Rocca Fontanassa

This technically demanding loop trail around Rocca Fontanassa on the Ligurian coast near Arenzano is one of the most challenging trail combinations in the region. It offers sweeping views and a high proportion of trail sections.

Description

The tour starts in Cogoleto near Arenzano. From here, the route begins with a steady climb on asphalt before continuing along the Strada del Deserto di Varazze, steadily gaining elevation toward Passo del Muraglione. The ascent already offers remarkable panoramic views up to this point, which become even more spectacular at an altitude of just under 800 meters above sea level, where the road turns to gravel. In this section, the view opens up to the Mediterranean Sea and the Ligurian coast. In places, the trail in this area is rough and requires considerable effort to ride until you reach the Rifugio Pratorotondo. A stop here is recommended before turning onto the Panorama Trail and elegantly winding your way along the ridge.

You then push your bike to the highest point of the tour, Rocca Fontanassa. Especially in spring and late fall, when vegetation is sparse, impressive panoramic views open up here, whereas in summer, with dense foliage, they are somewhat limited. After that, the descent begins. With difficulty levels ranging from S2 to S3, you traverse the trail, which becomes somewhat easier from the Cima del Pozzo shelter and leads to Passo Crocetta. Past the Rifugio Argentea, the main part of the descent begins. While the trail is still relatively smooth in the upper section, the difficulty steadily increases, reaching S3 and S4 levels. Especially in the black pine forests, there are several challenging key sections to navigate, which should only be attempted in dry conditions. Precise line choice, clean braking technique, and active mountain bike control are absolutely essential here. In the lower section, you pass the Ponte di Negrone, a historic structure, and finally wind your way smoothly back toward the coast. Finally, you roll back to the starting point along the bike path.

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