Passo della Mendola (Mendel Pass)
SS42Caldaro to Fondo · Trentino-Alto Adige
Distance13.4mi · 22 km
Drive time27 minon the road
DifficultyModerate
MountainForestValley
Historic 17-hairpin wine-road climb from Caldaro up to the Mendel ridge.
Built in the 1880s, the SS42 climbs from Caldaro on the South Tyrol wine road through 17 sharp bends to the 1363m Passo della Mendola, then runs on toward Fondo in the Val di Non. It is a steady, panoramic ascent that was a fashionable belle-epoque health resort and remains popular with bikers and cyclists. Gradients are moderate and the bends well graded. Mind the heavy weekend two-wheeled traffic, the sheer drop-offs on the open hairpins, and occasional ice on the shaded upper bends in the cold months.
Where it runs
CaldaroStart · Trentino-Alto Adige
FondoEnd · Italy
Character
Corners17bends
Tightness5of 10
Max gradient12%≈ 1-in-8
Hairpins14tight bends
Climb835 mtotal ascent
Summit1386 mhighest point · 4547 ft
SpringSummerAutumn
Elevation
729 m rangeKnow before you go
- Heavy motorcycle traffic
- Exposed drop-offs
- Shaded ice in cold months
Sources
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Passo della Mendola (Mendel Pass).
