Serra do Rio Trace: the most beautiful road in the South

Serra do Rio Rastro is a mountain range known for its winding curves and stunning landscapes. The road, which cuts through the mountains, is one of the most famous and dangerous roads in the country.

When you visit, you'll come across breathtaking panoramic views, steep cliffs and valleys covered in native vegetation – it's important to enjoy it while you still have it.

Furthermore, many cyclists and drivers take to their tight turns to challenge them – with caution. Therefore, to discover more about this place of radically incredible nature, continue reading until the end.

What is the Serra do Rio Trace and where is it?

Serra do Rio do Rastro is a mountain range located in the state of Santa Catarina, in the southern region of Brazil. Famous for its road, the SC-390 highway, spectacular and challenging, with sharp and dangerous curves, is sought after for more than one reason.

Known for its stunning landscape that follows the route that runs through it, the mountain is a popular tourist attraction in the region. The rock formations that surround it, waterfalls and trails that are accompanied by a vast part of the Atlantic Forest, are magnificent.

Furthermore, you can consider a short stay in the municipality of Lauro Müller or in Bom Jardim da Serra, to be able to enjoy this road that is considered one of the most beautiful in Brazil thanks to its beautiful panoramic views and different radical experiences.

How to get to Serra do Rio Trace?

As the place is, especially, on a road, which cuts through the Serra do Rio do Rastro, it is important that the routes necessary to get there are well described, or, at least, are clear so that you can go in the easiest way. to the region.

Therefore, based on this principle and, because the mountain is in the state of Santa Catarina, the tips on how to get to Serra do Rio Rastro will start from there.

Leaving Santa Catarina, you should follow the SC-438 highway, which connects Lauro Muller, the city, to Serra do Rio do Rastro. This route is the fastest and quietest. Going along it, you will come across scenic landscapes, with sharp curves and beautiful landscapes.

However, following through São Paulo is more complex. Take the BR-116 highway to Curitiba, in the state of Paraná. From there, you can follow the BR-376, to Joinville, and then take the SC-418, to Lages, in Santa Catarina. 

Continuing the route that starts from São Paulo, now from Lages, you can follow the SC-114 highway, until São Joaquim and, from there, follow the SC-390, the main route to reach the Serra and the one with the landscapes most incredible on your journey.

Furthermore, you can also go there through Rio de Janeiro. This route is as complex as the one in São Paulo, however, there is a facilitator. Take BR-116 until you reach Curitiba (PA). From there, you will follow the same route as you would from São Paulo and that's it!

What to visit in Serra do Rio do Rastro

In this topic, it is important that you take into account that just passing through Serra do Rio Rastro is already a special trip in itself. Therefore, when traveling through the mountains you will see beautiful landscapes that delight all visitors.

However, there is more than that to do there. There are stopping points, refuges to photograph the region, viewpoints, canyons and a very beautiful waterfall.

The list of some options for what to do there is as follows:

• Barrinha Waterfall
• Ronda Canyon
• Ronda Canyon Viewpoint
• Laranjeiras Canyon
• Serra do Rio do Rastro Viewpoint

An important warning that must be taken into account, not as a tip, but as a rule, is that these places can be dangerous depending on the weather or, in some cases, as you will see below, they can only be visited with experienced guides .

Barrinha Waterfall

The small waterfall, actually a cascade, draws attention as you climb the Serra do Rio Rastro. It is located on the banks of SC-438, a few kilometers from Mirante da Serra do Rio do Rastro.

Therefore, you can use the Barrinha waterfall as a practical reference point to enter the city of Bom Jardim da Serra.

The river that forms the Cascata da Barrinha is a tributary of the Pelotas River, with clean, crystal clear water and, most of the time, cold. However, if you are brave, you can bathe without any problems in the natural pool that forms.

Ronda Canyon

The Ronda canyon received its name when drovers coming from Rio Grande do Sul stopped at the edge of the canyon. During the night, one of the drovers was always responsible for making the rounds so that the cattle did not scatter.

Serra do Rio Rastro, from the wind farm road, is just 350 meters to reach the edge of the canyon. At the top, you will have a privileged view of the cliffs and cliffs of the valley below thanks to the place's almost 1,500 meters of altitude.

Furthermore, the edges of the cliff form the natural border of the municipalities. This means that the upper part of the canyon belongs to Bom Jardim, while the rugged interior part belongs to Lauro Muller.

Ronda Canyon Viewpoint

The viewpoint, which was built in 2018, offers a view from a different angle than the other views you will find in Serra do Rio Rastro. It is located on top of a hill right in the central part of the canyon, providing 360 degrees of perfect views.

Access is via Café Alto da Serra, a snack bar located at the top of Serra do Rio do Rastro, before the first curve that goes down. You will need to take a 500 meter trail from there until you reach the viewpoint.

Laranjeiras Canyon

To enjoy the view of the Serra do Rio do Rastro, the Laranjeiras canyon is the largest and most imposing of all the canyons in the region, and in Santa Catarina itself.

Therefore, you can consider the most beautiful one as well. It is about 5km long and has several curves, incredible waterfalls, super vertical and high cliffs, between the Atlantic Forest and Araucaria fields.

The canyon can be visited from both sides: Fazenda Rincão da Palha (North side) or Fazenda Santa Cândida (South side). Each side has different points of view, with beautiful views.

However, these two 'entrances' have differences: from the north you can have a wider view of the canyon, while from the south it offers the most beautiful, but more limited, views.

Serra do Rio do Rastro Viewpoint

The Serra do Rio do Rastro road is one of the most famous in Brazil. It is a section of the SC-390 highway, responsible for connecting the Serrano Plateau with the coast of Santa Catarina.

Therefore, from its beginning, in Lauro Muller, to its end, in Bom Jardim da Serra, you will reach a height close to 1,500 meters. Along the way, however, there will be several points from which to observe the natural spectacle.

The Serra do Rio do Rastro viewpoint is the most structured of them, located in a planned region of the mountain, at more than 1,500 meters of altitude.

The view from up there is incredible. On clear days, you will be able to see the city of Jaguaruna, which is about 100 km away, reaching the blue maritime strip. However, it is not always possible to reach this distance, but your best opportunity is during the morning.

Conclusion

In short, Serra do Rio Rastro is a magnificent place that can offer stunning views from various angles. The tips presented here could make it a book to read, however, just visiting will bring you the real experience. So go!