Monte Palodina e Trail Tigliora+Capre

The ride starts from Gallicano, at the parking lot below the church, a convenient and easily accessible meeting point. It is a challenging and scenic loop, combining long regular climbs, technical sections and natural descents immersed in the forests of Garfagnana. From the start you climb up towards Verni along a long but steady climb on regular gradients that allow you to maintain a good pace. In Verni (about km 6) there is a fountain where it is possible to refuel with water, an excellent stopping point before the most challenging stretch. From here the road continues to climb to the charming village of Trassilico, perched on a rocky spur with views of the Serchio valley and the Apuan Alps.

From the village take the dirt road that climbs to the Foce di Pompanella, which is wide and smooth, ideal for agile cycling. At about km 14 you turn left, leaving the main road and heading toward the Foce del Palodina. Up to km 15.8 the road remains wide and well pedaled; later it becomes a single track, partly cyclable and partly to be pushed or carried on the shoulder. Reaching the Foce del Palodina, with a last effort you conquer the summit of Mount Palodina, a panoramic and suggestive point of the entire itinerary.

The descent is completely cyclable, but has a very steep initial section that requires good bike control. In the woods the trail becomes smoother and more technical, until the Foce di San Luigi. From here you continue along a pleasant and guided single track parallel to the road that leads back to the main roadway, where you enter the Tigliora descent. The entrance to the trail is barely visible due to foliage, but once spotted you enter one of the most beautiful descents in the area. The first part is flowing and smooth, then the trail becomes more technical and dug in, with passages on wet rock and roots. The overall difficulty is S2, with short S3 sections in the rockier passages.

Back in Gallicano, we repeat the morning climb to Trassilico. Inside the village you enter the entrance to the Sentiero delle Capre, a technical and winding trail, with S2 difficulty and some S3 sections, characterized by sharp bends, rocky passages and a natural bottom typical of the area. The trail ends in the valley, where it returns to Gallicano on an asphalt road, completing the loop.

This is a complete and varied itinerary, combining long regular climbs with technical and fun descents. The stretch to Palodina gives a real feeling of adventure, while the descents of Tigliora and Sentiero delle Capre offer natural lines and pure adrenaline in the heart of Garfagnana