Monte Sole

Tour to be tackled safely with a good front end. Includes the three best-known descents within the Monte Sole Regional Park. Physically not too challenging except for some steep ramps uphill but no particular technical difficulties, except for some somewhat exposed and steep passages.

It starts from Marzabotto, reachable by train in less than an hour from Bologna or by car, to take from Pànico via S.Silvestro, the first climb of the tour that leads to the church of the same name on the ridge. Follow the ridge along via Collina to continue uphill on a dirt road to reach the low variant of Ca' Tura, a narrow single track with a few drops and exposed spots where care must be taken. The trail then leads along the road near Poggioletto from which the famous Corkscrew starts, a fun gut in the middle of the woods, with a steep and technical section in the middle that is very pleasant and medium technical but can also be tackled with a front wheel and good handle.

You come out on CAI trail 053 where you can choose:

- going left, following the GPX track, you descend to Vado di Setta via the Trolls trail, a relaxing descent devoid of difficulty that ends on Via Creda and then at Vado, from which you then climb up a steep road that leads back to trail 053 near Podere Brigadello;

- going to the right instead keeps you at altitude and points directly to the next descent of the tour, which is the Gardeletta trail, a beautiful fast flow descent immersed in the woods, not very challenging but with a couple of points where it is advisable to be careful due to the presence of ditches and gullies that can be treacherous, especially in autumn with the foliage covering them. Halfway down there is a drop, spotted in good time and tackled at speed as long as you know well where to land.

You come out in the hamlet of the same name from which you reach via Quercia, which takes you back up by the Poggiolo refuge and then veers onto via di Casaglia to Caprara from where the Postman's descent begins, the last of the tour. It is a trail that presents no difficulty. It starts on a rocky section with loose boulders and then pulls straight down to Sperticano along a flowing and fast section but somewhat exposed in places. It ends at Sperticano from where you can return to the starting point and the return vehicle.

Keep in mind, especially on hot days, that there are only three water points along the trail, excluding the fountain from the little park at Marzabotto station. The first is at Vado di Setta if you choose to descend to the junction with the 053, the second is a fountain at the Casaglia cemetery, a few meters from it and on the right side of the road, and the third useful point remains at the Poggiolo refuge.