Traversiere + Monte Cornet

This is a high-mountain cycling tour in the truest sense of the word. It starts in Thumel, in the Val di Rhêmes, at about 1,880 m, and heads to Becca della Traversière at 3,337 m, passing by the Benevolo Mountain Hut, Lake Goletta, and Col Bassac Derè. The first part alternates between a beautiful ride uphill and a long stretch where you’ll have to carry your bike, but it allows you to reach a truly spectacular high-altitude setting on your MTB, surrounded by glaciers and majestic mountains. The descent from Traversière is long and changes character several times: it starts off technical from the summit, features a challenging S5 section below Col Bassac Derè, and then transitions to much smoother terrain toward Lake Goletta. In the version proposed here, however, the ride doesn’t end by simply returning to Thumel. In fact, a second section is added toward the Vaudalaz and Monte Cornet areas, featuring another stretch where you’ll have to carry your bike and a long, technical final descent. It is therefore a very physically demanding and decidedly long route, to be tackled only in excellent weather conditions and with solid experience riding in high-altitude mountain terrain.

Thumel - Benevolo Mountain Hut

The route starts in Thumel, at about 1,879 m, at the end of the Val di Rhêmes road. From here , follow the climb toward the Benevolo Mountain Hut, 2,285 m. The elevation gain is just over 400 meters, and this first section is essentially rideable, following the dirt road that climbs up the valley. The gradients are noticeable, but we’re still in the easier part of the route, so it’s best to take advantage of it to gain elevation without expending too much energy. The scenery is already stunning, with the valley gradually opening up toward the majestic mountains at the head of the Val di Rhêmes. Once you reach the Benevolo Mountain Hut, however, the most comfortably rideable part of the climb comes to an end.

Benevolo – Lago Goletta

From the refuge, the section where you have to carry your bike on your shoulders begins. You sling the bike over your shoulders and continue uphill toward the Goletta valley. You’ll gain about another 400 meters in elevation until you reach the Lago Goletta area , at around 2,700 m. Once you’ve passed the steepest climb, the terrain changes completely. You’ll find yourself on a beautiful high-altitude plateau where you can finally get back in the saddle. This is probably one of the most special moments of the entire ride: you’ll be cycling through an open, almost glacial landscape, with Lago Goletta and the great mountains all around you. The trail in this section presents no particular difficulties and allows you to truly enjoy the scenery before the terrain becomes more challenging again.

Lake Goletta – Col Bassac Derè

Once past the lake, the situation changes again. The trail begins to climb more steeply, and rideability decreases rapidly. You’ll find yourself pushing your bike and then carrying it as you enter an increasingly rugged and rocky environment. The destination is Col Bassac Derè, at about 3,083 m. This is the pass that separates the Goletta area from the Valgrisenche region and is one of the key points of the route. Once you reach the pass, the terrain gradually becomes more manageable.

Col Bassac Derè – Becca della Traversière

From the pass, there’s still about a 250-meter climb to reach the summit. Follow the scree-covered ridge toward Becca della Traversière, 3,337 m. Here, too, you’ll need to be prepared for a fair amount of walking and a few easier sections, but by now the summit is clearly visible and the scenery becomes truly spectacular. Reaching Becca della Traversière on a mountain bike is, in itself, the main reason to tackle this ride. From the summit, the view is vast: we’re at the junction of Val di Rhêmes, Valgrisenche, and the French side, surrounded by a high-altitude glacial landscape. From here, the descent finally begins.

Becca della Traversière - Col Bassac Derè

The first section is immediately technical. From the summit toward Col Bassac Derè, the terrain is steep, rocky, and slippery in some places. The difficulty alternates roughly between S3 and S4, with the initial section generally being the most challenging. Good terrain-reading skills are required, and in some places the exposure also demands caution. As you descend toward the pass, the difficulty gradually becomes more manageable, though it remains a true high-mountain descent. You thus return to Col Bassac Derè, at approximately 3,083 m.

Col Bassac Derè – S5 section

The technically most challenging section of the descent likely begins at the pass. Over a vertical drop of about 250–300 meters, down to the 2,800-meter elevation, the trail becomes very technical. Here, the difficulty can be rated S5. This section is long enough that it cannot be considered merely a single extreme passage: you must maintain concentration and control for quite some time. Steep gradients, rocky terrain, and technical sections make this part suitable exclusively for riders of a very high skill level. Of course, you should have no problem getting off your bike if a section doesn’t feel right.

Toward Lake Goletta - S2

Around 2,800 m, the character of the descent changes almost suddenly. With the major difficulties behind you, the trail becomes much smoother, and the difficulty level drops to roughly S2. After the long technical section that preceded it, this is a truly enjoyable stretch. You can finally let the bike roll more freely as you cross the vast Goletta landscape once again. Continue this way until you reach the lake area, at around 2,700 m.

Lake Goletta – Toward Benevolo

From Lago Goletta, take the trail that leads back toward the Benevolo Refuge area. The difficulty level rises again. It’s a nice S4 section—technical but generally manageable for those with the necessary skill level to tackle this route. It doesn’t have the extreme continuity of the section below Col Bassac Derè, but it still requires precise riding. At this point, there’s also a much more practical option for those who want to shorten the ride. Before returning all the way to Benevolo, you can stay higher up and take the trails that gradually lead back toward Thumel through the woods. This is likely the recommended and most balanced version of the route, while still maintaining a technical descent roughly in the S4 range. The full route described here, however, chooses to make the day even more challenging.

Part Two: Toward Vaudalaz and Monte Cornet

Once back in the Benevolo area, you set off again toward the Monte Cornet sector. Here, you’ll need to be prepared to carry your bike on your shoulder for a significant portion of the way. The route crosses the Vaudalaz area, featuring a short, very beautiful, and scenic descent—slightly exposed but not particularly difficult from a technical standpoint. There is also another descent that is marked as highly exposed. Since we did not ride it directly, it is best not to assign it a specific technical grade and to assess it very carefully on-site. The proposed route, however, continues uphill toward Col Cornet and the Monte Cornet area.

Ascent to Col Cornet

We then return to the routine that has now characterized much of the day: carrying the bike on our shoulders. The climb becomes progressively steeper, and the final 80 meters or so are particularly vertical. With the MTB on your shoulders, this is a physically demanding section where you must pay close attention to your footing and maintain good balance at all times. It’s also important to distinguish the route used by the trail from the actual summit of Monte Cornet, at about 2,570 m. The summit is not the cycling goal of the ride: its uppermost part is a ridge and is not suitable for cycling. You then reach the pass and prepare for the final major descent of the day.

Descent from Cornet - S4

The first section drops steeply right away. Over a vertical drop of about 400 meters, you’ll tackle a descent that’s mostly S4—very physically demanding and continuous. Steep gradients, hairpin turns, and technical terrain still demand a lot of energy—something not to be underestimated after everything you’ve already tackled to reach the Becca della Traversière and then the Cornet. It’s a descent where your arms and hands are put to the test. For this reason, managing your energy throughout the entire ride is essential.

Final Section Toward Thumel

Once the first 400 meters—the most challenging section—are behind you, the difficulty gradually begins to decrease. The trail then alternates between S3 and S4 sections, featuring numerous hairpin turns and a consistently technical, guided character. You gradually enter the woods and continue to lose elevation until you return to the valley floor. The final trails eventually lead back to the Thumel parking lot, bringing a decidedly long day to a close.

In summary

La Becca della Traversière is a true high-altitude mountain biking tour. The initial climb from Thumel to the Benevolo Refuge allows you to gain about 400 m of elevation while pedaling, then the portage toward Lake Goletta begins. At around 2,700 m, you surprisingly get back in the saddle on a beautiful high-altitude plateau, before tackling another long portage to Col Bassac Derè, 3,083 m, and subsequently reaching Becca della Traversière, 3,337 m. The descent more than makes up for the effort: S3/S4 from the summit to the pass, then a long and challenging S5 section down to about 2,800 m, followed by a beautiful S2 descent toward Lago Goletta and another S4 section heading toward Benevolo.

For many, the ride could easily end here by taking the upper route that leads directly back to Thumel.

The full route, however, adds a second adventure toward Vaudalaz and Monte Cornet, with more portage, a very steep final climb, and another approximately 400 meters of S4 descent before the long S3/S4 return to Thumel. The result is a massive and very physically demanding ride, in which the amount of portage is significant but is offset by a truly exceptional high-mountain environment and a considerable amount of technical descent.

Technical Details

Route Style: Mountain Biking / Extreme All Mountain

Starting elevation: Thumel, approximately 1,879 m

Maximum elevation: Becca della Traversière, 3,337 m

First rideable ascent: approx. 400 m elevation gain to Benevolo

Portage: Very high

Ascent difficulty: Very high due to duration and amount of portage

Descent difficulty: S3/S4 with a long S5 section

Most difficult section: Col Bassac Derè—approx. 2,800 m elevation, S5

Second descent from Cornet: approximately 400 m initially rated S4, then S3/S4

Exposure: Present in several sections

E-MTB: Strongly discouraged due to the amount of portage

Water sources: Benevolo Refuge; otherwise, it is advisable to bring your own water

Terrain: High-mountain, rocky, and scree-covered; best tackled when dry

Important note: The full route through the Cornet significantly adds to the difficulty of an already long day. For those who want to focus on the Becca della Traversière, returning directly to Thumel after the descent from the Goletta is a much more balanced option.