The Serra do Rio do Rastro is a wall of rock between the coast and the highlands of Santa Catarina, and the road that climbs it is one of the great sights of southern Brazil. The escarpment is part of the Serra Geral, a long edge where the Atlantic plateau drops to the lowlands, and the road scales it in a tangle of hairpins. From the top, at about 1,400 metres, the view drops to a coastal plain and, on a clear day, to the sea. Cloud often drifts through the bends, and the road appears and disappears like a ribbon in the mist.
The road was built in the 1930s to link the coal-mining area around Lauro Müller with the plateau, and it has been rebuilt and improved since. The coal towns below, such as Lauro Müller, Orleans and Siderópolis, grew from mining and from the settlement of European immigrants, mostly Germans and Italians, whose descendants still shape the food and architecture of the region. On the plateau above, the air is cooler and the landscape turns to araucaria forest and open grassland, with pines standing like umbrellas.
For riders, the climb is the main attraction. The bends are tight and frequent, with the road switching back on itself again and again, and the surface is generally paved but can be damp and slippery. Mist and fog are common and can reduce visibility to a few metres, so it is better to go in clear weather and ride with care. Trucks use the road, so overtaking requires judgment, and viewpoints along the way are good places to stop and check the view. In winter, frost and even snow can appear on the plateau, and the temperature difference between the coast and the top can be large.
Fuel is available in Lauro Müller, about fifteen kilometres from the climb, and in other towns along the way, but services are limited on the plateau, so fill up before you go. Small restaurants and stalls near the viewpoints sell snacks and coffee, and the regional cuisine includes pinhão, the seed of the araucaria, boiled in winter, and hearty meat dishes.
Brazil drives on the right, and local drivers can be fast, so keep to your line and stay alert on blind bends. The nearby Serra do Corvo Branco, a road cut through rock walls near Urubici, makes a dramatic companion loop.