Passo Campolongo is the low, easy member of the Sella Ronda family, at 1,875 metres, and it is the one that most riders cross without much ceremony. It joins Corvara in Alta Badia with Arabba in the Livinallongo valley, and the road climbs through meadows and spruce, with views of the Sella to one side and, on a clear day, the glacier of the Marmolada in the distance. The name means long field, and it describes the pass well: a broad, gentle grassy saddle rather than a sharp notch in the rock.
The road is smooth and well-engineered, with a series of wide bends and a few hairpins, and it is one of the easiest passes in the Dolomites to ride. This makes it popular with all kinds of traffic, from cyclists and motorcyclists to coaches and campervans, and on summer weekends it can be busy. The descent towards Arabba is long and gentle, with open views over the valley. In winter the pass is usually open for the ski traffic, as it is a major link between ski areas, though ice and snow can make conditions difficult.
This was once the frontier country of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and Livinallongo, which the Germans called Buchenstein, was part of the Tyrol until 1918. The war left deep scars on the area, and the mountain of Col di Lana, close by, was the site of fierce fighting and underground mining. Memorials and open-air museums can still be found in the area, and the story is told with respect and sadness.
The nearest petrol stations are in Corvara and in Arabba, so it is best to fill before you set off. Arabba is a small ski village with hotels and restaurants, and it makes a good lunch stop on a loop.
The area is rich in mountain flowers in June and July, and cows graze on the pastures, so take care on the road. Weather can change quickly, so a waterproof layer is a good idea, even on a sunny day.