Penser Joch (Passo Pennes)

Long high South Tyrol pass on the most direct Bolzano to Sterzing road.

The SS508 over the 2211m Penser Joch links Sterzing in the Wipptal with Bolzano via the remote Sarntal, the most direct road between the two. It is a long, sweeping climb with hundreds of curves, a handful of genuine hairpins and a fine surface, topping out at a lonely summit guesthouse. The Sarntal side feels notably wild and lightly trafficked. Mind the steeper ramps that reach around 13 percent, the long exposed high-altitude section prone to sudden weather, and snow closing the pass in winter.