Road bike: Gampen Pass and Mendel

This sporty bike tour takes us from Lana 316m near Merano in the direction of Fondo. At the roundabout in front of the Forsterbräu in Lana, we take the ascent - past Völlan, Tisens and Gfrill - to the Gampenjoch / Gampen Pass 1518m (Italian: Passo delle Palade).

The gradient is 8-9%. Ascent: approx. 18 km.

The mountain pass lies between the Laugen and the Mendel ridge and connects the South Tyrolean Etsch valley with the Val di Non valley, which largely belongs to Trentino.

The alternative ascent to the Gampen Pass starts in Nals, approx. 8 km south of Lana. About 1200 hm have to be covered over both routes.

Continue in the direction of St. Felix and the pilgrimage site of Unsere lb. Frau im Walde to Fondo. There we take the turnoff to the Mendel Pass in the direction of Bolzano / Bozen. Once at the Mendel Pass, we descend over several hairpin bends into the Überetsch and have a wonderful view of Lake Kaltern.

Back to Merano

Via the Weinstraße (wine road) and the Merano-Bolzano cycle path you return to the starting point.

Cycling tour tips

The tour passes through several short tunnels, some of them unlit, so lighting is recommended. One tunnel from Lana to Naraun is cobbled. Of course, the road bike tour can also be taken in the other direction, with MTB or e-bike.