Sentiero CAI 432 tra Monte Cavallo e Creta di Rio Secco

Usually in this site we describe itineraries in order to allow other bikers to ride them, but in this case the purpose is different and that is to point out to possible future travelers the difficulties and the limited cyclability of the route. That said, it should also be pointed out that the itinerary allows you to cross truly unique environments, in particular CAI 432 runs through very little frequented places (or perhaps not at all if we are referring to bikers) of great beauty and suggestion.

Leave the car just above Studena Bassa, in the locality of San Marco (large clearing for parking, trailhead 432), from here follow the road to Cason di Lanza to the refuge of the same name (the road is currently interrupted, but it is passable without problems with bikes and motorcycles). From here take the forest road that, in a pleasant climb (paved sections) reaches Casera di Val Dolce, from here , still pedaling on a grassy forest road you reach Sella di Madrizze, then on a road now reduced to a path you quickly descend to Casera di Aip, a place of extraordinary beauty. At this point begins a long ascent of the beautiful Val di Aip in which bikeable stretches alternate with pushing stretches (prevalent) necessary not so much because of the gradient, but because of the presence of many stones and the marshy terrain. Then the trail steepens (bike on the shoulder, very strenuous). Ignoring the detour to the Lomasti Bivouac, you reach the overhanging Sella di Aip, a place that certainly deserves a stop. You then take path 432, which you will not leave again until you reach the car.

At first you reach, bike on your back, the Forcje dai Claps, here a more evident track climbs to the right to the Creta di Rio Secco, while the trail continues up and down in a landscape of white rocks of remarkable beauty. The trail begins to descend but, because of the sparse footing and the few faded signs, it will not be easy to spot it (so beware that the GPS track also faithfully reports our mistakes). The trail loses height decidedly between gravels and boulders, alternating between bicycle (S2/S3) and walking sections. Then follows a very nice long bike section on a grassy/stony bottom among the boulders (S1/S2) until about elevation 1600, where we meet a very exposed traverse (possibly cables), but also quite wide (another very interesting point from the environmental point of view).

At this point the agony begins, very long and exhausting up and down traverse, little or no cyclable with bike-on-shoulder passages (landslides) and bottom far from easy. At a certain point pay attention, the trail has a fork, one track, again 432 descends sharply, while the other continues at high altitude, we initially took the first one, but then we preferred to ascend and continue along the second, which corresponds to the Tabacco track. We continue, always carrying the bike (very few short bikeable sections) until we enter a forest road (in this case very welcome) that descends with rapid switchbacks for about 400 meters of elevation gain, until we reach a fork on the right (CAI sign). Take a path with good bottom (short exposed traverse), which takes us back on a pleasant but still technical path (S2) to the car.

It is recommended not to underestimate the length of the trail (the total elevation gain would suggest relatively short hiking times, but the difficulty in identifying the trail and the slowness of progression along the aforementioned traverse should be carefully considered). Then taking into account the very low frequency of the 432, the physical commitment, the technical difficulties, as well as the lack of telephone signal in long stretches, it is advisable to assess one's own abilities and in any case not to undertake the route alone. Not suitable for electric MTBs. Route clockwise.