Carona, Morcote e Collina d'Oro

Long version of this route, with three climbs and lots of trails that are doable even with a bike with little travel. In fact, it is with an XC bike that you have the most fun because you can relaunch at full power.

Departure from Breganzona, but you can also start from Muzzano pond if you prefer. You go up to Gentilino on a short steep but paved climb, and go down to Pambio Noranco on a trail, pass over the highway and start the first climb of the day towards Carona. When you reach Pazzallo you leave the asphalt and go up on trail, arrive in Carabbia and take the long trail that takes us to Arbostora, first uphill, then with a magnificent up and down to speed, and below Torello downhill to the lake. This last stretch I hope you enjoy because we will do it again 2 times.

We arrive at Arbostora and glide on asphalt to Morcote, where we pass among the cheerful tourist activities there. We follow the road in the direction of Lugano and after the Swiss Diamond hotel we take a left towards Carona. The paved road has little traffic and is a classic on a road bike. We thus pass Vico Morcote (fountain near the church) and begin the toughest section. At the last right-hand bend we take a left towards Alpe Vicania. One last ramp will take us to the restaurant where you can stop for refreshments if you wish(information here). The climb continues on a dirt road. We pass a viewpoint over the lake and change sides of the mountain, where the trail begins that will take us to the church of Madonna d'Ongero. From midway up this is a trail built by locals for bikes, with banks and a few jumps. From the church we follow the dirt road to Torello, where a section with steps will test us, before we return to the nice trail we have already taken once and which takes us back to Arbostora.

This time we descend immediately to the lake, take a right and go as far as Figino, and then continue to Barbengo where the third climb of the day to Agra begins, also on asphalt and with little traffic. At Agra we climb up to change sides of the mountain, where we descend by a series of trails that dot Collina d'Oro. We thus arrive at the bottom by Lake Muzzano. If you have left your car there, the ride is over, otherwise the little climb to Breganzona awaits you just to round up the meters of elevation gain to 1400. #lugano