Bedretto
Description
You follow the pass road for over 20 kilometers and around 1300 metres in altitude to the Nufenen Pass hospice. It is advisable to take the post bus for this stretch. From the top of the pass, follow the road downhill for a while until the road to the Griessee branches off in the first hairpin bend to the right. The little road climbs to just above the dam wall, after which the last few meters have to be mastered on a rideable singletrail to the Cornopass. This trail leads downhill to the futuristic SAC hut and from there to San Giacomo. The descent via Stabbiasco (including a counter-climb) to Alpe dei Valleggia is somewhat more challenging. There is another ascent to Folcra dei Mezzo. This is followed by a mix of wonderful trails and gravel roads until the first-class (initially somewhat overgrown) final descent to the valley floor begins at Grasso Fondo. Finally, you roll along a gravel path to the valley station of the cable car in Airolo and from there to the town center.
Alternatives: Various descents into Val Bedretto are possible to shorten the route
Note: Driving is prohibited on the road to the dam wall of Lake Gries due to falling rocks. However, as there are no sensible alternative routes to get to the Gries Pass, many mountain bikers and hikers ignore the ban. Riding this section is at your own risk.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
31 km
560 m
1874 m
1 day
Airolo
Airolo
1041
well suited
More information
More tours nearby
User comments (13)
About the author: Thomas Giger
Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.
Dangers on 14.7.24, despite absolutely justified prohibition and closure notices). At the Nufenen Pass up to the Griessee, 2 extremely tricky snowfields have to be crossed and then a wealth of other, less dangerous (but still tricky) snowfields await you. Below approx. 2200m mostly snow-free, before that a huge slog. Further on, the route is very flowy as always thanks to the ebike, including the respective uphill segments.
Important: wait at least another 2-4 weeks before tackling it, if you go now you need alpine experience and certainly a bit of luck.
I rode the tour (with a few changes) on 04.09.2022. Unfortunately, the trails between San Giacomo and Valeggia were built to death, and some of them were so bad that they were already washed out several meters deep in places. However, this also has an advantage, as the trails have since been rideable uphill without any problems. As I like this region and the trails and also like to eat up a few meters of altitude, I usually ride once a year as follows: Airolo-Pt. 1477 on the pass road; then via San Giacomo - Cap. Corno Gries - Cornopass to Griespass and down to Riale; then back up to Passo San Giacomo (see also Ride-Tour 1119). The route has short push sections uphill (to Griespass) and downhill (to Riale), but is very worthwhile in my opinion. From San Gaicomo, I then more or less follow the ride track back to Airolo. This way you get enough altitude and don't have to cross the rockfall area.
I ride a Scott Genius Ultimate and am usually in the head group uphill; downhill, I'm always the last one behind.
The additional Griespass loop down to the reservoir in Italy is a super cool, crisp, technical trail. Afterwards, a gravel climb takes you back to the official track at Passo San Gioaccomo.
Unfortunately, the ride tour was rather disappointing. Riding technique is 3 in places, but mostly 1 or 2. The trails are mostly flattened and many meters are destroyed on forest roads. Unfortunately, the descent down to Airolo is now more highway than trail, including safety nets and mats :S
Have you recorded the tour and could you provide me with the gpx file?
Nice tour, the short ramps on the trail after the SAC hut get annoying at some point.
At 2200m. The left trail is not so well visible, on the right part the trail was straightened with the excavator.... Up to about 1700hm. Is now more of an S0 e-bike highway
Just rode it yesterday, but with an additional loop Griesspass, Morresco, Pso. S. Giacomo, the brand new trail from Alpe Giacomo towards Airolo is really awesome, thanks to the creators!
where exactly did you ride from the nufenen pass over the closed road?
Rode the tour 3 times today. A bit of rockfall towards Griesspass (actually no driving) but it's fine. Newly created hiking trail from Passo San Giacomo. Super flow and soft in still soft earth. Everything rideable throughout. Always a super tour
According to the tourist information, this route is closed.
Could you provide me with the GPX data
Hello wer_mar!
Approximately how long does the descent from the top of the pass take?
Greetings Samuel
Hello
I was hiking there last week. It is possible to walk through, the road is a bit buried, but passable. It's just a question of what risk you want to take.
Best regards
Yves
Does anyone know if this is still the case?
Attention: detour on the Griespass due to falling rocks
The path from the Rossbode junction via Stocklamme/Mändeli is closed indefinitely due to rockfall and the risk of further collapses. The detour is extensive (see Map detour rockfall Griespass https://www.corno-gries.ch/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Umleitung-Steinsc…)!