---
title: "Passo Sella (Sellajoch)"
type: "pass"
lang: "en"
elevation_m: 2218
region: "Trentino-Alto Adige"
valleys: "Val Gardena and Val di Fassa"
url: "https://dolomites-guide.com/dolomites-passes/passo-sella/"
description: "Passo Sella, at 2,218 m, links Val Gardena and Val di Fassa. You can reach it by bus, on foot or by lift, and the Sassolungo circuit starts here."
---

# Passo Sella (Sellajoch)

Passo Sella links Val Gardena and Val di Fassa, at the foot of the Sassolungo. You can reach it by bus, on foot or by lift, and it is the start of the Sassolungo circuit and of the Forcella gondola.

- Elevation: 2218 m
- Region: Trentino-Alto Adige
- Valleys: Val Gardena and Val di Fassa

Passo Sella (Sella Pass), at 2,218 m (7,277 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.

![The Sella Towers walls above Passo Sella](/images/sella-pass-panorama-torri.webp "Sella Pass, below the Sella Towers walls.")

## 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](https://www.suedtirolmobil.info/fileadmin/pdf/2026/471_20260607.pdf)), and line 472, from Val Gardena to Val Badia via the pass, [Passo Pordoi](/dolomites-passes/passo-pordoi/), Arabba and Passo Campolongo ([line 472 timetable](https://www.suedtirolmobil.info/fileadmin/pdf/2026/472_20260607.pdf)). 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](/blog/how-to-get-to-the-dolomites-a-complete-logistics-guide/).

**On foot from Plan de Gralba**, trail 657 climbs to the pass in 1 hour 20 minutes: 5.2 km (3.2 mi) with 400 m (1,312 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 km (0.8 mi), 75 m (246 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 km (1.3 mi), 216 m (709 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](https://www.maratona.it/en/) 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 km (9.8 mi), 751 m (2,464 ft) of ascent and nearly 5 hours of walking, with a high point at 2,362 m (7,749 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 Sassolungo seen from Passo Sella, circled by the tour](/images/sella-sassolungo-group.webp "The Sassolungo circuit, starting from Passo Sella.")

**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.

![A gondola of the Forcella del Sassolungo cable car](/images/sella-forcella-sassolungo-gondola.webp "The Forcella del Sassolungo gondola, starting at the pass.")

**Piz Boè**, at 3,152 m (10,341 ft), can be climbed from the pass. It is a high-mountain outing above 3,000 m (9,843 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](/dolomites-passes/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.