Croce di San Giuseppe

Croce di San Giuseppe (Oulx)

The Susa Valley around Oulx is known for its alpine high-altitude trails and technically challenging bike adventures. Although the tour to the Croce di San Giuseppe does not break the region's altitude records, it offers a scenic tour with a flowing descent and varied trail character.

Description

Start in the center of Oulx. The route winds its way steadily uphill on gravel roads at a pleasant gradient through sparse larch forest. Via the small, picturesque village of Pierremenaud, the route continues towards the edge of the slope below the Croce di San Giuseppe. The view over the wide Susa Valley opens up here - a first taste of the panorama that awaits later at the summit.

After the panoramic crossing, the last section of the uphill begins on a narrow singletrail. With an e-MTB, the entire ascent is usually rideable, while organic bikers will have to push hard at the end. But the effort is worth it: once you reach the top of the Croce di San Giuseppe, you can enjoy an impressive panoramic view - over Oulx, the Susa Valley, as far as the striking Mont Chaberton and the nearby French border.

From the summit, the route initially descends gently: the upper section runs at S0 to S1 level and leads back to the slope crossing. This continues to offer great views and great riding fun - flowy, with few bumps and very good riding throughout.

At Colletto Pourachet, there is a passage over an easy ridge before the route leads through the larch forest to the small Madonna del Cotolivier chapel. From here, the descent becomes slightly more technical: at S1 to S2 level, with eroded sections in places, it's downhill - sometimes flowing, sometimes requiring more concentration. In the lower section, the trail becomes a little more challenging before you reach familiar paths above Oulx and roll back to the starting point.

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