Monte Falco e Monte Falterona: le cime gemelle

Beautiful tour to discover the twin peaks of the Foresete Casentinesi National Park, on the border between Romagna and Tuscany. Starting place, Il Castagno di Andrea, a hamlet of San Godenzo very convenient to reach by car. We start immediately uphill on SP95, initially on asphalt and then becoming a dirt road near Bivacco Borbotto (where there is also an eMTB charging station), a gentle climb with gradients always below double digits. From the bivouac we enter the park on a beautiful forest road, the gradients increase, but the silence and the magic of the forest do not make the effort feel. Once we reach Passo Piancacelli the forest road ends, on the right starts a path (Sodo de Conti) that initially climbs gradually and then forces on some stretches to descend and push the bike (probably doable by eMTB) up to the ridge where in a few minutes we reach Monte Falco from where, on a comfortable bench, you can enjoy a wide and suggestive panorama that ranges from Romagna to Tuscany (clouds permitting).

After a little rest, the descent from Monte Falco begins on a beautiful trail (also fancy-named Falco Trail) of medium difficulty that alternates between sections on roots, stones and boulders-quite wet-with others on soft forest floor that make you let off the brakes. The descent is short, at the first detour to Mount Falterona, it is necessary to load the bike on the shoulders (or push) to reach the top of Falterona, which like its twin offers beautiful views and more, from here starts the fabulous La Stufa trail (CAI16), a trail that is not easy, with steep sections on a slippery bottom (due to rain in the previous days), sharp turns and sections on boulders in the most exposed points, a nice S2. The trail puts us back on the forestry road near Bivacco Borbotto, descending to the right a trail begins and at the first fork we keep left to take La Pianaccia (CAI9), a real treat, terrain more dry - almost dry - less steep but still very fast, you find a nice flow although more or less in the middle you have to be ready on a couple of ups and downs, the final part on narrow path with slight counter slope is a bit exposed and ends with a couple of hairpin bends. The trail ends near the village cemetery, the small town offers bakeries and bars for refreshments and rest.