Pag Chr Prova

Mountain Bike THE RING OF CAPRAUNA 1 We are in the easternmost corner of the Province of Cuneo near the Ligurian Ri- ALTA VALLE viera. The departure of this itinerary is in TANARO Poggio, a village in the administration MountainMountain area of Caprauna. Go up the Provincial LENGTH Road towards the Caprauna Pass as far km 25 as the off-road track that leads to San ALTITUDE Bartolomeo. The off-road section then DIFFERENCE BikeBike meets the path that on the right goes m 660 down in the direction of the Chapel of DURATION Madonna Guarnieri. h 3.30 Go past Case Porcile, near Case dei Fan a steep tarmac section leads to a DIFFICULTY pass, the highest point of the itinerary Demanding (1465 m). From here go down to the San ADVISABLE TIME Bartolomeo Pass characterised by the From May to October ruins of an ancient chapel. From here turn right and proceed along the off-road track under Mount Dubasso and Aspe- riosa Rock, that goes down as far as the junction with the off-road track that climbs from the Shrine of Madonna del Lago. At this point turn right and go down to the Shrine. The last section is a tarmac downhill slope towards the Provincial Road to Albenga. At the end turn right and climb back to the village of Ca- prauna. M.Armetta M.Pesauto C.LE S. BARTOLOMEO M.Dubasso 1739 m. 1543 m. 1538 m. C.PORCILE C. DEI FAN M.della Guardia MADONNA GUARNERI R.Asperiosa 1654 m. 1142 m. MADONNA DEL LAGO P R.delle Penne ALTO CAPRAUNA M.Bello 1501 m. 1316 m. 44 45 Mountain Bike Mountain Bike THE BALCONY FROM CEVA 2 OF ORMEA TO BATTIFOLLO 3 A picturesque name, in Italian “La balcona- This itinerary along the Mongia valley ALTA VALLE ta di Ormea”, for this trail restored by the starts from Ceva going along State Road VALLE TANARO local CAI (Italian Alpine Club), on the left side 28. After taking the climb towards Viola MONGIA of the Tanaro river.The direction from the cen- and Lisio, turn off the main road after LENGTH tre of the village is towards Armella valley (do 350 m and take the Provincial Road to LENGTH km 25 not take the road to Villaro on the right). The Battifollo. km 25 ALTITUDE first villages that you will encounter are Pro- About 700 m further, leave the main road ALTITUDE DIFFERENCE nai inferiore (865 m) and Superiore (910 and head for Mazzarelli. Beyond the lit- DIFFERENCE m 914 m). After another 4.6 km, at an altitude of tle village, follow the off-road track to m 500 1020 m, turn off the tarmac road and go your left. After another 300 metres, tack- DURATION DURATION down to the left crossing a wooden bridge. le the climb known by local bikers as the h 4.00 h 3.00 On the left head for Colla Chionea (1230 “gran prix of the mountain” because it DIFFICULTY m, 6.9 km). Back on the tarmac road, turn left arrives at an altitude of 675 metres. DIFFICULTY Demanding downhill, then right at the church. Along the Proceed through a chestnut wood as far Medium ADVISABLE TIME off-road track you will arrive in Borgata as the road that leads to Nucetto. Turn ADVISABLE TIME From March to November Porcirette (1110 m, 9 km), where the road right at the first junction and again at the From May to October splits in two around a house. Take the lower second. road, then the steep cycling climb, as far as After 10 km from the departure in Ceva, the cemetery of Chioraia (1510 m), a village you come out of the wood and join the typical for its masonry houses. Take the off- tarmac road connecting Ceva to Battifol- road track on your right, cross the Rava Gros- lo, where there is a big roadside statue sa stream, then climb up towards the little vil- named “Pilun Gros”. lage of Aimoni (1270 m, 12.4 km) and then Turn left and you will arrive in Battifollo to “La Coma” depression (1510 m). The at an altitude of 850 m. downhill biker can race down through beech- Leaving the village, near the cemetery, es and larches that stretch southward. you can see the ruins of a castle with its Crossing the bridge over the Nava you will square tower. come back to Ormea along State Road 28 The return is along the same route fol- under the beautiful Lanciata Rock. lowing the road to Ceva. CEVA PORCIRETTE SOPRANE P PORCIRETTE SOTTANE CHIONEA C. RIAN CHIORAIRA B.Carnevale C. MAZZARELLI 704 m. C. COLLETTA P ORMEA B.Cisello S. G. BATTISTA 812 m. B.Bastia P.Brignacchi AIMONI P.La Colma 940 m. NUCETTO 1557 m. BATTIFOLLO C. BRIGNACCHI 1570 m. PIANO QUARZINA B.Camilot 956 m. 46 47 Mountain Bike Mountain Bike FROM GARESSIO FROM CEVA TO 4 TO MOUNT BERLINO THE COLLA DI 5 A demanding itinerary, a real test of your PRATO ROTONDO VALLE climbing skills. From Garessio take the VALLE TANARO Provincial Road to Colla di Casotto as far Between the Tanaro valley and the Mongia MONGIA as the junction for Mindino. Cycling gets valley, you arrive at the Prato Rotondo Pass LENGTH hard due to the uneven ground; the gradi- (1503 m), a wide grassy depression, starting LENGTH km 21 ent is impressive. The itinerary goes through from Piangranone, a village near Garessio. Go km 18 to Piangranone by car. ALTITUDE birches, poplars and chestnut-trees. From ALTITUDE DIFFERENCE the old mule-track turn right in the direction From Ceva follow the Nava Pass State Road DIFFERENCE m 1200 of Colla di Casotto. The itinerary joins the 28. Go past the village of Priola, and you will m 800 Provincial Road that leads to Colla (km 5) easily arrive at the junction for Piangranone. DIFFICULTY DIFFICULTY but you have to leave it immediately and Departure on a tarmac road in the direction of Very demanding Easy turn left onto the off-road track to Case di Deversi, where you can fill your water-bottles ADVISABLE TIME Capello (1205 m). You may have to get off at the fountain of the panoramic village. Take ADVISABLE TIME From May to October your bike along this uneven road. After a the off-road track on the right of the village. From May to October cross-roads with a tarmac road you will At the junction near a restored house take the arrive in Colla di Casotto (1381 m, 8km). right trail going up a steep bend. After pass- Take the trail on the left and try to recover ing some abandoned houses, you will arrive at some energy along the mountain side of Val another junction whose two tracks will come Casotto. At the junction, turn left. Steep together later on (the one on the left is more climbs lead to a depression from where you direct but more difficult and on rough ground; can see the Savona shelter, Bric Min- the one on the right is easier). Proceed on the dino mountain and Garessio 2000.The off-road track and after some bends and peak to climb is Mount Berlino (1789 m, uphill stretches, you will arrive at the grassy km 13) from where you go down to the depression of the Prato Rotondo Pass. Rifugio Savona (CAI - Italian Alpine Club). To go back you can either return in the oppo- There are two possibilities to reach Valdin- site way or complete the itinerary along the ferno and then Garessio: Case Mulattieri off-road track that goes leftwards from the or Salvietto shelter (more demanding pass cutting through the eastern slopes of due to the narrow winding roads). Bric Mindino. C.LLA DI CASOTTO C.LLE DI PRATO ROTONDO 1503 m. 1381 m. GARESSIO 584 m. PIANGRANONE M. BERLINO DEVERSI 692 m. 1789 m. C. MULATTIERI VALDINFERNO 1418 m. GARESSIO 48 49 Mountain Bike Mountain Bike FROM THE FROM VALCASOTTO 6 COLLA CASOTTO TO SURIE 7 TO BRIC MINDINO This is an itinerary in the Casotto valley VALLE along the tracks of the most ancient tradi- VALLE TANARO MOUNTAIN tions of the Monregalesi valleys, like the CASOTTO Carthusians’. From the Provincial Road of LENGTH Arriving at Mount Mindino along this the Colla di Casotto Pass, at the end of LENGTH km 11 itinerary in theTanaro valley is a unique Valcasotto, take a road on your right that km 9 experience, especially because of the vast ALTITUDE leads to San Rocco’s Chapel. In front of the ALTITUDE extents of rhododendrons that when in DIFFERENCE chapel the road on the right heads for the DIFFERENCE m 500 full bloom offer an uncomparable view. old connecting road of the Colla di Ca- m 280 The start of this itinerary is from the Col- sotto Pass and runs along the river of the DURATION DURATION la di Casotto Pass where you arrive same name. Proceed as far as the “Casa h 2.00 h 1.30 along the valley of the same name that Bassa” of the convent 10 min. away from DIFFICULTY crosses Pamparato. From the pass take Casotto Castle, an ancient Carthusian DIFFICULTY Easy the off-road track that heads for the sides Monastery. From here, cross the Provincial Easy ADVISABLE TIME of Mount Mindino, then leave the open Road, turn left and go down as far as the ADVISABLE TIME From May to October area of the pass and go through a wood first bend.

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