[F308 MAN]

vx_villa said:

I'm planning on doing the pass this June - is there a preferred direction to go ?

there most certainly is !

up first, and then down.



d

Edited by F308 MAN on Wednesday 5th March 23:26

[Gruffy]

I would strongly suggest approaching from the Bormio side. The surface is of much higher quality on the south-west side and the driving is better. The north-east side is really all about the view and ticking the box.

[F308 MAN]

Mmmm ... i would beg to differ, sorry.
this year we plan to approach from the north east ... a jolly nice pot of tea at the top, then drive back down the same way.
d

[TonyHetherington]

I'm not sure which side (north-east/south-west) but the one I found LESS enjoyable was this;

http://www.trentobike.org/Countries/Europe/Tour_Re...

(linked because it's a big picture). As someone above said; doing that was more about ticking the box. We did it in conjunction with a big driving tour and on that particular tour we drove roads that were, in my opinion, twice as enjoyable.

We're going back to the gross glockner/grimsel/route napoleon etc this year as they were so so good.

[Gruffy]

That would be the north-east side, Tony.

[vx_villa]

Thanks - I'll probably be coming from the Bormio side - at least I now know its not one way !!

If I leave Bormio early on a weekday can someone give me a rough idea of how long it takes to the top ?

[TonyHetherington]

Ah thanks (that means I'm agreeing with you I think )

[Gruffy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's exactly the reason why I believe the Bormio side offers better driving. It has an interesting variety of corners, curves and straights which can be linked together. It also has several different 'stages' and the landscape is different through each.

The north-east face is definitely tough on brakes if you're driving enthusiastically - many manufacturers use it for testing. Fortunately, with a view like that it's not really a great hardship to pull into one of the overshoot areas and soak it up for five minutes while they cool.

Personally I find there's only so much satisfaction to be had from the repetitious straight-hairpin-straight-hairpin routine of the north-east side. That box does need ticking but having driven the Stelvio so many times (in all directions) I much prefer to drive up the Bormio side, poke my head around the corner and enjoy the view (and a venison hotdog) and then head down the Umbrail Pass.

[Gruffy]

That said, more important than which side you climb is which time you climb. There's nothing quite like a proper dawn raid on an empty mountain!

Stelvio is a mecca for cyclists which can have a big impact on your potential for safe fun. By mid-morning the cyclists are out taking advantage of the milder heat. Same goes for the afternoon. Inside of those times the tourist traffic builds up and it can be tricky to pass on the Stelvio (though the Bormio side is easier thanks to better visibility and a wider road).

[dom180]

Surely you need to experience a complete run in both directions after driving all that way to get there!

[Sideways Rich]

vx_villa said:

Thanks - I'll probably be coming from the Bormio side - at least I now know its not one way !!

If I leave Bormio early on a weekday can someone give me a rough idea of how long it takes to the top ?

I'm in Bormio as I type this, how long does it take to get to the top of Stelvio and back to Bormio? Planning on leaving first thing and getting back for breakfast with my good lady.

Thanks
Rich

[JasonJH]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Hopefully i'll be as luck as you was as I will be the Stelvio next monday

[Diamond blue]

TonyHetherington said:

Agree absolutely with that, Davey.

Route Napoleon, Gross Glockner, and the Grimsel Pass especially I'd all do over and above Stelvio again.

+1
Stelvio is no fun at all if there's any amount of traffic, so early or late on a weekday.
Its just no fun doing 180 deg. hairpin after hairpin with little short straights.
I think any Ferrari is OK on the stelvio as they aren't that low at the front compared to some. Did it in a GT3 which was a bit of a joke tbh. Had to do several 3 point turns , still grounded the front constantly and laughably came to a complete halt on one corner in an impasse with a coach.

[petfroguk]

Do it at an unsociable time, we did it 9pm on a Saturday evening in July, virtually deserted, but a slightly slow Audi Quattro slowed our enthusiasm. GT3RS front splitter did bottom out a few times heading up on the 180 degree turns.

BTW if you met any traffic coming in opposite direction the Stelvio would be a bit tiresome, other than for the views. Many, many better roads in the region but you can only say that after you've done it of course.