Short winter walk with a toboggan run on the Passo dello Stelvio high alpine road, closed to traffic in winter
Image gallery: Toboggan ride on the Stelvio pass road
This toboggan outing is something special, as it allows us to sledge down some of the famous hairpin bends of the Passo dello Stelvio road. The mountain pass road is one of the best-known scenic routes in Europe. For our March walk and toboggan ride in the Stelvio National Park - at these altitudes, it is still the depths of winter - only the lower hairpin turns near the valley floor are used. The upper part of the road carries a serious avalanche risk in winter!
The finish line of the toboggan run and the starting point of our walk are located above Trafoi all'Ortles, at the junction leading to the pilgrimage site and its Sacred Three Fountains red deer enclosure (Heilige Drei Brunnen) at around 1,600 metres above sea level.
Following the bends, we reach the Rocca Bianca (or Weissknott) mountain inn after a walk of just over an hour. After a pleasant stop for refreshments, we glide back down bend after bend on runners for 3.5 kilometres to the starting point above Trafoi all'Ortles.
The route, known as the Trafoi all'Ortles toboggan run, is one of the most rewarding toboggan runs in the Val Venosta. You need to bring your own toboggan and pull it up yourself.
Author: Giacomo Roccabruna
Experienced: March 2018
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- Trafoi all'Ortles, junction to the Sacred Three Fountains (1,592 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 02:00 h
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- Total route length:
- 6,8 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.592 m to 1.877 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +285 m | -285 m
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- Signposts:
- SS38
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- Destination:
- Rocca Bianca mountain inn (1,877 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- Rocca Bianca mountain inn (opening hours in winter depend heavily on snow conditions and accessibility)
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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:
- Toboggan ride on the Stelvio pass road
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- More information:
- The overall time shown above refers to the walking time only, not including breaks or stops. The return journey is made by sledge here - if you walk back, it takes longer. According to Legislative Decree 96/2025, helmets have been mandatory for everyone when tobogganing since the 1st of November 2025: A CE-certified ski helmet (EN 1077) is required.
We highly recommend checking the weather conditions in advance and on site before starting your tour. Don't forget to check the current avalanche forecast!
