Monte Zouf – Lago di Verzegnis

Monte Zouf - Lago Verzegnis

The loop trail around Lake Verzegnis and the little-known Monte Zouf offers some scenic highlights and a varied, smooth downhill trail.

Description

The ride starts in Tolmezzo. From there, the route initially winds through the industrial park, crossing the Ponte Avons and the Tagliamento River toward Lake Verzegnis. Even while on the bridge, you’ll pass several World War II military installations that were part of the “Vallo Alpino” defense line. After the uphill section toward Chiaulis, you’ll wind your way along a narrow, partially exposed trail around Lago di Verzegnis—a section that requires a complete lack of fear of heights. Alternatively, you can take the paved road and eventually cross the narrow bridge over Lago di Verzegnis, where you’ll find the famous photo spot with a view of Monte Amariana.

The route then continues with a relatively steep climb toward the Chiesetta della Beata Maria Vergine della Salute, where you switch to a gravel path for the uphill section and push your bike the last few meters to the summit of Monte Zouf. Monte Zouf itself is entirely covered in deciduous forest, so good panoramic views are only available during periods of sparse vegetation.

The downhill section then begins again in the uphill section at difficulty levels S1 and S2 and can be ridden relatively smoothly. Back at the chapel, you then cross the northern section of Monte Verzegnis via cart tracks, main roads, and access roads, eventually reaching the so-called Bob Trail. This trail is very smooth at first but becomes somewhat more challenging later on, riding directly down to the Tagliamento River, where fortifications of the “Vallo Alpino” come into view once again. The route continues toward Villa Santina over the narrow bridge of the “Vallo Alpino” and finally back to the starting point in Tolmezzo via the bike path.

In summary, this is a varied loop tour offering countless sights, which is particularly charming in the spring from February to April and in the fall, as the sparse vegetation allows for magnificent panoramic views.

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