Livigno - Val Viola - Bernina - Livigno

A truly epic ride.

I started at the top of Mottolino to spare myself the climb to the Era Pass, with its traffic. From there it's down one of the bike park trails to said pass.

Then I followed the paved road downhill to avoid raking on unnecessary dirt roads. You then take the trail to Val Trela, where it intersects with the one coming down from Trela Pass, and follow it uphill. Except for one ramp, the rest is all rideable with a little leg (leg you must have to do this tour anyway).

Descend to Alpe Trela and then take a right uphill following the Alta Valtellina Bike Marathon route. Beautiful areas with no one around. Always descend on trail, come to a dirt road and then take another trail uphill to the Foscagno Pass. Also beautiful.

Below the pass you descend to Arnoga, where the Val Viola climb begins.

At the hut I was hoping to get some spaghetti, but they only offer tourist dishes with the usual polenta and venison. I then climb to the pass and eat my candy bar at the beginning of the trail that leads down into Switzerland to the Bernina Pass road. The final part of the descent is on dirt road. Then comes the least fun part of the ride, which is the asphalt climb to the pass. After that you take the relatively new trail from the Bernina Pass to Forcola di Livigno, another libidine.

From there follow the bike path back to Livigno and enjoy a well-deserved beer.

#livigno