MTB 3 La Gotica

Gothic Route No. 3 is one of many mountain bike trails in collaboration between 841 RIDE Wild and the Municipality of Montese, which with varying levels of difficulty, elevation gain and length, according to IMBA's ITRS signage , take you through an area perfect for your dowels .

As soon as you leave Montese, you find the short descent of the Coste and cross the Treppi della Ruzzola, then go up an ancient road in some places still paved. On SP 34 you arrive just before the Palazzino, leave it and turn right up a small road that at the last house with a view of Montese. It becomes a path, descending into the woods overlooking the Striscialacqua waterfall surrounded by the Fredda beech biotope. With a double right turn you cross the stream, climbing up to the village of Maserno where there are refreshments and a fountain.From the center you start climbing up to near the ruins of the ancient castle of Monteforte, just before which you take a fun cavedania to the right composed of ups and downs that then opens into the fields to climb back to the Alberelli fountain (unchecked) and then to the hamlet of Forni.Between two houses you take a path to the right, more ups and downs in a mixed environment of woods and fields and small wetlands, and once you reach a paved road you climb it again greeted by several specimens of centuries-old chestnut trees to the hamlet of Malalbergo (Crib and local products). NB: Here you can shorten the route with a double left turn at the top of the climb, soon finding the Gotica signs again.

Taking a right, you then slightly ascend a caved in forest, which then becomes a path as it descends and crosses glades and streams. Coming out on Via Pianello, you slowly begin to climb up a dirt road with first an open panorama and then a wide cart track in the woods until you meet the Ronchidoso dirt road, which you descend to the right, then climb back up to SP 66 . Shortly after passing the provincial boundary sign, you leave the paved road for the determined ascent to Monte Belvedere on CAI 400/4, which, with the right effort, gives a splendid view from the highest point in the territory at 1138 meters. Gradually descend on a forest road until you catch a glimpse of the church of Ronchidoso (unchecked water point at the side of the church), to enter the forest and pass at its foot among broadleaf trees on a playful downhill trail, before climbing back into the fir forest and taking a technical downhill single track that leads back to the ridge.

From there you descend to Malalbergo among ancient chestnut trees and continue until you come out onto fields and then a short stretch of asphalt. This leads back to the gently descending trail to Monteforte, along a shady stream. From Monteforte, go up a few hundred meters with a firm but short climb on a stony surface and at the edge of a field, turn left for one of the most beautiful descents in the entire area down into fir trees. Try it to believe! Also take a look at the sinkholes, fascinating formations that surround the trail.

At the end of the descent, take the asphalt road (water point in the square in Maserno) and soon turn right onto a cartroad following CAI 422a, then watch out for the left turn into the grove that leads onto field edges that lead to the Oratorio dei Bicocchi where the asphalt road is found again. One last stretch is taken to the left before the entrance to Montese, parallel to route no. 1 Scuola, which refreshments before the final asphalt climb back to the square.