Col des Seigneurs (Alta Via del Sale) | Ride MTB

Col des Seigneurs (Alta Via del Sale)

Alta Via del Sale

Very strenuous and long loop with gigantic views of the spectacular mountain world of the Alpes Maritimes. After a very long ascent, a varied, almost twenty-kilometre-long descent awaits, which is not for the faint-hearted.


Description

Start the tour in Tende and ride up the main road to the Col de Tende. Here you have the option of taking a bike shuttle to complete the ascent. Now continue along military roads (Alta Via del Sale) into the ski area of Limone Piemonte, where you are always over 2000 meters above sea level. Up and down, the twenty kilometers seem very entertaining, because you are amazed by the gigantic mountain world. At the end, you reach the Col des Seigneurs (Colle del Lago dei Signori). Just below is the Rifugio Barbera, where you can spend the night or at least stop for a bite to eat before the trail adventure begins.

For the descent, take the almost unrecognizable hiking trail towards Refrei, Castel Tournou. The small path is interspersed with many rocks and requires attention. The lonely mountain world is beautiful. Past a mountain pasture, keep to the right and climb a little, the trail becomes a little more flowy, but there are also some steep, blocked steps. Above the Refrei stream, the route then goes quite quickly until you turn into a spectacular, steep and rocky trail below Castel Tournou. The scenery and riding technique here are truly spectacular. Very demanding - especially after the long day - the route leads over countless loose slate slabs and hairpin bends, directly to Granges de la Pia and from here back to Tende on gravel and tarred roads. The difficulty level of the trails is S3 to S4.

Tip: If you want to shorten the ascent in the summer months, take the train to Limone Piemonte and take the Bottero cable car up to Via del Sale.

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Map & GPX-Track

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48 km

1730 m

1730 m

814 above sea level

2238 above sea level

1 day

La Brigue

La Brigue

2663

well suited

Günter Scholz
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Bikeschools

No bike schools are registered for this region. Registration as a partner takes place here.

Bikeshops

No bike shops are registered for this region. Registration as a partner takes place here.

Bikehotels

No bike hotels are registered for this region. You can register as a partner here.

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The old road to Col de Tende is currently (August 2026) closed due to construction in the south. Alternatively, take Tour #2665 or push your bike for 30 minutes to Asila Arnaldi at WW362 (about 1 kilometer before the construction site), then turn right at the first intersection and head west uphill (follow the “Riviera Bike” signs).

The tour is not feasible. The military road from the tunnel portal is closed or barricaded. Alternative see last section "Tip to shorten the tour".

Note: This content has been automatically translated from German. Please report any incorrect translations.