Monte Baldo e rifugio Altissimo

Fantastic and strenuous unseen route.

Departing from Malcesine, you have two alternatives: chairlift or lots and lots of cycling; should you choose the first option you will save roughly 1600m of elevation gain, alternatively prepare for a climb that will not leave you a second to rest.

Being daredevils (and cheapskates) we opted for the second option: Distance: 37km - time on the move: 5 hours - total elevation gain: 2200m - maximum elevation: 2000m - cycleability: 90% - suitable for MTB AM/FREERIDE.

Get your leg ready and for about 8km initial you will alternate between cemented and unpaved sections with a gradient between 20 and 28%; yes, you got it right, you pedal 500m and climb 100m.

The road for a good stretch passes under the cable car, until you reach the famous Ventrar trail; in your legs you will have only 8km, but 1500m of elevation gain!

This unfortunately is the only part where you will have to load the bike on your back for about 30 minutes and 1.5km; it is a trail for "experienced" hikers, but very doable if you keep the bike by hand paying attention to some slightly exposed spots.

When you reach the top, at the end of the trail, descend for about 2km until you reach a fork in the road on asphalt; here the very quiet climb begins again for 3km until you reach the Graziani refuge.

Follow the dirt road to the left that passes behind the Refuge and at the first fork take the left following the road up to Monte Altissimo. The road is all rideable, but in some sections the surface is more uneven and makes the climb very tiring and technical; after about 5km and 500m of elevation gain you will finally be able to catch your breath and eat at the Altissimo refuge; the climb is over and 2000m of descent awaits you.

The trail is very challenging and steep especially in the initial section; it requires excellent riding technique on loose rock and boulders; some passages are really technical. The trail flattens out in places allowing you to relax a bit.

You continue steadily downhill along all the cuts of 601 that cross the paved road several times until you reach Prati di Nago.

After a few short ups and downs you arrive on a forest road and dirt road until you reach a fork, take the left and from here begins a nice single trail in the woods, quite technical, at times flowing and at times a little split.

You follow the trail until you reach a comfortable downhill dirt road that along numerous switchbacks leads to the village of Navene. Ride down to the lake and back to Malcesine, pedaling south on the lakeside bike path for about 5km.