Road · Switzerland
Splügen Pass from Chiavenna
A mountainous 31 km road cycling route from Chiavenna through San Giacomo Filippo, Gallivaggio and Prestone, with 1,798 m of climbing over the Chiavenna climb and the Montespluga climb. Most of it (28.3 km) is on main roads without a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for confident riders at ease in traffic
- Distance
- 30.7 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,798 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 12 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Apr to Oct
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Chiavenna
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,798 m
- 31 km
Route description
- Chiavenna
- Chiavenna climb
- San Giacomo Filippo
- Gallivaggio
- Prestone
- Pietra
- Acero
- Pianazzo
- Montespluga climb
The route starts in Chiavenna at 328 m and climbs steadily for 25 km, gaining 1575 m at an average gradient of 6.2%, reaching 1904 m near Montespluga. There is a final 3 km push climbing 208 m at 6.9% average gradient to the pass at 2114 m. The road is mainly main road (SS36) for 93% of the route, with almost no cycle lanes on the 28 km main road section.
Surface is mostly paved, with just 3% gravel or unpaved. The profile is mountainous with 86% climbing, including 19.8 km over 5% gradient and 7.8 km over 8%. The steepest sustained gradient is 23.4% over 500 m near the start. Facilities are available along the way with shops and cafes in Chiavenna and Campodolcino, and occasional drinking water points and restaurants up the route. The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 4.5 km between 20.8 km and 25.3 km.
Bailouts are possible at Chiavenna and Campodolcino train stations. Notable settlements en route include Bette, San Giacomo Filippo, Gallivaggio, Lirone, and Montespluga close to the pass.
Why ride this route?
- Climbs the Chiavenna climb (25.2 km at 6.2 %) and the Montespluga climb (3 km at 6.9 %).
- Tops out at 2,114 m, 30.4 km in.
- Crosses a border: Italy and Switzerland.
Highlights
- Santuario della Madonna di Gallivaggio near 7.6 km
- Final high point at Passo dello Spluga, 2114 m
- Multiple food stops including Ca’ nei Sass restaurant at 8.8 km
- Viewpoint at Acque Rosse, 19.7 km
Along the route
Places passed· crosses into Switzerland
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Full ascent | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chiavenna climb | 0.2 km | 25.2 km · 1575 m · 6.2 % · max 12.8 % | 25.2 km · 1575 m · 6.2 % | 1904 m |
| Montespluga climb | 27.3 km | 3 km · 208 m · 6.9 % · max 13 % | 3 km · 208 m · 6.9 % | 2114 m |
Chiavenna climb · full ascent, starts at 0.2 km
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%
Montespluga climb · full ascent, starts at 27.3 km
Traffic, surface and gradient
This is not a cycle-track route: 92% is on main roads without a cycle lane. Riders should be comfortable sharing the road with faster traffic.
- Roads
- 93% main road · 5% quiet street · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 28.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Main roads used
- SS36 (28 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 86% climbing · 2% descending · 12% flat
- Steep sections
- 19.8 km over 5% · 7.8 km over 8% · 2 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 23.4% at 0 km
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 51 cafés and restaurants, 8 shops, 43 water points, 3 petrol stations, 1 public toilet and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmCrai · supermarket · on the route
- 0 kmFarmacia Dottor Dolci · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 0.2 kmLa Casa del Pane · bakery · on the route
- 0.2 km4 Bike · bike shop · 30 m off route
- 0.3 kmStazione di Servizio IP di Balatti Andrea · petrol station · 90 m off route
- 1.4 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 5 kmSpring · 110 m off route
- 7.4 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 8.8 kmCa’ nei Sass · restaurant · 40 m off route
- 13 kmLafarmacia. Edelweiss · pharmacy · on the route
- 13.3 kmRetitalia · petrol station · 30 m off route
- 13.4 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 13.5 kmAntico Borgo · café · on the route
- 13.5 kmMoiola Market Campodolcino Corti · supermarket · on the route
- 17.5 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 20.8 kmRifugio Teggiate · restaurant · 30 m off route
- 27.6 kmLa Capriata · restaurant · 100 m off route
- 27.6 kmKiosco · kiosk · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Chiavenna (station), 340 m off route
- 14.2 km — Campodolcino (station), 50 m off route
Worth a stop
- 7.6 km — Santuario della Madonna di Gallivaggio (attraction)
- 19.7 km — Acque Rosse (viewpoint)
- 30.4 km — Passo dello Spluga (viewpoint, 2100 m)
Stay after this ride
- Albergo della Posta · hotel · 1.9 km from the finish
- Albergo Vittoria · hotel · 1.8 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Caffé Pestalozzi (20 m), Il Fornaio (20 m), La Casa del Pane (180 m)
- Shops
- Crai (10 m), Sigma (210 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 4.5 km from 20.8 to 25.3 km
- 28 km on main roads without cycle lanes (SS36)
- Steepest sustained gradient: 23.4% over 500 m at route start
- 7.8 km over 8% gradient climbs