A Road Up the Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano in Italy
Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 3.018m (9,901ft) above sea level, located in the Italian province of Sondrio. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Where is Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano?
The hut is located in the Lombardy region, in the northern part of the country, near the Swiss border.
How is the road to Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano?
Set high in the Alps, the road to the refuge -closed for twenty years- is totally unpaved. This road is soon gravelled, but apart from two short bad sections you can otherwise ride this road on the way up to the end where the snow, skiers and glacier start. You first have to climb the Passo delle Platigliole. This road becomes very steep already at its first turn. The runway conditions vary from flat passages to other hardly rideable steep sections. It's one of the highest roads of the country.
How steep is the Ascent to Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano?
Starting at Passo dello Stelvio, the ascent is 2.2 km (1.36 miles) long. Over this distance the elevation gain is 253 meters. The average gradient is 11.5%. The road is very steep, hitting a 22% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps.
Is Seasonal Travel a Concern on The Road to Rifugio Piccolo Pirovano?
This road is usually impassable from late October through late June or early July (depending on snow). The open and close dates all depend on snowmelt and snowfall each year. There are 2 hotels in the area (Hotel Baita Ortler and Hotel Thöni 3000). Along the road you’ll get some nice views over the Stelvio Pass.