BRENTA MOUNTAIN GROUP BIKE TOUR | TRENTINO ALTO ADIGE

This is a great ride that you can do by connecting sections of the Trentino-Alto Adige bike path together.  The Giro the Brenta (around the Brenta) takes you through thick forest and open valleys with mountains and vineyards forming a perfect picture on both sides.  This ride is for the cyclist that wants to just relax and take in the natural beauty of the Dolomite Mountains.  The route circumnavigates the western most section of the UNESCO world monument, cruising through the green Val di Sole and the more narrow Val Rendena on Days 1 and 2, then following the flat and scenic Strada del Vino through the vineyards on Day 3.

WHEN TO RIDE

June, July, August and September are good months to ride.  The Strada del Vino section on Day 3, due to its lover elevation, is also a nice ride in spring and autumn and can be combined with the Adige Valley Bike Path route to make a loop starting and ending in Bolzano.

MAPS

It is also best to buy an updated map upon arrival in Italy, (even in the departure region) Touring Club Italy map Trentino-Alto Adige is still my best suggestion, and visit the local tourist office for free and updated bicycle routes.  

GETTING TO/FROM THE RIDE

Mostizzolo, Trento (start)
Train - Mostizzolo train station is easiest to get to from Trento.  Several trains run daily from Tento up the Val di Sole, however the train line is run by a private organization Ferrovia Trento Malè-Marilleva, (phone: 046123850) to find the schedule, there is no active web site at this time. 

The Val del Sole Train station is 200 meters to the right of main Trento station.  During the winter schedule only 4 bicycles are allowed on various trains and you cannot pre-book seats.  During the summer schedule there is an attached bicycle car and you can book your ticket in advance.

Mostizzolo is the stop just after the town of Cles, there are no facilities at the station, the travel time is about 1 1/2 hours and cost 4 euro per person plus a 2 euro supplement for the bicycle.

ROUTE NOTES

You could cycle from Trento to Mostizzolo, but some sections are full of traffic at times.  If you want to ride just take the Adige Valley bike path out of Trento north to Mezzocorona (24 km), then follow the valley up the towards Cles and then Mostizzolo (34 km).  This will make your first day quite challenging.

Bolzano (finish) Bolzano is a main hub along the major transportation lines, you can get a train anywhere to your next destination, or bus up into the Dolomite's.

THE RIDE

Day 1: Mostizzolo to Pinzolo
3-6 hours, 48 km

The route consists of three segments: an initial easy stretch along the Val di Sole bike path, a challenging climb to Passo Camp Carlo Magno, and the descent down to Pinzolo.
As you leave the train station at Mostizzolo, the route takes you down to the beautiful gorge at Ponte Mostzzolo, where you will find the start of the Val di Sole bike path on the far side of the bridge, on your right.  You follow the first 15 kms of the path as you work your way up through forest, fields and apple orchards, following the Noce River catching sights of people rafting, and enjoying stunning views of the distant Alps to the west.

At Dimaro (15.9 km) the route turns south off the bike path and begins to the climb to Paso Campo Carlo Magno, named for Charlemagne, who crossed this pass in the late 1700's during his campaign against the Lombards.  There are a few places to in Dimaro to grab a snack or cafe before the climb, and be sure to drink some water and refill your bottles before taking on the climb.  The climb will start off steep but the grade gets easier, after the village of Folgarida, where you will get your first good views of the Dolomiti di Brenta, to your east. From the pass, it is just 2.3 km down to the trendy town of Madonna di Campiglio, it will feel a bit empty during the summer months but in winter it is the place to be for skiing. The route works it way through the town center and back streets to avoid a long tunnel, before it rejoins the main highway.  The descent is full of spectacular views of the Adamello mountain group, as you pass through the meadows that lead to Sant'Antonio di Mavignola.  At Sant'Antonio di Mavignola you will find the start of the Val Rendena Bike Path, from here is a quick descent along the headwaters of the Sarca  River to arrive in Pinzolo.

Day 2: Pinzolo to Molveno
3-6 hours, 50 km, 680 meters elevation gain

Today's route continues along the Val Rendena bike path as you linger in the lowlands of the valley before starting your gradual climb up to Molveno.  The first 11 km of the an easy ride along the bike path as it follows the Sarca River.  Sometimes the bike path will merge with a town street, but it is easy to follow. The path ends after 14 km,and the route continues downhill on SS39.  Just beyond Toine di Trento there is a short bike path (4 km) that leads east toward, the small town of Pez.  Here the route climbs out of the valley on a nice secondary road.  As the road levels out you will contour along the mountainside, crossing the Val d'Algone canyon, and passing the gorge and waterfall into Stenico (32.2 km). Stenico offers limited services, but the short side trip to the Castello di Stenico, sitting about the town, is a nice side trip.  The Castel was created in the 12th century by the prince-bishops of Trento to guard the important route between Trento and Lombardy.  Within the castle is an interesting fresco of the Virgin Mary tormented by a dragon, that was painted in the 13th century.   The final leg from Stenico to Molveno is through rolling hills and through a few limestone tunnels before you arrive at Lago di Molveno.  Circle the lake to arrive to the township of Molveno.

Day 3: Molveno to Bolzano
4.6 hours, 72.5 km
The spectacular landscapes you pass through today make this ride a sublime experience.  This section is longer but less challenging, than the previous day, with long stretches of flat and downhill riding. That being said, you do start off the ride today with a short climbing out of Molveno and up to the town of Andalo, from here it is a 13 km descent to the Noce River Valley.   There are some great photo opts just past Spormaggior, where switchbacks trace thier way through the landscape covered with apple orchards.   At 19.8 km, the route crosses SS43 to follow an abandoned road labelled SP29.  The road is overgrown with bushes and the paving is rough in places, but the guard rails are in place.  This traffic free shortcut drops down into the Adige Valley were you find yourself in wine country.   From Mezzocorona you will ride through some of Italy's most striking landscapes.  The secondary roads contour the base of the valley and pass though the many vineyards and apple orchards.  At 33 km you pass through the historical centre of Magre (Marreid), be sure and take a moment to visit the quaint streets of this village. After Magre you will ride to Lago di Caldaro, a national park area with lots of bird life, that attracts watcher throughout the world.  The next several km will climb through the vineyards until you reach the town of Caldaro (Kaltern), 54 km mark. Just after the town there are several enotche (wine bars) that offer tastings of the local wines.   From Caldaro, a nice bike path follows the old railway to reach Cornaiano (Girlan), from here it is a quick ride down into Bolzano.

TO ORGANIZE YOUR BIKE ADVENTURE CONTACT: McClure's Bike Italy

If Bike Touring in Italy near Bolzano be sure to take a ride down or up the Val Venosta Valley bike path.  The bike path follows the old Roman road, Via Claudia Augusta, and is about 65 kilometers long. There is a train service that will shuttle you and your bike up the valley to the small village of Malles Venosta.  If you are planning on riding the classic bike route from Bolzano to Passo Stelvio the bike path will take you up to the base of the climb from Prato Stelvio.

BIKE TOURING THE VAL VENOSTA FROM MALLES TO MERANO

BIKE PATH ITALY: Val Venosta Bike Path (or Radweg Vinschgau) Radweg Vinschgau
START POINT: Malles Venosta
FINISH POINT: Merano (330 m)
LENGTH: 65 km
TIME TO RIDE: 4 to 5 hours
ELEVATION GAIN: 120 meters of climbing, 1200 meters descending
TYPE OF SURFACE: asphalted cycling track, short sections on side roads, and two sections are not paved.
TRAIN AND BIKE: Train from Bolzano to Merano, Val Venosta has a regional train with limited bicycle space that stops in: Malles, Oris, Lasa, Silandro, Castelbello, Naturno, Merano.

BRINGING YOUR BICYCLE ON THE TRAIN

To carry your own bike on trains in South Tyrol you need an additional ticket. Please mind that regional trains are equipped for the transport of 15 to 18 bicycles.  If the on-board bike capacity is full, boarding of additional bicycles may not be allowed, you will need to wait for the next train.  

In the period May / end of October, in the train stations of Merano, Marlengo and Lagundo, boarding the Val Venosta train with bicycles is not allowed in the hours 8:00 - 13:00 and 15:00 - 17:30.

At Merano train station,  you can load your bike on a truck offering transport service for bicycles up to the Malles train station. You can elect to pick up your bike in one of the train station bike rental locations at Naturno, Laces, Silandro, Spondigna or Malles.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE VAL VENOSTA

• Merano Spa's
• Lake Resia
• Trauttmansdoff Castle Garden
• Typewriter Museum
• Church of St. Prokulaus
• Messner Mountain Museum
• Marble Capital
• Coira Castel
• Glurns
• Malles

val venosta ROUTE NOTES:

If you take the train up the valley to Malles Venosta the path starts just outside the station and is well marked. From this point the bike path sits at 1200 meters elevation and you ride down the valley to just over 200 meters so most of the route is downhill, there are a few short ramps to climb up and there are two sections of gravel but the route is very easy to ride.

If you are riding up from Merano the hardest section is between the towns of Lagundo and Tell, where you have a 1 km climb. The remainder of the route is very pedal-able.

The route is marked with typical bike signs, you will need to leave the path to reach many of the towns and sights along the route.

In the town of Castelbello you will see one lovely Castle above the route.  Here there is a public rest room and just across the street in front of a bar is a water fountain.

Most of the route is along the river and through the apple orchards.

BIKE PATHS THIS ROUTE CONNECTS TO:

At Merano: Val d’Adige bike path to Bolzano (Via Claudia)
At Merano: cycle track Val Passiria to S. Leonardo
At Malles Venosta: Bike route to Passo Resia and Nauders / Landeck (Austria)

Cycle for the northern Alto Adige city of Bressanone, south to Bolzano along a well developed bike path. The route starts at the border on the Italian side of the Brenner Pass.  The bike path follows the Isarco river as it cuts south toward Bolzano, capital of the Alto Adige (Sud Tyrol) province.

The Valsugana connects Trento with the Bassano della Grappa, and has been a nature migration route from the north to the Veneto plain for centuries.· Sections of the via Caludia Augusta Roman road runs through the valley.· The Valsugan bike route offers plenty to see along the route or utilize the route to move up and down the valley to ride some of the classic climbs.· There is a project to extend the route all the way down into Trento, from Tezza up toward Feltre following the Caludia Augusta route, and make a designated path all the way to Bassano della Grappa.·

Signposts: Pista ciclabile Valsugana; Fahrradweg Valsugana (N° 2)

Eurovelo Route: Via Claudia Augusta (branch to Venice)

Estimated time: about 3 to 4 hours
Length: 72 km
Elevantion Gain: 290 m
Starting point: Valcanover / Calceranica al Lago at Lake Caldonazzo
Finish: Bassano del Grappa
Towns along route: Pergine, Calceranica, Caldonazzo, Levico, Novaledo, Borgo Valsugana, Ospedaletto, Grigno
Bike & train: regional trains with bicycle transport (limited spaces) parallels the railway line Trento - Venice (Valsugana train)

ROUTE NOTES:

If you are staying in the Veneto you can reach Bassano della Grappa via train and from there start your ride.· There is a bike and train program that services the valley so if you want to ride the route downhill you can take the train up to Levico Terme and ride back to Bassano della Grappa.

As you ride down the valley you will follow the bike route with marked signpost. There are also designed 'Bici Bars' were you will find some basic tools and snacks.

The first section of the bike path is in a wide full of apple orchards as you follow the Brenta River,· you pass near Roncegno Terme, an old health spa area.· The largest town you will pass through is Borgo, which is the administrative center of the valley.· Borgo is a nice stop to visit the old center and perhaps a snack at one of the local bars.· Just after you weave through Borgo you will see Castello Telvana and Castello Ivano up on the hills.· Castello· Ivana is an interesting visit if you have never visited a castle in the Trentino.

After Borgo and Stringo the valley will start to narrow and just before Tezze you will reach the last of the 'Bici Bars'.

After Tezze you will pass through a narrow gorge and then the isolated path will end, as you leave the Trentino region and reenter the Veneto.

At the end of the path at Covolo there is a nice rustic place to grab a good meal of local Vicentino dishes.· From this point forward the bike route is on secondary roads which you will ride all the way down to Bassano della Grappa. When you are passing the town of Valstagna look out on the river for where they practice Olympic style kayaking and there is also the Grotta (cave) to visit. When you get to Solagna you will cross· start to see signs for Bassano della Grappa and you will want to look for signs to turn left to the ponte degli Alpini, the old wooden bridge crossing the Brenta.