Cannobio - Monte Carza e discesa su Cannobio

A short loop with a decidedly “vertical” profile, starting from Cannobio. The numbers speak for themselves: 27 km with a total elevation gain of 1,550 meters—a ratio that demands excellent pacing.

The route follows a clockwise direction. The first 7 km are flat along the Lake Maggiore state road to Cannero Riviera: a stretch that can sometimes be quite busy. Turning right at Cannero, the scene changes radically: cars disappear almost entirely, and the real climb begins. The route climbs steeply toward Trarego Viggiona and then up to the summit of Monte Carza (1,116 m). The climb is very tough and demanding in places but always rideable; the gradients don’t let up even in the very last few meters before the summit, where a somewhat rough trail forces you to push the bike by hand—but only for a very short stretch. At the top, the view overlooking the lake makes every effort worthwhile.

The descent plunges onto the famous “New Cannobio” singletrack. It’s a trail at the mercy of the elements: after violent storms, the steep gradient causes water to carve deep ruts, muddying the trail. Today it was in decent condition, with only a couple of fallen trees to climb over. The final section, before returning to Cannobio, is by far the most technical: it features tricky sections and treacherous boulders. A decidedly slippery stretch that should be avoided if it rained the day before.

I completed the ride today on a regular bike, but the route is perfectly doable on an E-MTB as well, provided you have enough battery life, since I didn’t come across any shelters for recharging.