Serra Do Rio Do Rastro

In 2012 a popular Spanish website named Serra do Rio do Rastro in Brazil as the most stunning road in the world. Later in 2015, British newspaper The Guardian, ranked the same route as the fifth most scenic road in the world. The Serra do Rio do Rastro is indeed a hidden gem that should be included in every rider’s bucket list.

But what is so special about the Serra do Rio do Rastro and what does it have to offer? Clinging to the side of the mountain range in southern Brazil, the road is an impressively zigzagged route that tumbles past waterfalls and through canyons. The elevation is so high that from its peak at 1,460m you even have a chance to spot the Atlantic Ocean, 100km away. This is just one of the characteristics that makes this place so special and unique, adding to the appeal and beauty of the lakes, waterfalls, native wildlife and stunning nature that gives this region the title of one of the most beautiful places in Brazil. The road has remarkable landscapes, deep rocky crags and passes spectacular scenery from start to finish.

SC-390 is the name of a steep and narrow road built in 1903, sharply winding up to a steep ascent at Serra do Rio do Rastro, a mountain range located in Lauro Müller in the southeast of the state of Santa Catarina. As you wind through a lush green valley and past colourful timber houses, the climb starts to gets steeper and the vegetation greener and more dense. After just a few hairpins, a valley opens up to your right, delivering a sheer drop of several hundred metres and a spike in adrenaline as you focus on the forested slopes and numerous waterfalls ahead. The entire road from Lauro Muller is 34km long, featuring 284 turns in total and crossing the rainforest for 17km. The

12 journey goes from sea level to 1,460m with an average gradient of 9.2%, but be prepared for gradients up to 20% for the final 7km to the summit. This is when you know things are getting serious and you can expect any remaining packs of riders to be split apart.

Sudden changes in weather are common in the mountains. Be prepared for mist and fog, temperatures ranging from below zero to over 35 o C, strong winds with no shelter and stunning sunny days. During wintertime, heavy snowfall and patches of ice can even block some sections of the road.

The mother nature in Serra do Rio do Rastro reveals its grandiosity and fierceness and any rider trying to challenge her pays a high price. But those who respect and understand her majesty are rewarded with unforgettable rainforest vegetation and wildlife, including eagles, toucans, foxes, coloured birds and much more.

As soon as you reach the summit you will find a huge observation deck inviting you to look down the valley. In this area you can also find the very best internationallyawarded Brazilian wines.

Serra do Rio do Rastro is known among Brazilian riders as the Brazilian Stelvio due to the switchbacks similar to that of its Italian counterpart. And although snowfall is not common in Brazil, it has happened on the summit on previous occasions, making the landscape even more similar to Stelvio.

Brazil is not known for its high peaks, but Serra do Rio do Rastro is a good exception and a must-see destination for riders from all around the country who love iconic climbs. The closest airport is Florianópolis and on weekends across spring and

summer time, dozens of riders can be found travelling to this part of Brazil to challenge themselves, conquer this climb and take a picture from the observation deck at the summit.

Several endurance sports events including uphill marathons, extreme triathlons and bike races have been held in Serra do Rio do Rastro. On September 12th, 2020 Serra do Rio do Rastro will host the finish line of stage 2 of Haute Route Brazil, the first Haute Route event to ever take place in the Southern Hemisphere. Towards the end of stage 2, riders will reach Serra do Rio do Rastro, and then from its summit, descent 13km on a closed traffic road before making a U-turn to cross the finish line back on the top of Serra do Rio do Rastro, the perfect place to celebrate among fellow riders.