Update April 14, 2026: I went hiking on Gardada/Cimetta today. The trail (starting from Cimetta, as described here) is closed until further notice. According to the signs on site, this is due to maintenance work; no end date for the closure has been announced yet.

I rode both variants the last two days (ascent by train from Orsellina to Cardada). Signposted variant very flowy with berms, hardly technical). I liked the ride variant much better with a good level of technical challenges, mostly easy to ride, more interesting scenery and a bit sunnier.

Rode trail today in top condition.

We rode the tour a few weeks ago. We rode from Locarno to Orselina (approx. 200m). From there we took the gondola to Cardada. Up to Lo Stallone it's about 300 meters uphill, but it's easy to ride.
Then it's off to the start of the official Cardada Trail. At the first sharp bend, however, you ride straight ahead (blue sign: end of the path for cyclists, not prohibited!) on a great trail towards Monti dei Lego. Partly flowy, smaller S2 sections and steps. A super natural trail with tricky passages... and there were no hikers here either. From Monti di Lego it gets a bit steeper and more blocked, but also easy to ride.... and there are also more hikers. The trail over to Orselina is also great, but not without its challenges. There are a few places where you have to take a deep breath afterwards....But it's best not to think about it and just let it go;).
Super short trail round (approx. 3 hours, approx. 20 km) before you get stuck in a traffic jam again at the Gotthard.

They have built a new trail that goes practically flat around the summit, so that you can save yourself the pushing passage (and 100 meters in altitude).

Shortly after the start of the descent, the new official bike route goes off to the right and straight ahead (where the track goes) is a bike ban. However, the new variant is very fun: First rocky/slightly blocked but fun to ride fast, then flow trail in between, then playful curves. As soon as you reach the road at the bottom, you are back on the old track (take the short concrete path to the right and don't ride the road and finish the tour like this).

Rode the tour on 04.04.2023. We made the ascent by cable car a little more pleasant. A bit muddy at the top, dry further down. At point 1258 we rode straight on to the Grotto Monti di Lego. Then back to the trail in the direction of Resa di dentro. North of Eco, virtually at the end of the trail, there is actually a ban on bikes. In my opinion, however, there is no sign coming from the east...

https://www.komoot.de/tour/1068451710/zoom

I did the tour on 23.03. The conditions are very good, i.e. mostly dry, easy to ride thanks to a well-maintained path and no "pools of leaves"). The bike can also be taken right to the top by cable car.
The descent starts on the newly built bike trail (CH-Mobil-Route 397). You get the feeling that a flow trail descent is about to follow. But after a short while, the paths diverge again. This is a wonderful single trail with great views.

Great tour for the beginning of the year, I rode it from Locarno. 12.03.2023 Everything dry. Super view on the ascent and Alp Cardada, you forget the 1400hm from the ascent. The official trail 397 is easy to master. E-MTB and rather easy to medium difficulty. Further down just follow the 74. Next time I'll definitely do the whole Ride Trail Tour.

Rode the tour on 13.03.23 from Resa di Fuori (where the Schweizmobil-Bikeroute 397 meets the trail described). From Resa di Fiori, the trail is practically dry throughout and easy to ride. At point 550 west of Orselina (Eco), the GPS first follows the left-hand trail and then "jumps" to the right-hand (upper) trail. So keep right at point 550, then everything works perfectly.

Tour ridden at Easter 2022. Very nice tour despite a fall (-; Forestry work is underway again, but I rode through anyway and chatted with the forestry workers.

Trail in great condition, all very rideable. Upper part stony, lower part loose scree, partly very dusty.

Very beautiful tour. The descent is only recommended for technically experienced bikers. You can save yourself the last climb up the forest track. I stayed on the signposted bike path, which rides along the contour lines to Alpe Cardada.

I rode the tail today. It doesn't have a "bikeverbottafel" but a blue end bike path sign. Great trail, thank you.

On my short trip to Locarno, I wanted to take the train up with my bike to ride the trail "quickly" so that I wouldn't be too late through the Gotthard. Nope, the train doesn't transport bikes at the moment! So I had to ride up myself! But luckily there are carbon enduro bikes and good gear ratios these days ;-)

I was pleased that the difficult trail was so easy after all :-).
I have to agree with the previous comment, the signposted Cardada trail from Schweizmobil doesn't match this description at all on the descent.
We weren't at the start until 18:00, so there were no children in the way and no hikers either. Fun and flowy, but certainly boring for good bikers.

The trail described above is not the Cardadatrail. It branches off at the top onto a hiking trail that is forbidden for bikes. If you ride it, you're sure to have more fun than on the original Cardada trail. If you like the Original Cardada to mutate into a family event, then this is the place for you. Children with normal mountain bikes ride down the Cardada here. But then it's no longer worth going there. I'm annoyed that I took the original after all.

Shortly before Easter 2021 (end of March) from 1100m snow again and again, the last 150m even continuously. Also on the descent up to 1400m. But hardly any hikers.

We did the tour today. Doable even after a day of rain without sliding. Level 4/6 is also suitable. Ascent on tar, 1400m, good view of the mountains/lake. The ban on bikes has to be overlooked, then partly crisp and varied wall path, passages with stairs etc.. At the end, a high-level trail above Locarno, a little up and down. The end past the church via the steps and where many tourists walk should perhaps be left out:-).

The ascent is no problem. All on tar. However, it is impressive with 1400m in one go. The trail is then simply awesome. However, you have to turn a blind eye to the ban on biking. If you think you're done in Rasa, you're in for a pleasant surprise. Then it really gets down to business again. We therefore recommend a short stop at the Grotto. Great location.

I rode the tour on 13.4.19. Forestry work is underway on the descent until May (watch out for ropes). Bypass is indicated. We were able to do the descent at the weekend. Cool, long downhill! Highly recommended!

Ascent until shortly before Alp Cadara congruent with http://www.mountainbikeland.ch/de/lokale-routen/route-0397.html
Super tour: easy to ride the ascent, but challenging in terms of fitness. Descent with beautiful views and technically difficult passages, all of which can be mastered, even if I descended from time to time.

Great tour - I can only recommend it! A stop at Alp Cardada should be included in your plans.

There is a no biking sign at the turn-off from the bike trail, but more bikers ride this trail than hikers. Before you hit the road for the first time, the hiking trail has been simplified and turned into a stepped path at steep points. Nevertheless, it is a super beautiful tour.