Sella Ronda by Motorcycle: Four Dolomites Passes in One Loop

The Sella Ronda is the Dolomites in miniature. Four passes ring the Sella massif, a fortress of pale rock in the middle of the range, and the road that links them gives you around 55 kilometres of almost unbroken bends with a different view at every hairpin. Skiers know the same circuit in winter; in summer it belongs to riders, cyclists and every car rental in South Tyrol. Ridden early in the day it is one of the best short loops in the Alps.

Planning the loop

You can start from any of the four valleys that meet at the Sella: Val Gardena (Selva, Santa Cristina, Ortisei), Val Badia (Corvara, Colfosco), Arabba in Livinallongo, or Canazei in Val di Fassa. Corvara and Arabba sit right on the loop, which makes them the most popular bases. The loop takes two hours without stops, so most riders ride it in the morning and add more passes in the afternoon. Clockwise and anticlockwise are both popular; the description below runs anticlockwise from Selva.

The route, pass by pass

Selva over the Passo Gardena to Corvara (about 20km). From Selva in Val Gardena climb east on the SS243 through meadows and pine forest to the Passo Gardena (Grödner Joch) at 2,121 metres, with the Sella towers rising straight above the road and the Puez peaks to the north. The eastern side drops in tight hairpins through Colfosco to Corvara in Val Badia, overlooked by the Sassongher.

Corvara over the Campolongo to Arabba (about 10km). The Passo Campolongo, at 1,875 metres, is the lowest and gentlest of the four: a short, flowing climb through ski runs and a quick descent to Arabba. It is a good place to settle into a rhythm.

Arabba over the Passo Pordoi to Canazei (about 15km). From Arabba the Pordoi climbs in a long string of hairpins up the eastern face, with the Marmolada glacier, the highest mountain in the Dolomites, coming into view to the south. The summit at 2,239 metres has hotels, a cable car up the Sass Pordoi and plenty of parking for bikes. The western descent to Canazei is another long ladder of hairpins with a good surface, ending in the Val di Fassa.

Canazei over the Passo Sella back to Selva (about 15km). From Canazei climb back north to the Passo Sella at 2,240 metres. This is many riders' favourite: the road winds up between the Sella massif and the Sassolungo, and the view from the top across to the Sassolungo towers is one of the classic images of the range. The descent into Val Gardena brings you back to Selva.

Adding more passes

From Arabba, the Passo Falzarego and the Passo Giau make a superb afternoon loop via Cortina d'Ampezzo, with the Giau's tight hairpins and the Cinque Torri above it. From Canazei, the Passo Fedaia climbs past the Marmolada lake on a steep, narrow road. From the Val di Fassa you can ride the Passo di Costalunga toward Bolzano. Riders with more days can carry on west to the Stelvio and the Gavia in our Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo guide.

Rules, closures and traffic

The Dolomites passes are some of the busiest mountain roads in Europe, and local authorities have been looking hard at how to manage them. Speed limits on the passes are low and enforced. In South Tyrol, the provincial government has restricted organised motorsport events on roads above 1,600 metres, and there is ongoing debate over how far that reaches guided tours and club ride-outs. The Passo Gardena has also been the subject of traffic-calming plans and trials. Private riders can ride the passes as normal, but if you are riding in an organised group or with a tour company, check the current rules first.

On a few event days each summer, such as the Sellaronda Bike Day, all four passes close to motor traffic for most of the day. Check the dates with the Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba or Val di Fassa tourist offices before you plan your trip, and check South Tyrol's provincial traffic information service and the Trentino road service on the day.

There are no tolls on the passes. July and August bring heavy traffic, especially between mid-morning and late afternoon: ride early, or come in June or September.

Getting there

From the north, leave the Brenner motorway at Brixen (Bressanone) or Klausen (Chiusa) and ride up the Val Gardena, or take the Val Badia road from the Puster valley to Corvara. Both approaches are scenic in their own right. From the south, ride up the Val di Fassa from the Adige valley to Canazei. From Austria and East Tyrol, the Puster valley leads west to the Val Badia turn at San Lorenzo. Whichever way you arrive, plan to reach your base by mid-afternoon: the valley roads into the Sella clog with returning traffic in the late afternoon in high summer.

When to go

The Sella Ronda passes are cleared for the ski season and are open most of the year, but they can close in heavy snow or storms. For riding, mid-June to late September is the reliable window. Early mornings bring the best light on the rock walls and the emptiest roads. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in July and August, so plan the high passes for the morning.

The roads

Surfaces are generally good, but the hairpins collect gravel, diesel and the odd patch of melted tar on hot days, and the shaded sections stay damp after rain. You will share the road with cyclists, coaches, campervans and hire cars whose drivers are watching the scenery. There is fuel in Selva, Corvara, Arabba and Canazei but none on the passes.

Where to stay

Corvara, Arabba, Canazei and Selva are the classic bases, with Val Badia and Val Gardena giving the most choice of hotels used to riders. See our biker hotels in the Dolomites and the wider list of places to stay in Northern Italy. The Dolomites link north to the Timmelsjoch and Jaufenpass via Brixen and Sterzing, south to Lake Garda, and east through East Tyrol to the Grossglockner.