Foresta umbra

Long mountain bike ride in the Umbrian forest starting from Vieste.

Start on the state highway with a nice stretch by the sea then follow the endless uphill to the forest.

Start stony where you admire a dry stone wall over 1 km long. The climb is immediately quite shady, then descends briefly to asphalt and begins to climb again with some jerks, then long low gradient section that increases at the Sfilzi refuge.

At the sign Riserva Integrale Sfilzi you find the only drinking fountain in the whole forest, it is under about 30 meters from the bend looking down you can see a concrete basin, it is there then there is nothing more because the bar in the barn center is closed.

Now you continue up steps to the bar center.

Continue with nice forest trails then gently climb to Mt. Iacotenente where the radar is.

Now descent on dirt road, short asphalt then stony dirt road to sgarrazza farmhouse, climb back up, then descent on asphalt and at electric cabin go right where after a short climb the spectacular steep and stony up-and-down trail to asphalt begins. Fantastic views.

Difficulty and panorama refer to the last section, everything else is 2 stars.