Forcella Salinchieit

Mountain biking route in the municipality of Tramonti di Sotto, specifically in Val Silisia and Valine. The climb begins on paved road along the Silisia stream, then continues on a dirt road with steep sections, and finally follows Trail 973 up to the saddle; the descent takes the S3/S4 singletrack, which is very exposed in the first section.

The route starts from the parking lot at Lake Redona; you climb up the Val Silisia alongside Lake Selva. Once you reach an elevation of 700 meters, take the Sentiero dei Forestali to the left, a rocky dirt road with concrete sections that is particularly challenging due to the terrain and the steep gradient. Once near Casera Valine Alte, continue left along Trail 973, which is partially rideable thanks to its mostly flat profile and only slightly undulating terrain, until reaching Casera Salinchieit (1,356 meters). To the right of the mountain hut, Trail 973 climbs steeply for a challenging stretch where you’ll need to carry your bike; through continuous ups and downs, it leads to a small ledge with a splendid view of the lakes (you’re now at the highest point of the route, at 1,525 meters). Another 500 meters and you’ll reach Forcella Salinchieit, with a magnificent view of Poffabbro and, above all, of the steep descent you’ll have to tackle.

The trail descending from the pass is CAI 973A, 3 km long with a constant average gradient of 31%; the upper section features slightly exposed sections with hairpin turns and rocky outcrops (S4) and is not very rideable for the first 400 meters of descent. Then, near the scree slope, the difficulty eases slightly, and from here on, the trail is fully rideable, albeit with very steep gradients (S3+). Even in the woods, the gradient shows no sign of decreasing, but by now the trail is no longer exposed, and we soon reach a small wooden bridge over the Muie stream, which leads us to the paved road.

Once you reach Poffabbro, continue left along the paved road for a couple of kilometers downhill toward Navorons, then climb back up the regional road that takes you back to the lake parking lot.