The Serra do Corvo Branco is a road cut through solid rock, and the walls on either side are so high that the sky narrows to a strip. The route was cut through the escarpment in recent decades, leaving sheer cliffs of sandstone and basalt towering above the track, in places tens of metres tall. It lies in the highlands of Santa Catarina, near the town of Urubici, an area that has the coldest winters in Brazil and where frost and occasional snow are normal between June and August.
The surrounding country is the planalto serrano, an upland of rolling grassland, araucaria pine and deep canyons, cut by sudden escarpments that fall toward the coast. The araucaria, with its candelabra branches, is a survivor from the age of the dinosaurs, and its seeds, the pinhão, are a favourite winter snack, roasted or boiled. Lookouts along the rim give views over canyons, waterfalls and layers of mist, and the sea of cloud that fills the valleys on cold mornings is one of the most famous sights of the region. At around 1,470 metres, the air is cool and clear.
The road is a gravel and dirt track, narrow and steep in places, with a loose surface, sharp bends and wet patches. Rain can turn the surface to slippery clay quickly, and fog can come down within minutes, hiding the edge. It is a route for an experienced rider on a dual-sport or adventure bike, preferably with a companion, and anyone in doubt should ask locals about conditions. The nearby Serra do Rio do Rastro, a famous tarmac road of countless hairpins down to the coast, provides a smoother and busier alternative.
Services are in Urubici, which has fuel, hotels, and plenty of restaurants serving grilled meat and local cheese, and in Lauro Müller and Grão-Pará. There is nothing on the pass itself, so fill up, carry water and tell someone your plan. Early morning, with frost on the grass and the sun lighting the cliffs, is the best time.