Route 66 (Lugano Bike)
Description
The route starts in Monte Brè high above Lugano. The funicular takes you here, but only transports bikes from the middle station. You now follow the signposted mountain bike route with the number 66, which is where the name "Route 66" comes from. At Alpe Bolla, take the single trail to Villa Luganese as an alternative to the official route and from there climb up to Pedrolzo on a small road. The official route makes a less sensible and strenuous detour over Monte Roveraccio. You reach San Lucio on a gravel road and later on a single trail. The pass is the starting point of the legendary trail over towards Capanna Monte Bar. A detour to the hut is worthwhile, even if the actual route branches off to the left shortly before and rides on a super trail through the southern flanks of Monte Bar. Via the Motto della Croce you reach Cola di Lago and via another trail the village of Camignolo near Rivera on Monte Ceneri. Here you take the gondola lift up to Monte Tamaro, where it makes little sense to climb under your own steam. The legendary Monte Tamaro descent continues in singletrail mode to the Las Bassa crossing, where you leave the official route on the left and instead descend on a trail on the right to Arosio. Arosio is the start of the last section of Route 66, the one through the Malcantone. The official route here rides up and down through the woods. In the ride version, the route is considerably shortened here, but in Miglieglia you take the mountain railroad up to Monte Lema. This is criminally omitted in the official version. You later reach Astano on a trail descent and ride down to the banks of the Tresa River via Sessa. Here, too, the official route makes several less attractive additional loops, while the ride version is more compact and attractive. The brilliant final section remains the same: the riverside trail to Ponte Tresa is a worthy conclusion to this wonderful tour of Lugano.
Tips for the stage: there are several overnight accommodation options along the route, so the daily stages can be defined quite freely. A common version is to spend the first night in the Monte Bar hut and the second in Malcantone, for example in Miglieglia at the foot of Monte Lema.
Map & GPX-Track
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Details of the tour
90 km
2860 m
5320 m
258 above sea level
1891 above sea level
3 days
Lugano
Ponte Tresa TI
1838
well suited
More information
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User comments (5)
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I rode the first part from Lugano train station to Alpe Zalto (then down to Bellinzona via Isone and Cima di Dentro) as part of a day tour. The section from Bré to San Lucio is repeatedly interspersed with very steep (<30°) and sometimes technically demanding ramps, which cost a lot of energy/time. You are often in the forest, so at least you save a few beads of sweat ;-) From Bocchetta di San Bernardo, the effort is rewarded with a wonderful flow trail and views of Lake Como. The Capanna San Lucio is certainly not a culinary highlight, but OK if you arrive famished. From San Lucio you have a wonderful view of the Val Colla. However, the traverse to Alpe Pietrarossa is a constant up and down in the middle section. This adds up to quite a few meters in altitude. The bike also has to be pushed or carried briefly over ramps or streams/valley cuts. Afterwards, you can enjoy the flow/trail fun to the full again.
I found the descent from Monte Lema super boring. It was all on a gravel path, and I was expecting singletrails. I recommend an alternative route.
In perfect weather, we rode more or less the original Switzerland Mobil route with the following stages: Rivera-Mugena/Mugena-Agno/Agno-Pairolo/Pairolo-Rivera. We didn't use the railroads, so we had nice daily stages without stress and arrived at our destination in the late afternoon. We really enjoyed the tour. However, inexperienced gravel riders may find it difficult. Many of the climbs and descents contain a lot of rough gravel and can be challenging. After the Monte Bar hut, the original route includes a longer section on tar. This could probably be replaced with other trails. However, the Singe Trail down to Rivera is great again. A fantastic tour for people who don't just want to ride forest roads.
As described, a very varied super tour. As in the original Switzerland Mobile route, we recommend spending the first night in the Capanna Pairolo, where the atmosphere is very cozy and authentic/simple. You can then tackle the most beautiful part of the whole tour from the Capanna Pairolo to the Monte Bar hut well rested the next morning. The Monte Bar hut is perhaps a little too far away for the first overnight stay, around 2000 m in addition to the journey to Ticino. And it seems to be rather well frequented. On the Saturday we rode past, it was teeming with people, mostly older local men on their e-bikes. We also spent the second night at Il Castagno in Mugena, a very nice and comfortable hotel with a great restaurant. The last stage after Monte Lema is almost a bit bland to ride, but still very beautiful and varied. For the final day it was actually ok.
What a great tour. Don't underestimate day 1 to the Monte Bar hut. The part from kilometer 23 to the Monte Bar hut is very long, even if the panorama here is fantastic. Although you are at altitude, there are many small ascents and descents to the hut. The total travel time (including breaks) can easily take 8 hours. Il Castagno in Mugena is a good choice for the second overnight stay. The post office is in the same building, so it's easy to have spare laundry sent there. From Mugena back to Lugano on the third day, it's not too far and it's enough time for a leisurely afternoon on Lake Lugano.