The ultimate alps with enthusiastic bikers from Utah

27 Aug 2026

/László Orosz

/Alberto Paschetto

Those who nurture a passion always carry a dream with them. For every motorcycle touring enthusiast, crossing the Alps is one of the most fascinating adventures imaginable: a journey through Austria, Switzerland and Italy, along spectacular roads, endless curves and legendary mountain passes such as the Stelvio, where every hairpin tells a story and every conquered pass delivers an unforgettable thrill. From the high mountains, we will descend to the shores of Northern Italy’s magnificent lakes, including Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, before riding through the breathtaking scenery of the Dolomites and returning to Austria. Taking part in this adventure are six friends from Utah: Raymond, Jeremy, Joseph, Todd, David and Ron. They chose this tour to celebrate their shared passion for motorcycles, and they arrived with one clear wish: to ride as many curves as possible. I have a feeling the Alps will give them exactly what they came for!

Our first riding day in the Alps started along the Inn River, following the valley with the same name. A great start to the day, giving us time to settle into the bikes and enjoy the first views of the mountains rising around us. The further we rode, the more the landscape changed: green valleys, steep mountain slopes and the feeling that the real Alpine adventure was just beginning. Our first stop was at the famous Sunken Church at Lake Reschen. We took the opportunity for our first Italian cappuccino and, of course, some photos. Standing there with the mountains reflected in the lake and the old church tower rising out of the water, it was one of those moments when you’re happy to have a camera. From Lake Reschen, the road took us towards one of the great icons of Alpine motorcycling: the Stelvio Pass. Forty-eight hairpin turns awaited us on the way to the top, and the climb was a real mix of concentration and enjoyment. At the top, we took a well-earned break and enjoyed a sandwich at Bruno’s food truck. Sitting there among the riders, bikes and spectacular mountain scenery, it was the perfect reward after the climb. Then came the descent on the Italian side of the Stelvio towards Bormio. The character of the road changed again, opening up into wider curves and giving us a completely different perspective of the mountains. From Bormio, we continued over the Passo di Foscagno and Passo di Eira, riding through a landscape that seemed to become more remote and rugged with every kilometre. We continued towards Forcola di Livigno, before stopping in Livigno to refuel. Our second coffee stop came at the Bernina Pass. By this point, the day was already full of impressions: high mountain passes, endless curves, crystal-clear Alpine air and the incredible feeling of riding through some of Europe’s most spectacular mountain landscapes. We finally arrived in Pontresina and our traditional hotel right in the middle of town, ready for a traditional Engadin dinner.

What could be better for a motorcyclist than waking up in the morning knowing that, after breakfast, an entire day in the saddle lies ahead? Today that means 323 km / 201 miles, riding up and down some of the most beautiful mountain passes in Switzerland. If yesterday, on the opening day of our tour, we already had the privilege of riding the legendary Stelvio Pass 2757 m. / 9045 ft, today no fewer than five Alpine passes are waiting for us, in a constant crescendo of curves, hairpins and breathtaking scenery that is hard to find packed into a single day of riding. We leave Pontresina and head west towards Italy, passing through glamorous St. Moritz. Of course, we cannot resist stopping for a nice picture in front of its beautiful lake. Our first pass of the day is the Maloja Pass 1815 m / 5955 ft. Unfortunately, the road signs tell us that it is closed, not exactly the start we were hoping for... A quick check on the Swiss traffic information website soon puts our minds at ease: the pass had only been closed overnight for some urgent roadworks and has already reopened. We can still see the consequences on our way down towards Chiavenna, where a long line of vehicles is moving slowly through the affected section. Fortunately, once we get past the bottleneck, the road opens up again and we can enjoy a smooth ride. And we are perfectly on schedule for a proper Italian cappuccino at the beautiful Acquafraggia Waterfalls. With a backdrop like this, a group picture is a must! We barely have time to realize that we are back in Italy before we start climbing towards the highest pass of the day: the Splügen Pass 2117 m. / 6946 ft. With its 51 tight hairpin bends, some of them even inside tunnels, the road climbs quickly towards the summit. Riding here feels even more special when you remember that this Alpine route was already being used as an important connection across the mountains during Roman times. Once at the top, the traditional picture next to the pass sign is mandatory. Another Alpine pass conquered! We then cross back into Switzerland and descend through the beautiful Rheinwald Valley. Reaching Splügen at the bottom of the valley, we turn southwest and start heading towards another legendary name: the San Bernardino Pass 2065 m. / 6775 ft. Since 1967, most traffic has been able to cross the mountain through the road tunnel, leaving the old pass to people like us who still have riding in their blood, what a road it is! Curve after curve, hairpin after hairpin, exactly the kind of place that reminds you why you came to the Alps on a motorcycle in the first place. By now lunchtime is approaching, and on the way down towards Bellinzona we stop at Pizzeria Boffalora. Sitting outside under the trees, enjoying the cooler air and the view of the waterfall, is exactly what we need before getting back on the bikes. Down in the valley the temperature has risen considerably, but fortunately our destination lies to the north, which means only one thing: it is time to climb back into the mountains. Our next challenge is the Lukmanier Pass1926 m. / 6,319 ft, connecting the cantons of Ticino and Graubünden. It might not be as famous as the nearby Gotthard, but that is exactly part of its charm. There is much less traffic, the road flows beautifully and we can simply concentrate on enjoying the ride. At the top we stop for a coffee and take advantage of the fresh mountain air before continuing, the day is still far from over. We descend towards Disentis and then turn west to tackle the Oberalp Pass 2046 m. / 6713 ft, connecting Graubünden with the canton of Uri. It will be our last pass above 2,000 metres today. At the summit there is something rather unexpected: a small red lighthouse, it has a symbolic meaning, as it is a scaled-down replica of the lighthouse at Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands, near the mouth of the Rhine. The connection makes perfect sense because the source of the Rhine lies only a short distance from here. From the Swiss Alps all the way to the North Sea, symbolically connected by one little lighthouse standing high among the mountains. Then it is back to what we came here for: more curves on the descent towards Andermatt, before picking up the Gotthard route and continuing north. Tonight we will be staying in Brunnen, on the shores of Lake Lucerne, but wait a minute... This morning we asked ourselves if there could possibly be anything better for a motorcyclist than spending an entire day riding five spectacular Alpine passes, Well.. Perhaps there is: It is finishing that day to find László waiting for us by the lake with a basket full of ice-cold beers! After more than 300 kilometres of mountain roads, a cold beer is certainly welcome. And for some of us, apparently, even that is not enough: a refreshing swim in the lake seems like the perfect way to recover from the day. Dinner is every bit as enjoyable, a table has been reserved for us outside, directly overlooking the lake, and while we eat we watch the setting sun light up the Alps, their silhouettes reflecting beautifully in the water. Five Alpine passes, hundreds of curves, incredible scenery, great roads, cold beers by the lake and a sunset over the mountains, what a day. One of those motorcycle rides you simply do not forget and judging by the smiles around the table tonight, the whole group definitely agrees!

Today is the first proper rest day of our tour, and spending it in Zermatt, probably Switzerland's most iconic Alpine village, makes the day even more special. We are in the Canton of Valais, at an altitude of 1,620 metres (5,315 ft), at the very end of the Matter Valley and practically at the foot of the mighty Matterhorn (4,478 m / 14,692 ft). The scenery surrounding us is simply breathtaking: the Zermatt area is home to no fewer than 38 peaks rising above 4,000 metres. One of the things that makes Zermatt so unique is that the village is closed to regular private traffic. Cars and motorcycles can only travel as far as Täsch, about five kilometres down the valley. From there, visitors continue to Zermatt by shuttle train or authorised taxi. So today our motorcycles can enjoy a well-deserved rest in the hotel garage. Instead of two wheels, we choose a cable car and aim considerably higher: our destination is the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, on the Klein Matterhorn, at an impressive 3,883 metres (12,740 ft), home to the highest cable-car station in Europe. Unfortunately, the morning is quite cloudy, so we don't get to enjoy the full panorama that this incredible viewpoint can offer on a clear day. Even so, the cable-car journey and the visit itself are more than worth the ticket price. Once at the top, we explore the Glacier Palace, carved approximately 15 metres below the surface of the glacier. Here you literally walk inside the ice, through frozen tunnels, ice sculptures and fascinating glacial formations. There is even a crevasse you can walk through and, for those who still haven't had enough ice, an actual ice slide. The experience also includes a cinema showing films about the Alpine world and a panoramic restaurant. At almost 3,900 metres, however, the altitude eventually begins to make itself felt, so we decide it is time to head back down into the valley. Back in Zermatt, the temperature feels much more like summer. After a pleasant lunch in the centre and a little shopping along the village streets, it is finally time to enjoy what a proper rest day is really about: slowing down, relaxing and soaking up the warm Alpine sunshine. In the evening we round off the day with dinner in a traditional Valais Stube, a wonderfully atmospheric restaurant serving only local food and wines and celebrating an impressive 130 years in business this year. After an excellent dinner and one last walk past the illuminated shop windows in the centre of Zermatt, we head back to the hotel. Our rest day is over. Tomorrow we get back on the bikes, with another exciting collection of curves, Alpine passes and unforgettable views waiting for us.

Waking up in the morning with the Matterhorn glowing in the first rays of sunlight, breathing in the crisp, fresh mountain air at more than 1,600 metres (5,250 ft) above sea level, surrounded by the silence of a village where almost every vehicle is electric… well, these are the kind of moments that only Zermatt can offer. A special place, just like the special days we continue to experience on our tour. We leave Zermatt behind and ride back down the Matter Valley, following it all the way to Brig. From there, we ride for a while along the Rhône Valley before turning onto the road climbing towards the Simplon Pass, a historic Alpine crossing and, for centuries, one of the most important routes connecting Switzerland and Italy. At the top of the Simplon Pass 2,005 m (6,578 ft), we take a short break. Time for a good coffee, a few pictures and, most importantly, a chance to enjoy the magnificent Alpine scenery surrounding us. Today’s ride has something rather special about it: we will spend roughly half of the day in Switzerland and the other half in Italy. After crossing the Simplon, we descend towards the border and enter Piedmont, the first Italian region of our day. We soon leave the wider Alpine roads behind and find ourselves riding through small villages, forests and increasingly narrow and twisty roads as we make our way towards the western shore of Lake Maggiore. Our friends from Utah are surprised and amused by just how narrow these roads can be. Back home in the United States they are used to considerably wider roads, but it doesn’t take them long to adapt. Before long, they are handling the endless succession of bends and hairpins through the forests of the Verbano like they have been riding here for years. We reach Cannobio just in time for lunch, after a morning on the motorcycles, what could possibly be better than a proper Italian lunch overlooking the lake? We cannot take things too slowly, though. At 2:30 p.m.we have an appointment we definitely do not want to miss: the ferry from Intra to Laveno, taking us across Lake Maggiore to its eastern shore. We arrive with perfect timing, buy our tickets and ride straight aboard. The crossing takes around twenty minutes and gives us a welcome little break in the middle of the day. Some of us simply relax and enjoy the refreshing breeze coming off the lake, while others keep their cameras busy capturing the beautiful scenery all around us. Once ashore in Laveno, we ride north for around ten km. along the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, we are now in Lombardy, just when we thought the roads from this morning were already narrow and twisty enough, we somehow manage to find one that takes things to another level. The climb towards the "Passo di Sant’Antonio" 638 m (2,093 ft) becomes a real dance from one bend to the next. The road is narrow, technical and wonderfully entertaining, and the descent on the other side is every bit as good. Fortunately, there is very little traffic, leaving us free to enjoy what seems like an endless sequence of curves and hairpins. At moments like this, we are all just kids again. By the afternoon, the temperature has climbed to around 30°C / 86°F, and underneath our motorcycle gear we are definitely starting to feel the heat. Fortunately, Lugano is not far away. All that remains is to cross the border back into Switzerland and make one final stop at a gas station: fuel for the motorcycles and something cold to drink for the riders. At 4:30 p.m. we finally arrive at our hotel, beautifully located right on the lake in the heart of Lugano. After a day filled with Alpine passes, mountain roads, tiny villages, two countries and even a ferry crossing, it is finally time to give the motorcycles a well-earned rest. An evening stroll along the waterfront reveals the elegant beauty of Lugano, the largest city in Ticino and the perfect ending to another unforgettable day of our journey.

Another beautiful sunny day, with the perfect temperature for riding a motorcycle. How lucky are we! After our outdoor briefing, we fire up the engines and set off for another fantastic day in the mountains of Trentino. The first part of our route takes us through the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, riding around the spectacular Brenta Dolomites, which today we can admire in all their rugged, rocky beauty. We pass through Madonna di Campiglio, one of Italy’s most famous Alpine and ski resorts, before tackling a much more demanding road: Passo Daone. We have already ridden quite a few narrow mountain passes on this adventure, but this one still manages to stand out: a very narrow road, endless bends and a twisting route that disappears deep into the forest. It is one of those roads where you need to stay fully focused, but which also delivers great riding pleasure. After such a challenge, we have definitely earned a good coffee. We stop in a small traditional village, just long enough to relax a little before getting back on the bikes. The second part of the morning changes rhythm. The roads are still full of curves, but become wider and more flowing as we begin the climb toward Molveno, a beautiful village overlooking its famous lake. As soon as we reach the shore, stopping is simply unavoidable: the Dolomites are reflected in the water, creating one of those natural scenes that seem made to be photographed. Bikes parked, mountains in front of us and, of course, a group photo! We get back on the road and head toward Val di Non, reaching Lake Santa Giustina. Here another special surprise is waiting for us: the Radicosauro, a giant fantasy creature created by artist **Marco Martalar** using roots and reclaimed wood collected along the shores of the lake. Part feline, part reptile, it looks almost as if it has grown directly out of the surrounding landscape, carrying a powerful message about the relationship between people and nature. After this unexpected discovery, it is time for lunch and, not far away, Laszlo is waiting for us on the shores of Lake Coredo with an excellent Italian-style picnic. Eating outdoors, in the shade of the forest and surrounded by greenery, is exactly what we need before starting the second half of the day. We continue through Val di Non, an area famous for its huge production of apples. For kilometres, we literally ride through a landscape dominated by orchards, covering almost every available corner of the valley. Curve after curve, we then begin climbing toward **Monte Penegal**, where one of the finest viewpoints of the day awaits us. From up here, the view opens across the Adige Valley and, far below, the city of Bolzano. Now it is time to head downhill… and what a descent it is! We ride down Passo della Mendola toward Bolzano: a fantastic sequence of wide hairpins, smooth asphalt and spectacular views across the valley. After the narrow roads of the morning, here we can finally let the bikes flow naturally from one bend to the next. Great fun! Our day comes to an end on the Renon Plateau (Ritten), high above Bolzano. Our hotel is away from the traffic and noise of the city, surrounded by green countryside and offering magnificent views of the Dolomites. It is the perfect place to park the bikes, relax and look back on another day that has given us everything an Alpine motorcycle journey should offer: curves, mountains, lakes, nature, good food and unforgettable views.

With such an enthusiastic group of motorcyclists and in a place as perfect for motorcycle touring as the Dolomites, it was almost a given that our bikes wouldn’t stay parked in the garage. In fact, almost everyone decides to take advantage of the rest day to treat themselves to a few more hours in the saddle. So the two of us guides accompany the group on a beautiful ride through what, for many motorcyclists, can be considered a veritable natural playground: the most iconic mountain passes of the Dolomites. We set off a little later than usual—after all, it’s supposed to be a rest day—but it only takes a few kilometers to realize what the morning will be all about. Descending from Klobenstein/Collalbo toward the valley, the road winds its way through lush green meadows, forests, and typical South Tyrolean farms. Endless curves, inviting asphalt, and spectacular views: it’s hard to ask for anything better. Our first coffee stop is on a stunning terrace overlooking Val Gardena. Before us lie mountains, forests, and valleys bathed in sunlight: more than just a view, it truly looks like a painting. We set off again, and two legendary names in the Dolomites await us: Passo Sella and Passo Pordoi. These two passes have gone down in history not only in Alpine motorcycling but also in the annals of Italian cycling, having played a central role in countless editions of the Giro d’Italia. At the summit of Pordoi, we treat ourselves to a longer break. The atmosphere is typical of the great Alpine passes on sunny days: motorcycles everywhere, different languages, groups from all over Europe, and that feeling of all belonging to the same big family. We have a drink, enjoy the view, and share our passion with the multitude of motorcyclists who, just like us, seem to have made their way up here on a sort of motorcycling “pilgrimage.” Then we retrace our steps and head toward the Val di Fassa. Once we reach Canazei, we begin the descent toward Bolzano. Traffic picks up, so we decide to take advantage of it to treat ourselves to a break near the stunning Lake Carezza, where we stop for a quick lunch. After lunch, we hit the road again: first the descent toward Bolzano and then the climb back up to Klobenstein, along a final stretch of curves that truly puts the icing on the cake of a practically perfect half-day of motorcycling. We head back to the hotel, just long enough for a shower, and we’re already ready to set off again. This time, though, without helmets or motorcycle jackets. We head down to Bolzano to explore the city. It’s Friday; the downtown streets are bustling with tourists and locals, and thanks to the warm, bright sunshine, the squares, streets, and outdoor cafes are teeming with life. Some of us take the opportunity to treat themselves to a massage, while others choose to visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, which houses one of the world’s most famous archaeological finds: Ötzi, the Iceman. His mummy, which has remained perfectly preserved for over 5,300 years, dates back to the Copper Age. Ötzi was discovered on September 19, 1991, in the Ötztal Alps at an altitude of about 3,210 meters, and since then has become an extraordinary testament to life in the Alps during prehistoric times. After such a busy day, we couldn’t let it end without a fitting finale. In the evening, we all gather at a typical South Tyrolean beer hall to enjoy traditional dishes, good beer, and stories from the day. When we finally return to the hotel, we’re satisfied and, we have to admit, a little tired, too. But one thing is certain: for a rest day, we weren’t bored for even a minute!

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