Valle delle Grandi Pietre

Mtb hike in the Valley of the Great Stones, one of the UNESCO Aspromonte Geopark geosites. The starting point is the town of Bianco, at sea level. You go up towards Casignana by road, and before the town you turn right to reach the Crocefisso locality, after about 6.5 km. Here you can make an initial stop to visit the ruins of a convent. Continue uphill on a paved road until you intersect another small road that leads to the Bonamico Fiumara. Continue slowly uphill, with some small descents.

During the ascent you have to cross the Bonamico Fiumara several times, and you will walk on its banks for about 3 km. At the end of this stretch alongside the fiumara, turn right and proceed on a dirt path that leads on a concrete road to San Luca,(elevation 230 m). Continue uphill on asphalt and on the left you begin to see Pietra Castello and a little further on is Pietra Cappa. Continuing uphill you can instead see Monte Pietra Lunga (802 m). Here there will be a short downhill section and then climb again, pushing the bike because of the stony ground. you will continue again until you reach Pietra Castello. From here you take a dirt path, following the path and the signs you will arrive on a balcony from where you can see the valley of the Great Stones with the Ionian Sea in the background. The descent will be with many ruined sections, and you will descend through trees, on which there are flags. You will come to a clearing, and you will have to descend towards the sea first on a dirt road and then on concrete, until you intersect the road that will descend towards San Luca first and then lead to Bianco.

Challenging itinerary for experienced and trained people, which includes several points where you have to get off the bike and carry it on your back. Also, you have to cross the fiumara several times, so best done in summer. From a naturalistic and scenic point of view it is a fabulous tour, which gives the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of nature, and to visit ancient artifacts.