The Mendel Pass (Italian: Passo della Mendola; German: Mendelpass) is a mountain pass in the Rhaetian Alps, located in Northern Italy. It sits on the boundary between the autonomous provinces of Trentino and South Tyrol. Reaching an elevation of approximately 1,363 meters (4,472 feet) above sea level, the pass traverses the Mendola Ridge (Mendelkamm), a mountain range that separates the Non Valley (Val di Non) to the west from the Adige Valley (Etschtal) to the east.
The pass serves as a primary transport link between the municipalities of Cavareno in Trentino and Kaltern an der Weinstraße (Caldaro sulla Strada del Vino) in South Tyrol. The main vehicular route is the SS42 highway, which is characterized by numerous hairpin turns on its eastern ascent.
In addition to the road, the Mendel Pass is accessible via the Mendel Pass Funicular (Mendelbahn). Completed in 1903, the funicular was designed by Swiss engineer Emil Strub and remains one of the steepest cable railways in Europe, connecting the village of St. Anton in Kaltern to the summit.
Historically, the Mendel Pass gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a popular health resort and holiday destination for European nobility. Notable visitors included Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria and Empress Elisabeth (Sisi). The area features several grand hotels dating from this period. In contemporary times, the pass is a center for tourism and outdoor recreation, including hiking, road cycling, and skiing.