Passo dell'Ables
Description
The tour over the Passo dell'Ables from Bormio to the Valle del Braulio is characterized by the last section of the ascent, which is at the limit of what is possible with a mountain bike on your shoulders, and the long and wild descent on a trail where there was still a glacier a few years ago. The tour starts in Bormio, you ride along the road towards Santa Caterina for a while and then turn into the actual ascent after Uzza. The route is marked as a mountain bike route and leads along a gravel path up to 2250 meters above sea level. The next 300 meters in altitude are on a not very steep single trail; trained mountain bikers can master this section by riding. Where the old road is buried, a singletrail branches off to the right, and now the tricky section begins. Initially, the trail is easy to follow, but the traverse then becomes high alpine and leads through extremely steep scree terrain. Depending on the weather, the conditions here are sometimes better, sometimes worse. Sure-footedness and good footwear are required. This section is not for people who are inexperienced in alpine terrain! Under no circumstances should you set off on the tour in cold conditions, as the ground here could be frozen, which would lead to precarious conditions.
Finally, you reach a small tunnel, from where the situation improves, and a little later you reach the top of the pass. The descent rides down the other side of the mountain into the Valle del Braulio. The path is still very young because there was a glacier here until a few years ago. The path slowly takes shape, but is already rideable for good riders. It is a special feeling to ride through this huge rocky landscape. Eventually you reach a former soldiers' settlement, and now you continue on the high-level trail. The path is now much smoother. After a short climb, you reach a junction. The flowier trail now rides off to the right here, but reaches the pass road earlier. The crisper variant continues a little further and then rides extremely steeply downhill. If you can't turn the rear wheel in bends, you should definitely choose the former option. Finally, you roll a few more meters downhill on the pass road and turn right again onto a singletrail just above Bormio. The whole tour is a high alpine experience that is only recommended for very good mountain bikers with mountain experience.
Map & GPX-Track
The map is only available to Ride subscribers.
The Ride-Subscription is available at ride-mtb.com/abo
.
Details of the tour
34 km
1835 m
1835 m
1199 above sea level
3009 above sea level
1 day
Bormio
Bormio
1630
not suitable
More information
More tours nearby
User comments (4)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
Did the pass on 23.07.25 and managed the crossing. It was challenging but doable in good, dry weather. From 2700 do not follow the ride track but the signposted T4 hiking trail. Still requires surefootedness and do not do the tour alone. Path no longer visible in places but very well signposted
I tried the tour on 02.07.2025. The carrying passages from 2700m were no longer passable as the path is covered by debris avalanches. So the path is no longer there and it is very dangerous to try it yourself. I slipped in a few places and had to give up.
Unfortunately, I can't judge what the downhill is like.
I rode the tour on Sep 22, 2019. I found the way to Passo dell'Ables without any problems. The path and the tunnel are there and there is a lot of scree.... is also a high alpine tour.... As always, the ride has a great description of the tour....
It's not the Ried's fault that you overestimate yourself.....
I will certainly do the tour again...
Pure high alpine biking
From around 2600, the path simply does not exist. There is only scree and exposed terrain. The small Tunell? Scree.
The pass summit? Scree. Once at the bottom, the Bormians(?) confirmed the absence of a hiking trail and didn't believe us that we were at the top on our bikes. Tomorrow we'll do a flow trail and sleep in. No more Passo dell'Ables.