Mangart Saddle (from Strmec na Predelu)
Category 17 km
Distance
650 m
Elevation Gain
9.3%
Average Gradient
18%
Max Gradient
The highest paved road in Slovenia and one of the highest in the entire Julian Alps region. Mangart Saddle at 2,055m is an uncompromising climb: the road that branches from the Predel Pass route near Strmec is narrow, single-lane in sections, and brutally consistent in its severity. Average gradient of 9.3% over 7km places it among the hardest paved climbs in the region, and the upper section — a sequence of exposed switchbacks above the treeline with drops of several hundred metres off the edge of the road — demands full concentration. At the top, views extend across the Triglav National Park toward the Slovenian-Italian-Austrian tripoint and the broader Julian Alps. Mount Mangart itself (2,679m) towers above the saddle, the third highest peak in Slovenia. This is not a climb for wet conditions — the exposed upper road requires particular care and it is worth checking weather forecasts in advance.
Pro Tip
The road is closed to motor vehicles above the lower car park on certain days — check with local operators for the current schedule, as a vehicle-free Mangart makes for an entirely different and considerably more peaceful climbing experience. Bring a windproof layer regardless of valley temperatures; the saddle sits in a natural wind tunnel.