Dream mountains Dolomites: 5 top MTB trails in the most beautiful mountains in the world
FREERIDE Magazin
· 11.06.2023
We have selected these 5 top MTB trails in the Dolomites:
The classic: Sella Ronda - 61 km, 4000 tm
There are two kinds of people: the lucky ones who have circumnavigated the Sella massif and the poor devils who haven't. Whether on skis or bike. Which do you belong to? You can ski the Sella Ronda clockwise or anti-clockwise. Freeriders choose the clockwise option - for more action. If you use all the lifts, you hardly have to do any cranking yourself - but you can't avoid the odd gravel section. The panorama here is a "porn panorama" because it's so awesome. Mountains like in dreams. The signposting for the Sella Ronda MTB tour is good, but not seamless.
Our tip: Download the appropriate GPS track so that the best trails are also included in the circuit, such as the Jumpline Plan de Gralba or the downhill Bec de Roces. Even better: ride with a guide. Because the dudes are locals and often know secret trails.
>> Read also our travel article about the Dolomites classic Sella Ronda and Biking in Val Gardena <<
Who is it suitable for?
- Single trail hunter
- Endurists
Narrow ridge: Tutti Frutti - 4.3 km, 790 tm
The Tutti Frutti MTB trail is a highlight - for three reasons:
- The descent has everything you could wish for from an enduro trail.
- The Tutti Frutti served as a stage for the Enduro World Series.
- At the start of the Tutti Frutti Trail, there is a heart-stopping panorama. Beautiful for freaking out!
On nice days, you can watch paragliders soaring upwards in the wind. The Tutti Frutti can be reached by cable car from Campitello in Val di Fassa. The first section on the ridge (in the photo) is fast and technically demanding, especially at high speed - you want to hit the line precisely here. Later, the trail plunges into the forest. Bends, roots, stone fields, more roots, ledges, even more roots - enduro terrain par excellence. There are also tests of courage, namely nasty steep descents that become overly steep when wet. Towards the end, the Tutti Frutti gets really fast again, leading over forest floor with flow passages. By the way: the trail is called Tutti Frutti because the trail explorers found and ate so many blueberries and wild strawberries while scouting.
Who is it suitable for?
- Endurists
- Single trail hunter
- Downhiller
White Sea: Rosetta Trail - 48 km, 2986 tm
Up in the gondola and then quickly down? Not on this tour! Although cable cars support the tour, you still have to pedal 1125 metres of altitude yourself. The tour starts in Canale d'Agordo. Here you pedal six kilometres up the gravel road to the first gondola (Molino le Buse). Once at the top, you have to climb a short ascent and then - oh dear - cover 350 metres on an asphalt road. This is followed by another climb up to the Baita Segantini. The climb is not long, and thanks to the stunning panorama, it is not difficult either. Now it's time for the descent. First as a meadow trail, then as a single trail. It's so much fun that you quickly forget the metres of ascent. The next ascent up to the Rifugio Rosetta at 2600 metres is taken by cable car (Col Verde and Rosetta cable cars). From here, the grand finale follows with 1300 metres of descent on military trails, meadow trails, forest trails with steep steps, root carpets and hairpin bends - an epic ride. The last eight kilometres to Canale d'Agordo are on gravel, very chilled, very relaxed!
Who is it suitable for?
- Single trail hunter
- Adventure Freerider
Epic: Arabba descent - 5.5 km, 520 tm
Up, down, turn left, turn right - the descent to Arabba often undulates like an alpine pump track through the terrain, very fun! The trail is quickly reached from the bike park in Fassa. However, it's not all downhill, there are always small climbs. We rode the trail with the E-Enduro and therefore had a constant flow feeling. The route goes up from Fassa to the Col dei Rossi at 2382 metres above sea level. From here, head towards the Pordoi Pass and cycle up a tarmac road for a few minutes. The road becomes a forest track and then finally a dirt track along a meadow slope. At the beginning, the trail is unspectacular, but then becomes increasingly technical with scree, steps and rock slabs, tight bends and blocked passages - here you have to manoeuvre your bike precisely to avoid catching a flat tyre. Sometimes the trail picks up speed, sometimes it becomes slow and technical again - but the scenery remains spectacular. Once you pass the lift station of the Butz chairlift, the last (1.1 km) trail section down to Arabba begins as a gentle finale. The trail leads through the forest and undulates smoothly with berms and bumps into the valley.
Who is it suitable for?
- Single trail hunter
- Endurists
Dangerous: Prato Piazza Trail - 48 km, 2986 metres per hour
We almost feel guilty introducing this trail to you - but only almost. Because in the mountains, everyone is responsible for themselves. But first things first. You have to pedal the 840 metres in altitude to the trail entrance yourself. The starting point is the car park on the valley road at Schluderbach, from here you head towards the Dürrenstein hut. Up here, an Austrian fortress towers like a stronghold. During the First World War, it was intended to secure the Pustertal valley with mortars and machine guns. The gravel road now becomes a narrow path up to the Strudelkopfsattel. This is where the trail starts. It is exclusively for free from giddiness Suitable for bike mountaineers. This is because the trail is narrow and exposed (see photo). Danger of falling! Once you get stuck with the handlebars, you can fall to your death. Although safety ropes have been fitted, they are not intended to create a false sense of security. So be careful! It's better to push at the key points (around 5-6 of them). The rest of the MTB trail is no less tricky, but without any danger of death. The path is narrow, steep, full of steps and scree in the forest and tests whether you have your bike under control.
Who is it suitable for?
- Exclusively for bike mountaineers with a head for heights
