SS242 · Italy

Passo Sella

One of the four passes around the Sella massif in the Dolomites, linking Val di Fassa and Val Gardena at 2,218 m.

StartFinishHairpin

22.4 kmLength

227Pace-note calls

32Hairpins

73Tight corners (1–2)

↑800 ↓680Climb and drop, m

≈2,250 mHighest point

Counts are from Turini’s pace-note engine on this route. Heights come from terrain data and can differ from signposted figures by a few tens of metres.

Where is the Passo Sella?

The Passo Sella is in Italy, on the SS242. Also known as Sella Pass or Sellajoch. The route on this page: Canazei to Selva di Val Gardena, over the 2,218 m Sella Pass (one leg of the Sella Ronda), 22.4 km.

Why the Passo Sella is famous

Driving the four passes around the Sella group, Sella, Gardena, Campolongo and Pordoi, is known as the Sella Ronda, and in winter the same circuit is a well-known ski tour. This leg climbs from Canazei and drops into Val Gardena below the Sassolungo.

Passo Sella hairpins

Over 22.4 km Turini calls 32 hairpins, 2 square corners and 174 corners graded 1 to 6, plus 1 crest and 3 dips. That is 227 calls in all, one every 98 metres on average. Grade 1 is the tightest, 6 is nearly straight (how to read pace notes).

HP32

117

256

337

428

528

Passo Sella elevation profile

From 1,447 m at the start to 1,568 m at the finish, with a highest point of about 2,250 m. Red marks are the hairpins.

2,300 m1,400 m

0 km11.2 km22.4 km

Passo Sella pace notes, first few km

The first 25 calls, exactly as Turini reads them, with the distance from the start.

5 mRight 4

45 mSquare right

90 mSquare right

100 mStop

125 mLeft 5

165 mBridge

765 mRoundabout, second exit

880 mDip

930 mLeft 2

974 mCamera

1.04 kmRight 2 tightens

1.13 kmLeft 4

1.18 kmRight 5

1.21 kmCamera

1.22 kmLeft 2

1.25 kmHairpin right

1.35 kmLeft 2

1.40 kmRight 2

1.46 kmLeft 1

1.54 kmRight 3

1.62 kmHairpin left

1.72 kmRight 4

1.83 kmRight 3

1.88 kmLeft 3

1.98 kmRight 3 opens

That takes you to 1.98 km. 202 more calls follow over the remaining 20.4 km.

Before you drive the Passo Sella

A high pass that can close after heavy snow; summer is the main season for driving it.

Summer traffic is heavy with coaches, cyclists and motorcyclists, and on some summer days the passes close to cars for cycling events.

How to drive the Passo Sella with Turini

Set the route before you leave and Turini saves its notes on the phone, so it works with the screen off and no signal. On the road it reads each call about 4.5 seconds before the corner, timed to your speed, and you never touch the phone. It also works through Android Auto. If pace notes are new to you, start in Simple mode (Easy, Medium, Hard) and switch to the 1–6 scale once it feels natural.

Always drive within the law, the conditions and what you can see. Turini tells you what the map says; the road is what counts.

More roads like the Passo Sella

Passo di GiauItaly19.8 km · 182 calls · 53 hairpins

Timmelsjoch High Alpine RoadAustria / Italy40.7 km · 351 calls · 27 hairpins

Stelvio PassItaly15.7 km · 165 calls · 47 hairpins

Best driving roads in the Alps · Best driving roads in Europe · Best driving roads in Italy · All famous roads · How to read pace notes

Sources: Wikipedia: Sella Pass, Wikipedia (de): Sellajoch.

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