Epic trail, Pesciola + Artavaggio

The route starts in Cassiglio and follows the road toward Valtorta. From here, the first long climb of the day begins, heading toward the Piani di Bobbio. Most of the elevation gain is on paved roads, so despite the length, you can maintain a fairly steady pace. Once past the ski slopes, the surroundings gradually become more pleasant, and the climb enters the woods, offering some very beautiful views. However, it’s important to pace yourself well: reaching Bobbio is only the first part of a route that will total about 2,400 meters of elevation gain.

Piani di Bobbio – Pesciola – Moggio

Once you reach the mountain hut area at Piani di Bobbio, the first real descent of the day begins.

You descend from the Pesciola area along a technical and fun trail. The initial section requires good riding skills, with uneven terrain and difficulty roughly in theS3 range.

Once past the scree field, continue following the trail to the left, gradually entering the woods.

From here, the nature of the descent changes: the trail gradually becomes easier and smoother, eventually turning into a long, nearly flat stretch—roughly S1—in the final section that leads toward Moggio.

The first part is therefore definitely the most interesting from a riding perspective, while the final section serves primarily as a connector to reach the start of the second major climb.

Those wishing to avoid the long final S1 section can, however, consult the map to explore the other trails in the area and plan a more direct or technical route to Moggio.

Moggio - Piani di Artavaggio

Once you reach Moggio, the second major climb begins.

You’ll initially ride on asphalt until you reach the roadblock leading to Piani di Artavaggio.

From here, you enter the woods and continue on a well-trodden trail, with generally moderate and steady gradients.

Although your legs have already handled a significant elevation gain, this climb allows you to find a good rhythm and continue gaining elevation almost entirely while in the saddle.

Gradually, the woods open up and you reach the wide basin of Piani di Artavaggio.

Artavaggio - Sodadura

Once past the area of mountain huts, the climb changes character.

The gradients increase, and given all the elevation gain already accumulated, this section inevitably starts to take its toll on your legs.

You continue toward the distinctive pyramid-shaped peak of Monte Sodadura, likely entering the most scenic part of the entire route.

The view opens up completely, and you transition from the long stretch through the woods to a much more open and scenic mountain setting.

It is not necessary to reach the summit of Sodadura.

The trail continues past the base of the mountain and on toward the Baciamorti area.

Toward the Baciamorti Pass

The route continues along a beautiful high-altitude trail, with consistently sweeping views.

After two major climbs and a cumulative elevation gain of over 2,000 meters, however, even the normally easy sections begin to take their toll.

It’s therefore best to continue pacing yourself and not underestimate the overall length of the route.

Continue until you finally reach the Baciamorti Pass.

At this point, most of the hard work is behind you, and a long descent to Cassiglio lies ahead.

Baciamorti Pass - Cassiglio

The descent from Passo Baciamorti is probably the perfect conclusion to a ride like this.

It’s a very beautiful, smooth trail that’s never overly technical, allowing you to ride continuously even after several hours in the saddle.

The difficulty remains generally moderate, alternating between fast sections and a few slightly more technical passages.

However, you should be careful on three short exposed sections.

These are isolated spots and do not reflect the overall character of the descent, but they still require caution. If in doubt, simply get off your bike and walk through them.

Otherwise, the trail is very enjoyable and allows you to quickly lose elevation toward Cassiglio.

You’ll eventually reach Lake Cassiglio, where on warmer days you can even treat yourself to a well-deserved swim before the final few meters back to the starting point.

In summary

This is above all an “Epic” endurance ride, more challenging due to the overall distance than to extreme mountain biking difficulty.

Approximately 2,400 m of elevation gain, two major climbs, and two completely different descents.

The first climb leads from Cassiglio to Piani di Bobbio via Valtorta. From Bobbio, you then tackle the descent from Pesciola toward Moggio, with a technical S3 section at the start that gradually becomes easier until the long final S1 section.

From Moggio, you essentially have to start over, tackling the long but generally rideable climb toward Piani di Artavaggio.

Once past the mountain huts, the gradients increase, and you enter the most scenic part of the route, passing beneath the Sodadura pyramid and continuing toward Passo Baciamorti.

From here comes the day’s great reward: a long and beautiful descent toward Cassiglio, never overly technical but still fun, with only three short exposed sections where you’ll need to pay closer attention.

It is, therefore, a ride that demands, above all, strong legs.

On a standard MTB, the approximately 2,400 meters of elevation gain require excellent fitness.

On an e-MTB, the route becomes more accessible, but you still need to manage your battery life carefully: 600–700 Wh may be sufficient with strong legs and smart use of the assist, while heavy reliance on higher assist levels can drain the battery too quickly.

A long, physically demanding, and challenging ride, but one that offers the satisfaction of passing through Bobbio, Moggio, Artavaggio, Sodadura, and Baciamorti in a single day, finally returning to the starting point on the shores of Lake Cassiglio.

Technical Details

Trail Style: AM / Epic

Elevation gain: approximately 2,400 m D+

MTB: Yes—excellent physical conditioning required

E-MTB: Yes – approximately 600–700 Wh with good management of pedal assist

Portage: Limited

Ascent difficulty: Challenging, especially due to the length and total elevation gain

First descent: Pesciola–Moggio, initially S3 and gradually easing to S1

Second descent: Baciamorti–Cassiglio, fast-flowing and never overly technical

Exposure: Three short sections on the descent from Baciamorti

Physical Demand: Very high

Highlight: A great traverse featuring two climbs and two very different descents