Pigo-Trail

The Pigo Trail, which runs along the coast near Arenzano, is a technically challenging route that leaves little time to enjoy the view of the Mediterranean Sea.

Description

The tour starts right on the beach, or rather along the Ligurian coast near Arenzano at Cogoleto. From here, the paved road—with its typical Ligurian charm—winds steadily uphill along the undulating terrain toward Monte Grettini. The initial climb, or the lower section, is generally relatively easy. Once past the hamlets and into the wooded area, the climb becomes increasingly rugged and eventually leads steadily—and at times laboriously—upward along a forest or cart track. At an altitude of around 1,000 meters above sea level, a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean Sea opens up before you tackle a few more meters of elevation gain on your mountain bike until you reach the start of the Pigo Trail. The ridge itself is very flat but, due to its isolated location, offers impressive views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Ligurian mountain ridges.

The descent is varied and ranges in difficulty from S2 to S3, provided conditions are dry. In wet conditions, the trail can become significantly more challenging in some sections. Especially in the upper section, you’ll mostly be riding above the tree and shrub line. Theoretically, this offers a wide view of the Mediterranean, but you should always keep your focus on the trail. The terrain is typical of the region, dotted with rocks, and offers plenty of variety as the route passes through earthy, sandy, and gravelly sections alike. Eventually, you reach the urban area again, with the final meters of the trail becoming increasingly easier. A mix of paths then leads through undulating terrain over Colle Scorsi back to the starting point.

To view the detailed tour description, the topo map, the altitude profile and to download the GPX track, you need a user account on Ride-mtb.com with a subscription. Log in now or become a subscriber.