Passo della Gaiarda

The Passo della Gaiarda in the Brenta Dolomites offers a scenically breathtaking tour with a good proportion of flowing trails.

Description

The tour starts in the village of Sporminore, just above Mezzolombardo. From here, the route initially rides along side roads, small trail sections and meadow paths. There is no extensive warm-up phase, as you are immediately in the middle of the mountain bike action. At an altitude of around 600 meters above sea level, you reach the Torrente Sporeggio and follow the gravel road uphill along the river. Typical for Italian conditions: moderate to steep climbs, made even more challenging by concrete ramps. You fight your way up meter by meter until the path becomes increasingly impassable and finally turns into a mule track. This is so steep that only a few bikers can ride sections of it. The rest have to push their bikes until they reach Malga Cavedago.

From Malga Cavedago, the route first descends a few meters before reaching Malga Spora. Here you will find the last section of pushing before you reach the Passo della Gaiarda, which is framed by the impressive mountain massifs of the Brenta Dolomites. A fantastic crossing in the heart of this mountain range.

The descent is not too technically difficult. It runs between difficulty levels S1 and S2 and offers a unique experience with the flair of the Dolomites. The Mulattiera trail leads downhill, with the section above Malga Flavona becoming a little more challenging and offering upper S2 passages in places. The route then continues smoothly to Malga Pozzol. From here, you follow a cart path that takes you around 300 meters in altitude down to Lago di Tovel.

Lago di Tovel is a breathtaking mountain lake embedded in rugged rock formations, which is particularly impressive in autumn with its spectacular colors. The lake can be circumnavigated either to the east or north, after which you will come to an easy trail. This has a difficulty level of S1, occasionally S2, and leads seemingly endlessly down to the Galleria di Terres. Between the lake and the Galleria di Terres, however, you should pay attention to the mountain bike regulations in the Trentino region, as some hiking trails and sections of trail are repeatedly closed or opened to mountain bikers.

The Galleria di Terres is a highlight in itself. This almost 2.5-kilometre-long cycle and walking path runs through the mountain ridge. It is partially illuminated, but it is advisable to bring your own light as some sections are difficult to see. Once back in daylight, the trail leads back to the starting point via a combination of forest and meadow paths, where the tour concludes.

Note for e-bikes: The section up to Malga Spora is particularly attractive for e-bikers, as the uphill can be ridden almost all the way. After that, however, the push assistance must be used. It is recommended to undertake the tour outside of weekends and the main tourist season, as otherwise a high number of hikers can be expected at Lago di Tovel.

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