Pizzo Grande Flow e Snake

I propose a somewhat unusual ride with little known descent ranging from easy flow to repeated switchbacks (almost 400m snakeline). Tour with excellent views, challenging climbs. With electric bike if you have good technique you will pedal all the way around, without electric keep many meters of elevation gain mixed push/pedal. In this version up to Ca' Boffelli there are no detours from the asphalt but if you want you can use customize the tour also with this track or this one which is perhaps the most suitable for Mtb.

We park at the former station of San Giovanni Bianco ( the side on the left does not have the time disk) we jump on the bike path and shortly after on a comfortable climb on asphalt, little nothing traffic with background the panorama of the valley.

Arriving at Ca Boffetti, we can stop at the fountain to catch our breath for a moment, from here the climb will become very challenging, we go up towards Molinasco on asphalt with very challenging gradients and then offroad with often pedalable tears until the Foldone trail junction at an altitude of 1250m.

From here we keep to the right and another 180m pedalable only by Emtb awaits us, in a climb on an easy trail and also wide enough to allow us to push the mtb the bike comfortably (in case you are not electrified).

As we gain elevation the pedaled sections increase. Until we arrive at the high chalet of Sornadello. (here the Gioanabela descent would start).

From here following the trail we climb to Pizzo grande in another 180m pedalable by Emtb or push by mtb.

Last trail before the Pizzo Grande cross in half coast not rideable that in 5 minutes brings us to the Pizzo Grande cross (narrow trail, be careful).

After admiring the view and having a bite to eat we start again this time for the descent of about 1000 meters of elevation gain. The first part of the descent from Pizzo grande (about 650 meters of elevation gain) has a very nice flow in the forest with S1/S2 difficulty, with a few short passages in the central area a little more challenging but still manageable. The trail is well marked with numerous CAI flags on the trees but in the post fall and winter periods it has quite a lot of foliage which makes it difficult to follow the descent so I recommend doing it in summer.

After fording a small stream there is a short climb that is not very rideable. From here begins a technical part not so much because of the rock passages that are very few but because of the numerous switchbacks to do in nose press (next time I do it I count them). When the bottom is dry it offers very good grip, so it is an excellent training ground for this technique.

The trail descends like a snake until it joins the road coming up from San Giovanni Bianco where you can admire the beautiful "gorge" and return to the starting point by following the trail parallel to the road tunnel.

Trail style: AM

Personal rating: 8/10

MTB: yes (lots of pushing)

EMTB: yes

Duration about 2.5h (in emtb)

Shoulder bike sections: a few meters area near Pizzo Grande and a few very short uphill sections

Difficulty uphill: easy first part, then very challenging second part

Difficulty descent: average 60% S1/S2 ; 40% S3

Drainage: ND

Exposed sections: a few stretches but easily manageable