This shows our wandering track through the Dolomites. The twelve passes that we traversed are named in yellow. There may be some others that I missed naming. A few cities are shown in green.
This shows our wandering track through the Dolomites. The twelve passes that we traversed are named in yellow. There may be some others that I missed naming. A few cities are shown in green.
Passo Mendola is located between the Brenta Dolomites to the southwest and the main Dolomites range to the east.
Taken near the top of Passo Mendola looking east, this picture shows the town of Bolzano in the Adige River Valley. The main Dolomites range is in the background.
This is a helmet camera video of a motorcycle ride up to and over Passo Mendola. It was a great ride.
More of the Adige River Valley as seen from the east side of Passo Mendola.
This is the Passo Mendola road on the east side as it traverses a steep cliff.
One of the gateways from Bolzano into the main Dolomites is over Passo Costalunga. This is definitely a treat.
One of the gems along the Passo Costalunga road is Lago di Carezza, otherwise known as the Rainbow Lake. Legend has it that a love-sick sorcerer snatched the rainbow from the sky, smashed it and threw all the pieces into the lake. This is the reason why the Lake of Carezza is still filled with the brilliant colors of the rainbow. Google "Legend of the nymph of Lago di Carezza" to get the full version of the legend.
This video shows highlights of riding up into the Dolomites via Val d Ega, just east of Bolzano. There are lots of nice esses in the valley, past Lago di Carezza, and the video ends at the top of Passo Costalunga.
Passo Rolle has one of the most impressive peaks in the Dolomites.
At the top of Passo Rolle is the mountain peak Cimon della Pala, sometimes called the Matterhorn of the Dolomites. It is the best-known peak of the Pale di San Martino group in the Dolomites.
Passo Cereda is in the southern Dolomites and the road to the top goes through some charming villages.
This is at the top of Passo Cereda. The maximum grade to here is 15%.
There is always a restaurant or hotel at the top of a pass.
The village of Frassene Agordino is on the Passo Cereda road. Seemed like a nice place to take a picture. It also seems like a pretty place to live.
Passo di Giau is one of the premier motorcycle passes in the Dolomites. It is a minor road on normal auto maps, but the views and the curves are major.
Passo di Giau with La Gusela peak in the background. No motorcycle tour of the Dolomites is complete without a ride up to Passo di Giau.
Looking west from the top of Passo di Giau.
Looking east from the top of Passo di Giau.
This is a helmet camera video riding down the east side of Passo di Giau.
Passo Pordoi is the highest paved pass in the Dolomites at an elevation of 7,346ft.
View from Passo Pordoi looking east.
The peak of Sass Pordoi can be reached by funicular from Passo Pordoi.
Corvara in Badia is the main center of Alta Badia, a prestigious tourist area located at the top end of the Val Badia, surrounded by the peaks of the Dolomites mountains.
Mount Sassongher as seen from Corvara in Badia. We spent a night here and walked the streets beneath this majestic peak before dinner.
Climbing out of Val Badia going east from Corvara takes you over Passo Valparola. We did this route on our last day in the Dolomites.
Looking northwest from Passo Valparola toward Val Badia.
We are at the top of Passo Valparola looking south into the heart of the Dolomites.
HTML by
Thomas R. Powell
Last updated on 01/06/2020.