Along the pass route from Vipiteno to Bolzano, one can discover the wild beauty of the Sarentino Alps
Image gallery: Passo di Pénnes round tour
From Vipiteno over the 2,211-metre-high Passo di Pénnes and through the Val Sarentino valley to the provincial capital Bolzano: This June day promises to be exciting and, from a scenic perspective, thoroughly charming. The day is still young and the air cool as we start in the town centre of Vipiteno. At first, our route follows the Giovo road.
It leads towards Racines and Ridanna, with the Passo di Pénnes road branching off to the left just after the motorway bridge. We cycle the first three kilometres quite flatly along the edge of the forest up to the village of Pruno. Only then does the first steep climb begin, with gradients of 11% and then 12.5%. This brings us to the hamlet of Dosso and the 1,500-metre mark.
The first hairpin bends wind further up the mountain road. It does not take long before we reach the tree line and the 2,000-metre mark, which features two more bends. Alpine meadows dominate the landscape. The next section is a semi-circular stretch about four kilometres long that leads up to the summit of the Pénnes Pass, or Penser Joch, at 2,211 metres.
Just before the top, there is another steep gradient of nearly 15%. Once at the summit, we have earned a culinary reward. Various hiking trails start from here, leading into the mountains of the Sarentino Alps. Now it is time for the descent, which delivers a good dose of adrenaline: We ride rapidly down below the 2,000-metre mark, followed by a gentler, steady descent past the villages of Pennes, Rio Bianco, and Sonvigo. Next come Campolasta and Sarentino village.
Riding through the Sarentino Gorge, we reach Bolzano at an altitude of 262 metres after nearly five hours. To return to Vipiteno, we take the train. Alternatively - with enough time (80 kilometres, and at least five hours) - the return ride can also be made along the Valle Isarco Cycle Path and the Upper Valle Isarco Cycle Path (Bolzano - Bressanone and Bressanone - Brennero).
Author: AT
Experienced: June 2014
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- town centre of Vipiteno (948 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 04:40 h
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- Total route length:
- 65,8 km
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- Altitude:
- from 262 m to 2.211 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +1271 m | -1962 m
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- Route:
- Vipiteno - Pruno - Dosso - Passo di Pénnes - Pennes - Rio Bianco - Sonvigo - Campolasta - Sarentino - Sarentino Gorge - Bolzano
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- Destination:
- Passo di Pénnes (2,211 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- Alpenrosenhof mountain inn (May to October)
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- Track surface:
- asphalt
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Passo di Pénnes round tour
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the cycling time only, not including breaks. Avoid this cycle route on hot summer days (ascent exposed to the sun) and during thunderstorms. The information provided relates to the cycle route from Vipiteno to Bolzano - the return journey is by train (one hour). Please check in advance regarding the carriage of bicycles, which is generally permitted but may be suspended during peak times due to lack of space.
We highly recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this tour.
