Grisons · Switzerland
Passo del Bernina
29Pontresina to Poschiavo
A high glacier pass between the Engadin and Valtellina.
The Bernina Pass at 2,328 m carries the road from Pontresina past glacier-fed lakes toward Poschiavo and Italy, shadowed by the railway that’s a UNESCO World Heritage line. It is high, open driving with weather to match the altitude: old snow can sit beside the road deep into spring, the summit air asks for an extra layer, and the trains have right of way where the tracks cross the tarmac.
Above the treeline the hairpins fall away and it’s all long, sweeping arcs, past the milky turquoise of Lago Bianco with the Bernina railway running alongside.
Why we picked it
Scenery
Best seasons
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Passo del Bernina on the map30.3 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
Corners
busiest around mile 13Elevation
under 4%4 to 8%over 8%545 to 2,326 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- RöntgenplatzViewpoint2.4 mi in
- Passo del BerninaViewpoint11 mi in
- MontebellokurveViewpoint5.2 mi in
Hazards
- Altitude weather and late snow
- Railway crossings
- Glare off the lakes
Sources
“At 2,328 meters (7636 ft) above sea level, it connects St. Moritz, Switzerland with Tirano, Italy. The road winds at the foot of majestic Alpine peaks towering above 4,000 m (13,123 ft).”
Route traced from OpenStreetMap, with its stats measured from that line. How the roads are mapped
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