Bocchetta di Calivazzo

Fairly challenging low-elevation tour good for spring and fall. Start from Lierna or Varenna (depending on parking availability). We go up on asphalt with medium gradients to Esino Lario from here variant available with 170 meters more elevation gain: if we want we can continue up to the Chierica hump and then go back on track from a nice traverse to the north of Sasso di Petua (see image).

Staying on the trail we climb offroad on agrosilvopastoral road with dirt/leaves bottom on challenging slopes to the Esino alp, Bocchetta di Lierna (top view of Lake Como) and finally to Bocchetta di Calivazzo.

We descend on nice single track difficulty S2 with few S3 passages to Calivazzo farmstead. On a path not easily ridable by Emtb we go up about 50 meters and then descend from a very physical S3 trail with central S4 session (some exposed off-trail sections) to the Church of Santa Maria above Olcio. We continue on less technical but still very physical trail to Sonvico and then after a short climb of 40 meters we descend from the Wayfarer's trail and various S1 trails to the lake.

Trail style: Enduro

Personal rating: views 8/10; descents 9/10

MTB: Yes

EMTB: Yes

Duration about 4-5h (by emtb)

Portage: Short pushing sections if in Mtb

Difficulty ascent: Comfortable until Esine Lario, then ca 500m challenging

Difficulty descent: 40% S2 ; 50% S3-S4 ; 10% S1

Exposed: Short sections off trail

Drainage: ND