It's not easy to decide on a mountain bike trail in the Valle Argentina having to decide. I like them all. Although I haven't been able to ride them all in my time here. But the Drego Trail is definitely one of the most striking in my collection so far, because it leads to particularly spectacular viewpoints, gives an insight into the lives of the locals and winds downhill through the forest in an incredibly varied but never too challenging way.
From Molini di Triora to the trail entrance
As with most mountain bike and e-bike tours here in Valle Argentina, the starting point is the village of Molini di Triora. From here, follow the main valley road eastwards for a short distance and then turn off towards Andagna. This mountain road is tarmac, but unlike most of the other paths in the valley, it leads up the mountain with good views and a gentle gradient.
At the end of the ascent, it has to negotiate a few very tight hairpin bends to take on the increasingly steep mountain slopes. After around eight kilometres and 600 metres in altitude, the road turns at a 90-degree angle towards Passo Teglia, where another rewarding trail awaits, but this trail starts here, just before the mini village of Drego.
But before that, two small detours are worthwhile: one to Drego, where Silvia and Matteo from the valley have bought up the long-abandoned little cottages to farm like their great-grandparents. Goats and cows wander through lovingly cultivated vegetable gardens. The second small detour leads over to a viewpoint: a rocky outcrop with a unique view over the valley with the Toraggio in the background - also one of my favourite mountains when it comes to trails.
The downhill section of the Drego MTB trail
But then it's finally time for the descent: a double track branches off from the pass road, which narrows to a single track after a few metres. The ancient transport route literally sucks you into the forest. Not too steep, it swings down the terraced mountain slopes, along and then briefly uphill again. Agriculture was practised here for a long time before the region was left to grow wild again.
You only have to be careful after about one kilometre, just before the Case della Colletta. If you miss the trail junction to the sharp right here, the wild ride will soon end in dense undergrowth. Everyone else will continue to enjoy the forest floor, quick changes of direction and even a few slickrocks to pull off.
After just under four kilometres, the trail approaches an asphalt hairpin bend from the previous ascent. You could get off the trail here or at the next but one hairpin bend and roll back to Molini on tarmac. But then you miss the "Lake Garda section", as I call it.
On the last kilometre, the trail lets it rip again: The trail is now much steeper down the slope. If it's twisty, then it's choppy. Loose debris slides under the tyres, short branches lie crosswise, gullies - in other words: man and chassis have a lot to do before you hop onto the valley road and pedal back to Molini di Triora.
The tour data for the e-bike Supertrail in Valle Argentina:
- Length of the tour: 17.2 kilometres
- Length of the Drego Trail: 5.7 kilometres
- Uphill: 752 metres in altitude
- Battery: 500 watt hours
- Driving technique: medium-difficult
