A paved curvy road to the summit of Campolongo Pass in the Dolomites

Passo Campolongo sits pretty at 1,875m (6,152ft) elevation, straddling the border between Veneto and South Tyrol in northern Italy. This beauty connects the Province of Belluno with the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, and it's become something of a legend among cycling enthusiasts—the Giro d'Italia has tackled it, and it kicks off the legendary Maratona dles Dolomites. Talk about making an entrance to the Dolomites!

The 10km (6.21 miles) route, known as Strada Provinciale 244, runs entirely on asphalt from Varda up to Corvara, with the road generally staying open year-round (though winter can throw some curveballs with occasional closures).

Now, about that climb: it's no joke. Coming up from Arabba, you're looking at a 4km push with 295m of elevation gain and an average gradient of 7.4%—steep enough to get your legs burning. From the Corvara side, the 6.15km ascent is a touch gentler at 5% average gradient, but that's still a solid 307m of elevation to conquer. The real magic? The first section hits you with those signature Dolomites hairpins and dramatic mountain views that'll have you gasping (both from effort and scenery). As you pass the golf course, things mellow out a bit, and those final 3km serve up gorgeous Alpine meadows that feel almost gentle compared to what came before. It's the perfect blend of challenging climbing and stunning scenery that makes the Dolomites so special.