SEASON May-October
A great MTB route with beautiful landscapes: Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, the Po Valley, Monte Rosa and the Swiss Alps.
From the Auxological Centre of Piancavallo you come to the tarmac road to Colle. The military road of the Cadorna Line starts here. It has been restored recently and is mostly unmade road in excellent condition. You continue on almost imperceptible gradients to Pian d'Arla, then to Pian Puzzo passing from the so-called Ospedaletto (Little Hospital). The route continues along the southern slopes of Mount Bavarione as far as the Folungo Pass where the military road changes gradient decidedly and climbs through a series of hairpin bends to the Pian Vadà refuge owned by the Val Grande National Park. The Pian Vadà refuge consists of a main building open only on request (www.parcovalgrande.it) and a small separate building which is always open.
You return on the same track that leads up to the Folungo Pass, then take the road on the north side that passes through Archia and Pian Puzzo. Continuing on the north side on an unmade forest track you come to Pian d'Alpe and then, crossing a beech forest on an unmade road you come to Colle. Here you can take a detour from the fountain along the path toward the top of Morissolo, a marvellous "balcony" overlooking Lake Maggiore, for visiting the fortified tunnels of the Cadorna line. You then return to Piancavallo along the comfortable flat military road, with incredible architectural features in stone.
Activity: Lago Maggiore ZipLine (www.lagomaggiorezipline.it)
BIKE RENTAL
Lago Maggiore Zipline E-Bike Rental
Località Alpe Segletta - 28812 Aurano (VB)
Informazioni: www.lagomaggiorezipline.it
AUTHOR Alessandro Pirocchi
