Passo Sella (Sella Pass), at 2,218 m7,277 ft, links Val Gardena, in South Tyrol, to Val di Fassa, in Trentino. You can reach it by bus, on foot or by lift, and it is the starting point of the Sassolungo circuit.
Where is Sella Pass and what can you see from it?
The pass opens between the Sassolungo and the Sella massif: the Sella Towers rise right above you, and the Sassolungo faces you across the pass.
How do you get to Sella Pass?
By bus, two Südtirol Mobil lines serve the pass daily from 7 June to 11 October in 2026: line 471 from Val Gardena, terminating at the pass (line 471 timetable), and line 472, from Val Gardena to Val Badia via the pass, Passo Pordoi, Arabba and Passo Campolongo (line 472 timetable). For 2027, ask the operator for the timetables. To get to the valleys in the first place, see our guide on how to get to the Dolomites.
On foot from Plan de Gralba, trail 657 climbs to the pass in 1 hour 20 minutes: 5.2 km3.2 mi with 400 m1,312 ft of ascent.
By lift from Selva, the Piz Seteur gondola and then the Gran Paradiso chairlift, open from 11 June to 4 October in 2026, drop you 25 minutes from the pass on trail 526 (1.3 km0.8 mi, 75 m246 ft of ascent).
By lift from Val di Fassa, the Col Rodella lift (Campitello) or the Pradel - Rodella lift (Pian de Frataces) leaves you 40 minutes from the pass on trail 557 (2.1 km1.3 mi, 216 m709 ft of descent).
By car, the pass is on the SS 242. Two dates to know in 2027: the Sellaronda Bike Day on Saturday 5 June and the Maratona dles Dolomites on 4 July. Check traffic conditions with the organisers before driving up on those days.
What can you do from Sella Pass?
The Sassolungo circuit starts at the pass and loops around the massif: 15.8 km9.8 mi, 751 m2,464 ft of ascent and nearly 5 hours of walking, with a high point at 2,362 m7,749 ft. Trail 557 (Friedrich August Way) leads to Rifugio Sasso Piatto, and trail 526 brings you back past Rifugio Comici and the Stone City. This is a full day’s hike at altitude, not a stroll around the pass.
The Forcella del Sassolungo gondola starts at the pass and ran from 30 May to 11 October in 2026: it is the easy way to gain height under the Sassolungo without hiking up.
Piz Boè, at 3,152 m10,341 ft, can be climbed from the pass. It is a high-mountain outing above 3,000 m9,843 ft: only set out properly equipped and in good weather. The climb from the top station of the Sass Pordoi cable car is described on our Passo Pordoi page.
When should you go to Sella Pass?
During the Selva lift season, when buses and lifts all run. Check the 2027 dates before counting on a lift.
Nearby hiking bases
Canazei and Val di Fassa Hiking Guide
A guide to hiking from Canazei and the Val di Fassa: trails on foot, Val Contrin, lifts, summer buses to the passes, Guest Card, which village to pick and when to go.
Updated 20 October 2026
Arabba Hiking Guide
A guide to hiking from Arabba, in the Fodom valley: the Campolongo and Pordoi passes from the village, lifts, the Viel del Pan, summer buses without a car, where to stay and when to go.
Updated 20 October 2026
