Umbrail Pass, Switzerland to Italy (near Stelvio Pass)

[Whitean3]

Has anyone ever driven over the Umbrail Pass from Santa Maria im Mustair (Switzerland) to Giogo di Santa Maria (Italy)? The reason I ask is I will be going on a bit of a driving tour with others in cars and on bikes; our stopover will be in Meran in Italy. The Umbrail pass is a short cut to get to the Stelvio Pass, which isn't currently on the itinerary (although it is on mine!) and I would like to make a slight detour- you can't not pass within a few KM of the Stelvio and not drive it!

Getting to the Stelvio via Livigno and Bormio would be too big a detour. The Umbrail pass could be the perfect solution. However, the only slight problem I have with the Umbrail Pass is that it appears to be a very minor road, part graveled. And every routefinding tool (e.g. Via Michelin) I have used will not take you over it! So I was wqondering if anyone has actually driven over it, and is it ok?

Thanks for any responses

[Davey S2]

Post this in the Roads section. Should get a few responses.

[2something]

Sorry I haven't been over it, but here is some info in case you haven't seen it:

http://www.schweizerseiten.ch/umbrail/umbrailpass....
http://www.bikecam.ch/paesse/pass_umbrail.htm (pass it through some translator and it has videos)

The route finding websites are a bit tricky when it comes to the Alpine passes, I just went over 4 last week and one of them wasn't shown as a possible route by any of the websites, even though it was fine. (to be fair it was the worst of the 4 and was more like 1 1/2 lanes wide with bollards on the cliff side)

[rcspeirs]

I haven't - but some mates have. They were on bikes (fireblade / R1) and they really were not impressed. Mostly because of loose surface. Not good for high performance bikes.

[rcspeirs]

Just to set your expectations of the Stelvio.

I'm glad I've ticked the box - but I'm not that bothered about going back and doing it again. Views are spectacular. But there are many more enjoyable alpine passes for driver enjoyment. For example - that road from Davos to Mustair is far more fun in my book - fast open curves that you can properly attack.

The Top Gear guys filmed the best bits of the Stelvio. But they are making good tv - not an accurate travel programme. So they didn't film the frustrating queues, and the corners that are so tight that you can't do much more than 10mph around them. Nor did they film the camper vans chugging along and packs of alpine cyclists three abreast. You can get past the slow stuff on a bike but cars - however powerful - are likely to be held up.

[dubaiguy]

Sorry, as this won't be of any use to you but I thought I'd relay a little story.

Two years ago I was 'doing' some of the passes in the area you mention and whereas my Tomtom had been absolutely spot on with directions from UK .......... at the highest point of one pass it said, " In 100 yards turn left. In 100 yards turn left, then take the ferry."

I ignored it!

[sleep envy]

rcspeirs said:

Just to set your expectations of the Stelvio.

agreed, it's a let down

[smack]

Whitean3 said:

Has anyone ever driven over the Umbrail Pass from Santa Maria im Mustair (Switzerland) to Giogo di Santa Maria (Italy)? The reason I ask is I will be going on a bit of a driving tour with others in cars and on bikes; our stopover will be in Meran in Italy. The Umbrail pass is a short cut to get to the Stelvio Pass, which isn't currently on the itinerary (although it is on mine!) and I would like to make a slight detour- you can't not pass within a few KM of the Stelvio and not drive it!

Getting to the Stelvio via Livigno and Bormio would be too big a detour. The Umbrail pass could be the perfect solution. However, the only slight problem I have with the Umbrail Pass is that it appears to be a very minor road, part graveled. And every routefinding tool (e.g. Via Michelin) I have used will not take you over it! So I was wqondering if anyone has actually driven over it, and is it ok?

Thanks for any responses

Ah yes, I did that one twice in the end of May to get over to Stelvio (in a car). It is gravel for quite a bit of it, which was good for a laugh as I grew up driving on dirt roads. But the pass itself is hard work. The road up from Santa Maria in the trees is very tight, which you can't overtake in a car, or sometimes even get two cars through. Not fun at all. After the dirt section, to the Italian border is better, but still not so enjoyable, but had lots of ice falling on to it when I went up, as it the north side and didn't get the sun. A few bikers where riding it, and they didn't look like they were having fun. The views were quite nice, but it was all full of snow when I was there.

So it was do able, but not recommended unless you want to get from A to B and time is an issue, and that is the shortest way.

[dcb]

sleep envy said:

rcspeirs said:

Just to set your expectations of the Stelvio.

agreed, it's a let down

+1.

Yes, it's one of the taller ones, but it's one of my
least favourite.

I have no plans to re-visit it anytime soon.

[smack]

dcb said:

sleep envy said:

rcspeirs said:

Just to set your expectations of the Stelvio.

agreed, it's a let down

+1.

Yes, it's one of the taller ones, but it's one of my
least favourite.

I have no plans to re-visit it anytime soon.

Ditto. It was not busy when I visited at the end of May, the first weekend it was open for the season, so I got a clear run.
Not all that fun, and it broke my rear roll bar linkage on the crest/jump half way up, or hairpins (I had taken the time to get there, so had to make a go of it as such..)

[grumbledoak]

We went down it after going up the Stelvio. No issues (in a T350, not on a bike) and as a bonus it took us back via the Munt La Schera Tunnel! I'd go again.

ETA- after the tunnel we did Livingo -> Tirano and I don't remember either road being particularly more scary than the other. They appear the same classification on my map, too. Remember, you won't be belting around on Stelvio, either; you get some short walls and big drops beside you, and most of the traffic needs the full width of the road at the hairpins.

Edited by grumbledoak on Tuesday 5th August 17:46

[tinman0]

Whitean3 said:

Has anyone ever driven over the Umbrail Pass from Santa Maria im Mustair (Switzerland) to Giogo di Santa Maria (Italy)? The reason I ask is I will be going on a bit of a driving tour with others in cars and on bikes; our stopover will be in Meran in Italy. The Umbrail pass is a short cut to get to the Stelvio Pass, which isn't currently on the itinerary (although it is on mine!) and I would like to make a slight detour- you can't not pass within a few KM of the Stelvio and not drive it!

Getting to the Stelvio via Livigno and Bormio would be too big a detour. The Umbrail pass could be the perfect solution. However, the only slight problem I have with the Umbrail Pass is that it appears to be a very minor road, part graveled. And every routefinding tool (e.g. Via Michelin) I have used will not take you over it! So I was wqondering if anyone has actually driven over it, and is it ok?

Thanks for any responses

Done it a few times. Fun pass, but you have to be careful about time.

The border at Stevlio does close in the evening, and then you have to go all the way back down. Also, its not a nice pass at night. In fact its positively dangerous, and if you fall off it, then the Swiss will prosecute you for careless driving. (You need a really good excuse if you fall off any Swiss pass).

If you hit Santa Maria after about 6pm then I wouldn't do Umbrial (4pm in September).

There is 1 restaurant on the way up that will only accept cash. No cards of any sort.

Personally, having seen the price of petrol in Livingo, I'd be going that way. Petrol was about 2/3rds of the price than in Italy, and about 20% cheaper than Switzerland - so as detours go - its a darn good one.

I would check that Umbrail is open. There were some landslides last month and both the eastern side of Stelvio was closed, and Umbrail was closed. I spoke to the Bormio Tourist Department today and Stelvio is open. Apparently it was closed for about 4-5 days. Not sure about Umbrail.

[Gruffy]

I actually prefer the Umbrail Pass to the north-east face. It's a little unkempt in places, but it's got less traffic and some knockout scenery. The 'famous' side of Stelvio is pretty to look at but not actually that much fun to drive. I guess it's a box that needs ticking though.

dubaiguy said:

In 100 yards turn left. In 100 yards turn left, then take the ferry."

That's most likely a train 'ferry' that would shuttle you through the mountain if the weather's poor, you're in a rush or you couldn't be arsed with the drive.

[tinman0]

Gruffy said:

I actually prefer the Umbrail Pass to the north-east face. It's a little unkempt in places, but it's got less traffic and some knockout scenery. The 'famous' side of Stelvio is pretty to look at but not actually that much fun to drive. I guess it's a box that needs ticking though.

Less traffic, but the bikers can ruin Umbrial on the upper gravel sections as its one pass where they just will not let cars pass. Bikers rarely let cars by easily as it is, but when they are going carefully over the gravel, they will not give an inch if at all possible.

[matt3001]

Did the Umbrail pass a few years ago on a road trip pre-Italian GP, took an M3 Cab up there, well worth the visit!!!

[chrisr29]

I did it a few days ago in a 968 and actually thought the road in question to be the best bit. It's just hairpin after hairpin and was able to keep it in second pretty much all the way up. The gravel bit isn't as bad as people make out, was surprisingly grippy and not really that loose. Encountered no other traffic either untill I reached the Stelvio which is ok but no better than any other passes I've done. Had a great drive from Bern to Klosters, the later part of it on a Sunday evening between 7ish to 9 and I tell you what the roads were EMPTY! It was utterly brilliant!

[ukkid35]

chrisr29 said:

I did it a few days ago in a 968 and actually thought the road in question to be the best bit.

Completely agree - best road in the area. Was also there in 2008.

[soad]

Holy thread resurrection, batman!!

[ukkid35]

soad said:

Holy thread resurrection, batman!!

Nah - it's only 4 years old, if it were 10 then that might qualify.