Fanano pino solitario Berceto

The #fanano and Sestola area can be virtually divided into two zones with different cycling vocation: the Fanano area, having no facilities, is a trail area more suitable for all-mountain rides, even of moderate difficulty and in any case in spectacular surroundings. The Sestola/Montecreto area, due to the presence of lifts, north shore facilities and DH track, takes on more the contours of a bike park. Not a few times on our local bets, we have been in doubt as to which of the two locations to choose to base ourselves, since in both some descents are unmissable.

This tour therefore tries to put together some of the most beautiful descents, but also leaves room for possible off-plans, which are possible by using the ski lifts. The tour in this case starts from Fanano; lately we have always headed to our friend Viktor Lardi's Ecoday campsite, which for convenience, availability of safe shelter for bikes, workshop, rental and last but not least the kitchen is the most suitable accommodation for bikers. From Fanano it is necessary to head toward Sestola, about ten kilometers uphill, a locality that can be reached using the main asphalt road or, as per the trail, going up by secondary roads, a shorter way that avoids much of the traffic, which is, moreover, almost always scarce, but with some somewhat steeper climbs.

Once in Sestola, it is necessary to continue climbing toward Pian del Falco, but here again we are faced with a choice: we can either pedal up the asphalt road, or (better) use the chairlift that leads from downtown Sestola to Pian del Falco; from here there is usually a trolley bus service, which allows us to climb toward Passo del Lupo; if not, little bad, since the climb ahead of us is not particularly hard or too long. Whether we use the trolley or pedal up we do not arrive at Passo del Lupo, but stop at Passo Serre. From here we start several descents towards either Fanano, Sestola or finally Montecreto.

At this point of the tour it would also be possible to make a digression by descending to Sestola via Scaffa del Gatto (difficult!!) and then ascending again by chairlift. Instead, this tour of ours, arriving at Passo Serre and ascending a few hundred meters below Mount Cervarola, involves descending toward Montecreto for the stupendous Pino Solitario descent, one of the best known in the area.

The descent ends near the bottom station of the Montecreto chairlift, and here again it is possible to decide to pedal back up the Via dei Monti route, which crosses the descent we have just traveled several times, or to use the lift that takes us to the Monte Cervarola refuge, in the place called Far West. Here a series of further digressions would be possible, descending by Rio Canalone (difficult) or by Magrignana, back to Montecreto and then up to Far West. From here a dirt road climb takes us back to the main road near Passo Del Lupo, where most of the ski lifts start.

Near Passo del Lupo is the small Lago della Ninfa, in an atmospheric setting within a dense fir forest, where refreshments can be found. The trail, after the lake, makes a wide right turn to the Cimoncino locality, after which is the entrance to the Berceto Trail. This consists of a memorable and very long descent along which the most varied environments and difficulties are found; in this case it is well to rely on the trail more than on the scanty indications, especially near occasional settlements or crossings with the road. The descent ends just above Fanano, the place from which we started.