SEASON From April to October

Round tripe on tarmac roads with low traffic and unmade roads, enjoyable and scenic. At Arvenolo the route passes by the so-called Muro del Diavolo (Devil’s Wall), a dry wall megalithic structure made of dry rough-hewn blocks of rock of impressive dimensions, probably used for religious purposes.

The route starts from the car park at the Trattoria Campagna in Verampio (525 m). Following the signs for Orridi di Uriezzo (Uriezzo Ravine), take the unmade road that first fords the River Devero and then gradually climbs. First you come to Ponte di Maiesso (Maiesso Bridge) with the beautiful giants’ potholes dug out of the white rock and then continue along the track (do not cross over the bridge) until you reach the mouth of the Orrido Sud (South Ravine), a deep gorge in rock equipped with metal ladders for visitors. After the visit to the ravine the route continues along the track up to the Oratorio di Santa Lucia (Oratory of Saint Lucy) where the road once again becomes tarmac. Follow the road up to Balmafredda with an impressive gorge excavated in the rock and equipped as a site for rock climbing. At the fork turn right to Crego and continue along the road until you reach this beautiful outlying village with its beautiful oratory. From Crego continue along the asphalt track that climbs with some steep stretches to Arvenolo and then descends (caution! Some hairpin bends are very steep) to the bridge over the Rio Antolina and then to Maglioggio. From the village you can follow the paved road or take the hairpin turns along the beautiful paved mule track that leads to the bottom of the valley. When you reach the flat turn right and follow the pleasant road on the flatland that passes through beautiful meadows and arrives at the old ENEL power station of Verampio where it crosses the River Toce on the bridge and returns to Trattoria della Campagna.

AUTHOR Alessandro Pirocchi

SEASON From May to October

You start from Baceno and climb to Croveo along the provincial road. Behind the parish church of Croveo you take a mule track which leads to the bridge of the potholes of Croveo, spectacular forms of erosion where there is an observation point. At the end of the bridge you turn right for Osso and from here you continue on the provincial road until shortly before Goglio where, at a cement arch bridge, part of the farm road passable only by farmers and which climbs to Esigo, then Ca’t Fausc holiday farm and finally reaches Pontigei and Agaru. From here you leave the farm track that climbs to Val Bondolero and set off for Cravegna taking the so-called Via di Scuetar (Road of the Squirrels) a track halfway up the slope which is normally wide but some stretches, especially in the ravines, are narrower and little cycling can be done. The last stretch of mule track is a beautiful Via Crucis (Way of the Cross) with steps and finally you come to Cravegna. From the village you follow the road that goes down toward the bottom of the valley to the hairpin bend after the Selva oratory where you take mule track that arrives at the top part of Crino. A flat unmade track starts here and leads almost to Graglia. When you arrive at the tarmac road follow it for three hairpin bends and in the last stretch you go down a steep mule track to the sports field in Baceno and then to the central square of the town.

Hotel Edelweiss
Viceno, 7 – 28862 Crodo (VB)
Tel. +39 0324618791
www.albergoedelweiss.com

AUTHOR Alessandro Pirocchi

SEASON From May to October

A beautiful round trip in Valle Antigorio on tarmac roads with low traffic and unmade farm tracks at the foot of Mount Cistella through pastures, well kept rural buildings and beautiful scenery.
From the centre of Crodo take the road to Mozzio and Viceno which climb gradually through hairpin bends. From Viceno turn in the direction of Cravegna and immediately after the River Alfenza take the farm track for Deccia that continues to the Alpe. From Deccia you come back following the track and then take the turn off to Voma which is more or less flat. From Voma take a path between walls that leads to the vallone dell’Alfenza and ford the river (almost always dry). Immediately after the ford there is the beginning of a path that leads to Foppiano and from here, following the tarmac road, you return to Viceno. Continue to the church of Cravegna and take the road to Navasco. From here you take the wide mule track (path G11) which, after a couple of hairpin bends, leads to the bridge on the River Alfenza. Then you continue on a path, first unmade then tarmac, which brings you back to cross the Crodo – Mozzio road and soon after back to the starting point.

BIKE RENTAL

Albergo Edelweiss
Frazione Viceno, 7 – 28862 Crodo (VB)
tel.0324618791
www.albergoedelweiss.com

AUTHOR Alessandro Pirocchi

Loop trail among the hamlets of Macugnaga, at the foot of the spectacular East Face of Monte Rosa, with ascent to Alpe Burki and the enchanting Lago delle Fate (Fairy Lake) in Val Quarazza.

From the former steel capital of the Lower Ossola (Villadossola) to the lakes of Antrona, Campliccioli, and Alpe dei Cavalli (Cheggio), among the most beautiful pre-Alpine artificial lakes at the foot of the Andolla and Weissmies.

It is one of the most beautiful tours the area has to offer.
From Cima Spalavera peak at the foot of Monte Zeda, “war trails of Line Cadorna” turned into “peace trails” on Lake Maggiore’s western side between the Oggebbio and Aurano municipalities.

The year was 1992, when the 75th Giro d’Italia, which counted champions such as Indurain, Chioccioli, Chiappucci, and Fignon, brought to the fore one of the climbs hitherto unknown to most: the Alpe Segletta, a climb of 8 km and 500 meters with an average gradient of 9%.

It is one of the most coveted climbs for hikers because of its roughness and the striking environment in which it is pedaled.

Particularly scenic loop tours on paved and dirt consortium trails. Overall, the route is not
challenging, but it has an elevation gain that has begun to become significant. Beginner cyclists
can also tackle a pedal-assisted mountain bike.

In the lower part, you can make a loop tour: each hamlet reveals admirable examples of stone architecture, frescoes, churches, oratories, and artifacts of peasant culture (wine presses, washing ovens, water wells).
The second part of the route leads to the discovery of the sunken and uninhabited Isorno Valley, which retains the charm of a wild and inaccessible territory.
To access it, take the only consortium access road that reaches the Agarina huts.
With gravel or mtb bikes, you can continue for about 3.5 kilometers more to the Merlata pond.

Cannobio‘s “bike way,” along with other measures designed and implemented with a bikefriendly perspective, has enabled the town of Verbania to receive the coveted “yellow flag” as a bike-friendly municipality from FIAB (Italian Federation for Environment and Bicycle).
In doing so, the last Italian town close to Canton Ticino, dear to San Carlo Borromeo, intended to offer its many guests a bicycle route to learn more about its territory.
Inspired by European directives encouraging routes along waterways, Cannobio has developed its bicycle path between Lake Maggiore and the Cannobino Stream, offering users numerous insights into history, culture, and the environment.