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The Serra do Rio do Rastro will be closed from 6 AM to 11 AM on Sunday (26) for the 23rd edition of the Challenge, which brings together hundreds of cyclists across 24 km and 284 curves between Lauro Müller and Bom Jardim da Serra, in the South of Santa Catarina.
Santa Catarina’s most photographed mountain range will be exclusive to bicycles this Sunday morning (26). The Serra do Rio do Rastro, a 24-kilometer stretch with 284 curves connecting Lauro Müller to Bom Jardim da Serra in the South of the state, will be closed to vehicles between 6 AM and 11 AM due to the 23rd edition of the Serra do Rio do Rastro Challenge, a cycling race that attracts hundreds of competitors willing to face one of Brazil’s most demanding and panoramic climbs. The first closing point of the mountain range is in Lauro Müller, near the access to Mirante 12, and the second in Bom Jardim da Serra, in front of the PMR (Highway Patrol) station.
The release of the mountain stretch is scheduled for early afternoon, but the PMR recommends extra caution even after reopening. Due to the high expected vehicle flow on the return, the Highway Patrol advises cyclists who wish to descend the mountain after the event to do so with the agency’s authorization and escort, a necessary precaution on a road where sharing space between bicycles and automobiles requires special care on each of the 284 curves. For drivers who planned to cross the mountain on Sunday morning, it will be necessary to wait for the release or seek alternative routes.
What is the Serra do Rio do Rastro Challenge and why does it attract hundreds of cyclists
The event has reached its 23rd edition, consolidated as one of the most traditional mountain cycling races in Southern Brazil. Climbing the mountain by bike means conquering 24 kilometers of winding road with a steep elevation gain, a physical challenge that combines cardiovascular endurance, leg strength, and technical control on tight curves that do not forgive inattention. For cyclists looking to test their limits in a spectacular natural setting, the Serra do Rio do Rastro offers a combination that few races in the country can match: extreme difficulty with a postcard-worthy landscape at every kilometer.
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The mountain attracts participants of different profiles and regions. From professional cyclists competing for the podium to enthusiasts who view the climb as a personal achievement, the Challenge boosts the local economy of Lauro Müller and Bom Jardim da Serra with accommodation, food, and services consumed by competitors and companions during the weekend. The road closure for the event is precisely what allows hundreds of participants to cycle safely on a stretch that normally shares space with trucks, tourist buses, and cars.
Why the mountain range with 284 curves is considered one of the most beautiful in Brazil
The Serra do Rio do Rastro has gained national and international fame for its combination of road engineering and natural landscape. The 284 curves were carved into the mountainside to overcome an elevation difference exceeding 1,400 meters between the base and the summit, a layout that produces zigzag sequences visible for kilometers and has become one of Santa Catarina’s most photographed landscapes. From above, the panorama includes valleys covered by Atlantic Forest, rock formations, and, on clear days, a visibility range that reaches the coast.
The road was not designed to be a tourist attraction, but the practical result transformed it into one. Thousands of visitors travel the mountain range throughout the year to experience the sensation of driving or cycling through curves that seem to defy gravity, and Mirante 12, near one of Sunday’s closure points, is a mandatory stop for those who want to capture the view that makes the mountain a benchmark among Brazil’s most impressive roads. For the Challenge cyclists, each of these 284 curves is simultaneously an obstacle and a reward.
What drivers need to know about the mountain closure on Sunday
The mountain road closure starts at 6 AM and extends until 11 AM, a period during which no motorized vehicle will be allowed to travel on the stretch between Lauro Müller and Bom Jardim da Serra. Drivers who need to cross the region should plan their travel for before the closure or after the reopening scheduled for early afternoon, considering that the return flow will be intense and may cause traffic jams on the mountain road accesses in the first hours after reopening. The PMR will be present at both control points to direct traffic and ensure the safety of cyclists during the event.
For those who live in the region or had tourism plans for the mountain road this Sunday, patience is recommended. The five-hour closure is the logistical price of an event that boosts the local economy and projects the Serra do Rio do Rastro nationally, and the trade-off for drivers is the reopening in the early afternoon with enough time to travel the stretch calmly. Updated information on the exact reopening time can be obtained from the Military Highway Police at the control points.
What the mountain road closed for bicycles reveals about cycling in Brazil
Closing one of the busiest roads in Southern Santa Catarina for five hours so that cyclists can climb the mountain without risk of being hit is a decision that reflects the growth of competitive and recreational cycling in the country. Two decades ago, when the Serra do Rio do Rastro Challenge began, the idea of closing a state highway for bicycles would have faced much greater resistance than it does today, and the fact that the event has reached its 23rd edition with increasing participation shows that there is a consolidated demand for temporary infrastructure that prioritizes cyclists. The mountain road with 284 curves and 24 km is a perfect laboratory for this type of operation.
For the hundreds of participants who will tackle the climb this Sunday, the closed mountain road is much more than convenience: it is the condition that allows a highway to be transformed into a sports arena. Every curve conquered, every kilometer climbed, and every panorama sighted from the saddle make up an experience that justifies months of training and hours of travel to Lauro Müller. The Serra do Rio do Rastro will be returned to cars in the early afternoon, but the cyclists’ legs will remember the 284 curves for days.
And you, have you ever climbed the Serra do Rio do Rastro by car or bicycle? Do you think it’s fair to close the road for cycling events? Leave your opinion in the comments.
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