Monte Mario: Pianoro Vecchio

Start from Pianoro Vecchio and climb the beautiful but steep little road that leads to Guzzano from the valley floor. In Guzzano, keep left and continue along a series of ups and downs until you reach Ca di Cò. Here, turn right onto a dirt road and then a trail with some technical uphill sections until you reach the dirt road leading to the wildlife conservation center. Continue on to reach the cliffs (at the trail junction, keep left), and after a stretch along the cliffs, take a trail to the left, the Secret Trail. This is a technical and challenging trail with steep sections on dirt, steps, and trial-style passages on rock in the final stretch. You’ll arrive at Badolo; keep left to reach the cemetery. Here, take the descent to Fosso Raibano. Be careful, however, as it is blocked by a landslide and cycling through is not recommended (there is, however, a rope for minimal safety). Alternatively, once you reach a ruined house, you can go right and follow a meadow to take the “Grotta” trail, which also leads toward Battedizzo.

Head back up to Badolo on the paved road and join the Vagabunder trail, now a classic in the area: a smooth route with some fast sections but also some challenging technical rock passages. Incidentally, it has been improved at the start to avoid a section that’s always muddy (detour to the right) and in another middle section prone to mud. Once on the road, head up to Battedizzo via the trail, then to the Monte Mario saddle, and from there toward La Commenda. From here, take the connection to Nuvola Rossa: a climb up the meadow, a technical descent over rocks, and then a trail leading to the trailhead (with a few rocky sections). Another beautiful trail, more technical, with rocky sections, steep climbs, compressions, and jumps to return to the provincial road.

Climb back up to Battedizzo and the saddle, then proceed toward La Commenda and from there take the “Gorilla Trail” toward Via delle Orchidee. Head back toward the cliffs and turn right onto the short but fun little trail (Madone loop) that leads back to Via Valverde, and from there you’ll soon reach Brento. Here, climb up to Monte Castellazzo (a short climb on a trail) and then take the final “Brento” trail. A beautiful single track, with steep sections and hairpin turns (watch out for some exposed sections on the right)—best tackled in one go! Definitely a lot of fun (recently maintained by some bikers). The trail then continues along the Savena until just before the bridge over the Savena and from there to Pianoro Vecchio.

Difficulty S4