With a summit at 2,501 meters it earns a top 10 spot in the list of highest paved passes in Europe and it is the highest paved pass in Switzerland.
The Umbrail was a side-trip into Switzerland during the Giro of 2011 and the start of my Giro of 2020.
I started the climb in bad weather during my Tour de Suisse 2019 too, but found it was blocked by a landslide some 5 or 6 kilometers in.
The Umbrail from Bormio is the same climb as the Stelvio, minus the final 3.3 kilometers.
Either end of the Umbrail can be cycled free of motorized traffic during the Stelvio Bike Day.
Santa Maria
With an average grade of 8.6% over the 13.3 kilometers it’s far from easy, but it’s a steady climb, with beautiful views and it is not too busy with motorized traffic.
The steepest part is actually right at the start, where, after a series of hairpins, you will be rewarded with stunning views of the Müstair valley with Santa Maria in it.
From the hotel Alpenrose, the road is fairly straight, interupted by short series of hairpins. Because of its open character, the wind may be an annoying factor.
There used to be an unpaved section in the middle, but the entire pass has been paved somewhere after 2011, so this problem does no longer exist…
Some 3.5 kilometers from the summit, there’s another series of hairpins, with great views as well.
Just past the summit, you’ll end up on the Stelvio – you can then climb the final, difficult, kilometers up to the summit of that, or descend to Bormio.
Note that including the remainder of the Stelvio will increase the overall average grade to a staggering 9.4% over the full distance of 16.8 kilometers…
Reports of my ascents here (2011) and here (2020).
Bormio
Obviously the climb from Bormio is better known for its more famous twin, the Stelvio.
Up to the summit of the Umbrail and the split for the remainder of the Stelvio at the old customs building, it’s 18.3 kilometers long at an average of 7.1%.
Not the easiest of climbs either…
For a more detailed description of this climb, with views similar to the Prato side of it, I refer to the Stelvio page.
A combination loop with the Stelvio – from either Prato or Bormio – is harder than it looks.
From Bormio you would first climb the Stelvio, descend to Prato and then circle around via Sluderno to Santa Maria for the Umbrail – this is the most obvious option.
From Prato, with the Stelvio first and then the descent to Bormio is also possible, but getting to Santa Maria that way is much more challenging.
You will first have to get over the Foscagno/Eira to Livigno, take the shuttle bus through the tunnel Munt la Schera (prohibited for cyclists) and then get over the Ofen pass to Santa Maria.
Of course you could also just ascend the Stelvio from either side, descend the Umbrail to Santa Maria, turn round and get back up again, but neither option is a loop 😊
Background image: By Zairon – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link
