Has anyone done the Gavia Pass in a car?

[roygarth]

I ask as it looks very narrow with few passing places.

It's on my itenerary this year as it connects Stelvio Pass with Bernina Pass.

I'll be in a Challenge Stradale.

Thanks
Piers.

[VTECMatt]

I did it in an Elise years ago, was quite rough back then, as such not sure I would recommend it, but perhaps someone who has been recently might say otherwise.

To be honest Stelvio was my least favourite pass, we are not doing it on the tour I'm on this year.

[CAPP0]

I tried going over the Gavia pass but I ended up getting really obnoxious with loads of strangers and kept saying loads stroppy rubbish for no reason, until they threw me off the mountain.

I survived though and climbed back up and told everyone I was someone else.

[roygarth]

VTECMatt said:

I did it in an Elise years ago, was quite rough back then, as such not sure I would recommend it, but perhaps someone who has been recently might say otherwise.

To be honest Stelvio was my least favourite pass, we are not doing it on the tour I'm on this year.

Thanks.

Rough as in bottoming out?

I've heard there are single track sections with few passing places?

I've heard many say similar about Stelvio, but it is on bucket list and has been closed when we were up there last 2 years.

[sjabrown]

Did the Gavia Pass in a modern Panda 4x4 hire car in 2015. Single track with passing places for much of it. Do it for the scenery rather than for the driving.

[TonyG2003]

It’s double lane for about half the way down (bottom half into Bormio) the rest from Ponte Di Legno over the top and half way down (~40km) is mostly single track with passing places. The surface is a bit poor too. It’s scenic but not a great driving road. Never driven it but cycled over on three occasions.

[VTECMatt]

roygarth said:

Thanks.

Rough as in bottoming out?

I've heard there are single track sections with few passing places?

I've heard many say similar about Stelvio, but it is on bucket list and has been closed when we were up there last 2 years.

The condition of the road was poor compared to others, it isn't a fast pass.

[Pericoloso]

roygarth said:

I've heard there are single track sections with few passing places?

I've heard many say similar about Stelvio, but it is on bucket list and has been closed when we were up there last 2 years.

Stelvio is plenty wide enough ,on the northern side and surface is fine.

The RH hairpins are hard work though.

[Finlandese]

In a Challenge Stradale!?!

I did it two years ago in a 1974 Alfa Spider and it was so bad, I had to let the cyclists pass me on the way down... Narrow and rough.

[Allyc85]

Going by this, I don't think it will be a huge amount of fun in your car if honest!

Passo di Gavia - As narrow as it gets! - POV - Porsche Cayman GTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q1tY9J-nU8

[CarreraAl]

I've driven it in a 1982 Porsche 911 SC, and as other people have said, the road surface is rough in a few places, but generally fine. The tight hairpins can be hard work in a SC which doesn't have power steering. The main issue I had was seeing the road on the decent due to low cloud. The visibility was ~20m in places and I ended up using the satnav to pick out the hairpin bends and driving very slowly.

[gixermark]

thread revival !!

i've watched some video's of Gavia, and it looks incredibly narrow in places - and there doesn't appear to be many ? passing bays ?

i've done NC500 and other narrow roads throughout the highlands and been 'ok' albeit not keen on the proper narrow stuff for fear of meeting a truck or having to go off the road ledge and damage wheels/splitters etc.

for those that have done Gavia - would you recommend ?

staying in St Moritz... on one day we had planned to do Berina Pass, Gavia, then Stelvio and loop back around (or go the other way)

but to potentially avoid Gavia... am looking at maybe doing Berina out and back... then loop up over to stelvio and do it out and back.... then return to st moritz... i suspect a fiarly long day, but get to do teh passes twice, and avoid the narrow Gavia

or......... do Berina and back up half way - to branch up to the ski resort of Teola, then across to Bormio - and start Stelvio there......

anyone been around this area with advice ?