Monte Alpe, cima Colletta, monte Chiappo, via del Sale

Challenging and very nice tour, done clockwise. Start in Varzi, dirt tracks to Pietragavina, then enter the beautiful forest of Mount Alpe on dirt tracks and trails to 3 Passes. Short asphalt to Penice Pass, then nice dirt road with views of Valtrebbia to Scaparina Pass, short asphalt then trails to Brallo. Now ascent on asphalt and, just after the Colletta summit sign, climb left to the summit with a short walk. Very nice view of surrounding mountains, now descent on trail to Colla pass, then asphalt to Giovà pass - Cosola huts.

Now hard climb to Mt Chiappo, initial 100 meters walk then pedal to summit, 1699 meters, border between 3 regions. Now start to descend following CAI trail 102, i.e., Via del Sale to Varzi. It is a dirt road up to the refuge with several climbs, then it becomes a path and after dirt road to Castellaro. Now asphalt, then right on nice path, again the 102 CAI, to Monteforte, when the path narrows it becomes challenging for some passages on pebbles, but the descent is gentle and not dangerous, then this section is short, just walk past where you cannot. You reach the stream and you are at the start. Tour not difficult except for that final stretch that is not long.

Water at various fountains, I point out on the Mt. Alpe dirt road, on the Penicina dirt road, at Brallo, at capanne di Cosola , at all you pass.