Sarzana - Beverino e ritorno

Here is a route along the Magra and Vara rivers of medium difficulty. The route can also be done partially by cutting the parts near Beverino that are the most technical and hardest. I did it by gravel with 38mm taxed wheels, it is possible that in some rainy seasons some fords are not practicable and it is necessary to go around them by passing on provincial or state roads, which are always quite close to the route.

Not to be done for those who do not want to get dirty, the mud is omnipresent.

From Sarzana you follow for the highway entrance, near the tollbooth you start the dirt road along the Magra in a northerly direction, the route in this part is rideable but with some ups and downs near fords, in some cases you need to get off but these occasions are few. You arrive near the river area of Santo Stefano where the route can be varied at will considering the many alternatives in the area. Before the Caprigliola bridge, the proposed route returns to the state highway and crosses the new bridge over the Magra towards Albiano. Here I opted for a road section up to Ceparana but dirt tracks along the river can also be done in this section, however, the floods of the past years have taken away some sections making it difficult to make a linear route.

Near Ceparana the route resumes unpaved and goes up the Vara, after a couple of kilometers after Ceparana there is a section along the riverbed where you have to be careful with the track, here the river has removed the track in a past flood.

Arriving near Piana Batolla one re-enters the asphalt road to cross the river over the bridge and pass on the opposite side, just after the bridge on the right begins and take the Sentiero dei Tedeschi that climbs with not excessive gradients, near Beverino the proposed route includes about a km of rather arduous ascent with descent into the built-up area, this section can be skipped. At Beverino one passes on the provincial road to take a path, not marked but well maintained, that continues to skirt the Vara, this section is rather technical with passages at the limit of gravel practicability.

At the end of the path you meet the asphalt road that from Padivarma goes up to Beverino Castello, the route goes up to the Castle and is quite challenging (about 15%) at the top you can enjoy the view and a drinking fountain. The descent back to Beverino is on asphalt to cross the provincial road and take the German path back down. At the end of the trail you stay on the right bank of the Vara and passing through the industrial area you return to the dirt tracks along the river, again there are many paths, the track is the one that I found most appropriate for the day, but there are many variations. Near Bottagna it is necessary to get back on the asphalt for a few km to re-enter the dirt paths in the industrial area of Arcola, the paths also in this stretch are many, the track made by yours truly is the most linear and easy, for those who want the variants are towards the riverbed. To return to Sarzana you need to get back on the state highway and make the bridge that leads to the highway entrance.

#gravel