Gardena Pass

Gardena Pass
View of Gardena Pass and Sella group from Pizes de Cir
Elevation	2,136 m (7,008 ft)
Location	South Tyrol, Italy
Range	Dolomites
Coordinates	46°33′0″N 11°48′34″E / 46.55000°N 11.80944°E / 46.55000; 11.80944Coordinates: 46°33′0″N 11°48′34″E / 46.55000°N 11.80944°E / 46.55000; 11.80944
Gardena Pass Location of Gardena Pass

Gardena Pass (Italian: Passo Gardena; German: Grödnerjoch; Ladin: Ju de Frara or Jëuf de Frea) is a high mountain pass in the Dolomites of the South Tyrol in northeast Italy.

At an elevation of 2,136 m (7,008 ft) above sea level, the pass connects Sëlva in the Val Gardena on the west side with Corvara in the Val Badia. The road over it comprises part of the famous Sella Ring, in which four linked passes (Gardena, Sella, Pordoi, and Campolongo) encircle the spectacular Sella group. The route becomes busy with tourists, motorcyclists, and cyclists during the summer. There are tourist accommodations on the pass itself, and hikers visit the pass to access the dramatic Dolomite mountains.

South of the pass in the direct vicinity, the mountain range Pizes de Cir with 2592 meter high peak the Gran Cir can be seen.

The Gardena Pass is the fourth of seven Dolomite mountain passes which riders cross in the annual Maratona dles Dolomites single-day bicycle race.

Men's World Cup alpine ski races are held annually in mid-December on both sides of the pass, with a downhill at Val Gardena and the classic Gran Risa giant slalom at Alta Badia.