Sentiero degli Stadini

The Sentiero degli Stradini is one of those routes that, sooner or later, every mountain biker who loves Alpine rides must tackle. That said, let’s be clear: from a purely cycling perspective, tackling the Stradini on a mountain bike is probably not the smartest idea you could come up with. The traverse is spectacular and very distinctive, but it involves a long stretch that must be covered almost entirely with the bike on your shoulder, featuring constant ups and downs, exposed sections, and some equipped passages. It’s not as extreme as some other Alpine routes, but you need to be fully aware that for about 30–40 minutes, your mountain bike essentially becomes a rather cumbersome backpack. The ride, however, doesn’t end at the Stradini. Continuing toward Rifugio Nicola, Sodadura, and then on to Passo Baciamorti, you’ll follow a very long and scenic traverse that ends with a beautiful descent through the woods down to Lake Cassiglio.

From Cassiglio to Valtorta

You set off from Cassiglio and begin with the easiest part of the day. You ride uphill on the road toward Valtorta, gradually gaining elevation without any particular technical difficulties. From Valtorta, continue toward the Piani di Bobbio, still on bike-friendly terrain, until you reach the area around the Lecco Mountain Hut. It’s a long climb, so it’s best to pace yourself: once you arrive at the hut, the character of the ride changes completely.

Lecco Mountain Hut and the Stradini Trail

The true Sentiero degli Stradini begins at the Lecco Mountain Hut. And this is where what can easily be described—on a mountain bike—as the day’s little ordeal begins. The trail runs mostly along the hillside, alternating between short climbs and descents, but it’s extremely difficult to ride. For about 30–40 minutes, you should expect to carry your bike most of the time. The problem isn’t so much the trail’s pure technical difficulty as it is the combination of terrain, constant ups and downs, and exposure. In several places, the slope drops off steeply below the trail, and there are also sections with fixed ropes. It’s not an extreme mountaineering route, and for those accustomed to being in the mountains, the passages are generally manageable. With a mountain bike on your shoulders, however, your balance and the bike’s bulk change completely. You must therefore proceed with caution and without rushing. It’s a very unique and scenic stretch, but it should be approached for what it is: a long traverse on foot with your MTB, not a section you should try to ride at all costs.

Toward the Nicola Mountain Hut

Once you’ve finished the Stradini traverse, conditions gradually improve. The final stretch even offers a few more opportunities to get back in the saddle, but the subsequent climb toward the Nicola Refuge remains challenging. The trail isn’t exactly rideable, and in most cases, it’s better to keep carrying your bike rather than waste energy constantly trying to pedal. Those with excellent leg strength will certainly manage to ride a few more stretches. Before reaching Rifugio Nicola, you can also take a detour to Cima di Piazzo, which presents no particular technical difficulties on the descent and allows you to add another peak to the ride. You then reach Rifugio Nicola, entering one of the most open and scenic areas of the entire route.

Monte Sodadura, Optional Variant

The proposed route also includes an ascent to Monte Sodadura. However, it’s important to note that this detour isn’t necessary to complete the loop. Those who want to conserve energy—and, above all, avoid a very challenging descent—can easily bypass Sodadura by taking the scenic trail that runs lower down. For those who decide to reach the summit, however, the subsequent descent is a whole different story. You’ll face a very steep scree slope, with difficulty levels approaching S5. The ground is loose, the slope is steep, and keeping the bike on the line is challenging. Riding the entire section is not impossible for those with a very high technical skill level, but it is certainly one of the most difficult sections of the entire ride. For most riders, it’s normal to tackle at least part of it on foot.

Toward Aralalta

Once past the Sodadura area, the route continues along a very scenic trail toward Aralalta. This is one of the most visually stunning parts of the ride, featuring open terrain and sweeping views. Before reaching the upper section, however, you’ll have to deal with a portage again. The final 150–200 meters of elevation gain, in fact, require you to shoulder your bike again. At this point in the day, the total distance covered on foot begins to add up: the Stradini, the climb toward Nicola, the optional Sodadura section, and this final ascent make the ride significantly more physically demanding than it might seem based solely on distance and elevation gain.

Toward Passo Baciamorti

Once the final climb is over, a section much more favorable for mountain biking finally begins. The very first 50 meters or so of descent are very steep and require caution. Once past this short section, however, the terrain changes completely. The trail runs through large meadows and becomes a fast, smooth singletrack with no particular technical difficulties. Here you can finally let your bike go, while naturally keeping an eye out for any hikers and maintaining good visibility. Continue this way until you reach Passo Baciamorti.

Baciamorti Pass – Cassiglio

From Passo Baciamorti begins what is probably the real reward of the day. The descent toward Cassiglio is long, smooth, and above all, a lot of fun. The trail enters the woods and maintains an excellent pace, with a surface that allows you to ride without constantly having to tackle extreme sections. The overall difficulty can be rated S2, with several S3 sections. There are only four or five more challenging sections, roughly rated S4, but they are short and do not alter the general character of the descent. Overall, it is therefore a much more accessible trail compared to the extreme descents of other Alpine routes and allows you to wrap up the ride with a long, enjoyable, and smooth ride. You continue descending through the woods until you reach Lake Cassiglio. From here, only the final few meters remain to return to the starting point and complete the loop.

In summary

The Giro degli Stradini is difficult to judge solely in terms of rideability. The Sentiero degli Stradini itself isn’t a great cycling experience: for about 30–40 minutes, you’ll be proceeding mainly on foot, carrying your mountain bike on your shoulder, along an exposed traverse that is equipped in some places. However, it is a very unique and scenic route, and as part of the entire loop, it helps create a mountain day that is decidedly out of the ordinary. You should also factor in another section where you’ll have to carry your bike to the Nicola Refuge and an additional 150–200 m of elevation gain with the bike on your shoulder as you approach the Aralalta area. The climb to Monte Sodadura is optional and can easily be skipped: doing it adds a very steep and loose descent—close to S5—to the route, whereas the trail that passes below offers a much easier connection. Once you’ve cleared the entire upper section, the route takes on a different character. The traverse toward Passo Baciamorti becomes progressively smoother, and the subsequent descent through the woods toward Cassiglio is truly beautiful, mostly S2/S3 with only a few S4 sections. It is therefore a route to choose more for the overall experience and the scenery you pass through than for the amount of rideable singletrack.

Technical Details

• Trail Style: All-Mountain / Alpine Adventure
• MTB: Recommended for experienced riders accustomed to carrying their bikes
• E-MTB: Strongly discouraged
• Portage: High—30–40 minutes on dirt roads + additional uphill sections
• Ascent Difficulty: High, especially due to duration and portage
• Stradini Difficulty: Not technically extreme, but with exposure and many equipped sections
• Monte Sodadura: Optional—descent down to approximately S5
• Descent toward Baciamorti: Generally easy, after a short, steep initial section
• Descent from Baciamorti to Cassiglio: S2/S3 with a few S4 sections
• Exposure: Significant on the Sentiero degli Stradini
• Trail conditions: Preferably dry