Bassa di Nara

Round between the Blenio Valley and the Leventina Valley. The ascent, if done all by pedaling, is a 1900-meter drop in a bang, however, if you do the ride on a summer weekend you can shorten it by 1200 meters of elevation gain by using the two Nara chairlifts (for times click here : http://nara.ch/)

Start from Pollegio, near Blenio, and ride along the Blenio Valley bike path, then up to Leontica and then up up to Nara and to the chairlift top station. From here you push/pedal 200 meters of elevation gain (30 minutes) to Bassa di Nara. End of ascent.

The view will repay you for the greater or lesser exertions. The first part of the descent, to Alpe Nara, is not smooth, as it passes through pastures and there are many boulders on the trail.

However, from the Alpe you will begin to enjoy it. In fact, the Alphöli (shepherd/malgarian) is a young metalhead who comes up on a trial bike. He, himself, told me to follow the trail down to Aldescio, as that is what he does. Below the hut it is hard to find the trail, since it is a meadow, but if you have the gps you will not get lost. Simply descend into the meadow following the trail. Instead, a trail begins in the woods that seems to have been laid out for bikes, since he rides there. A delight.

Arriving at the bucolic Aldescio you take another trail in the direction of Sorsello. Less smooth, but fairly easy. From just before Sorsello another (unmarked) trail to Tengia. From here short break with a small road that takes you to Rossura. From here starts a mule track that at the Alpe di Caslascio turns into the most technical trail of the tour, however all doable in the saddle with a fair amount of tennica.

You will then finally arrive in the Leventina valley. From here you follow the bike route 3 signs passing over old bridges and old hamlets that one from the Gotthard highway (which passes nearby) doesn't even notice. Considering that you are always slightly downhill, a nice cycling finish.