Lago delle Fate

Start from convenient parking lot in Piedimulera. Ascend on asphalt to Pontegrande. Cross here and climb for a few hairpin bends to Bannio Anzino (669meters). You take a nice forest road that leads up to a small church. Just behind it you take a path that leads to the road below; this last piece is cyclable only in sections. We continued until we intercepted the road, but it is possible to descend even earlier. You continue first on asphalt, then on a nice forest road to Ceppo Morelli, where you can admire a beautiful Roman bridge and the blue waters of the Anza stream. We return to asphalt and to save time we pull straight to Isella. From here we return to dirt road and climb up Val Quarazza to Lago delle Fate and continue to the locality Crocette (1370 meters) until where the valley opens up and it is possible to see an icy waterfall in the valley on the right.

The descent begins and the contrast of the snow-white road with the brown and green vegetation around and the blue sky above our heads is magnificent. We follow the uphill dirt road downhill to Isella, here we keep to the right in the direction of Fornarelli and follow the miners' trail almost all cyclable to Pestarena (1100 meters).

Here we climb a small piece until we reach the road and then immediately keep right to pass Morghen and arrive at Case Opaco. Here we climb back onto the asphalt to gain time. At Pontegrande we climb up steep stairs for 15 minutes, then take a push/bike-to-shoulder trail (always a bit of a step) that leads to a nice traverse to Barzona (688 meters). From here the real fun begins, a beautiful mule track of meadow alongside dry stone walls, stunning. You descend passing through Calasca Castiglione, Boretta, Pecciola and come to Castiglione. Here you pick up the road again and immediately go up to Miggianella. From here you reach Cimamulera. Here we took what on paper was the longest path down to Piedimulera, it turned out to be the via crucis of discomfort, to be avoided like the plague. Probably better is a trail that goes down earlier even though on the maps it looks like a long flight of steps....

Magnificent view of the East Face of Monte Rosa on arrival at Isella.