Trentino-Alto Adige: Great classics - MTB tours & military trails in Valsugana
Gitta Beimfohr
· 09.08.2024
Between the Lagorai chain and Alpe Cimbra, the River Brenta has carved out a wide valley to the east and then further south in an arc: the Valsugana. Alpine crossers pass this large orchard of Trentino when they have cranked their mountain bike from the Dolomites over the idyllic and lonely Passo Cinque Croci.
The highlights when travelling through: A dip in the Lago di Caldonazzo or Lago di Levico, a delicious polenta and then continuing along the famous zigzag hairpin bends of the Kaiserjägerweg towards Lake Garda. Even if you stand right in front of it at the entrance to the valley, you would never believe that it exists, nor that it is even possible to lay a road in such a vertical rock face. That's exactly what the enemy was supposed to think back then, which is why this immense effort was made. Today, the "road" is asphalted, but it has lost nothing of its military-strategic road-building artistry from the First World War.
In Valsugana, too, you can experience many an adventurous route on a bike tour. However, you have to be prepared for significantly more metres in altitude from the valley floor. For example on our Tour 3 to Cima Vezzena. From its 1908 metre high summit rock spur, you can enjoy the most beautiful eagle's-eye view over the lakes in the valley and far into the Lagorai mountain range. If you are travelling on an e-MTB, you will have to be economical with your battery, but there are plenty of worthwhile refreshment stops along the route.
Info MTB area Valsugana in Trentino
The precinct
The Valsugana is a classic touring area. There are no lifts or flow trails, just a never-ending network of military trails that can be combined into day rides of any length. I also recommend a trip to the Sette Comuni at the southern end of the valley.
General info - Camping & Hotel
There is a lovely campsite right on the shores of the smaller Lago di Levico, but there are also nice hotels in the town of Levico itself. Info: levicosee-info.de and visitvalsugana.it
The 3 most beautiful MTB tours in Valsugana
Tour 1: Forts on Lago di Levico
- Length: 24.6 kilometres
- Uphill: 560 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: easy
Tour description:
A nice roll-in tour: on shady military roads to the two war forts that once guarded the Lago di Levico and the entrance to the valley on both banks. The first loop of this tour leads along a nice trail to the Forte Colle delle Benne above the eastern shore. The second loop follows a path around the northern shore of the lake and then climbs up to Forte di Tenna. At Doss degli Uccelli, a trail allows a detour to Lago di Caldonazzo, then you cycle along the lake back to Levico.
Tour 2: Panarotta trails
- Length: 40.7 kilometres
- Uphill: 1443 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: medium
Tour description:
The 2000 metre high Panarotta peak towers over the eastern shore of Lago di Levico. The easiest way to climb this mountain is via the Fersental valley, where the tarmac road soon turns into gravel bends in the forest. The summit ridge is reached after 1430 metres in altitude. Now you follow a kind of cart track down towards the paragliding launch site in Vetriolo Terme and, after a stop for refreshments, you can enjoy the rest of the descent through the forest down to Levico. With a short, crisp trail section at the end!
Tour 3: Cima Vezzena
- Length: 46.9 kilometres
- Uphill: 1616 metres in altitude
- Difficulty: difficult
Tour description:
From Lake Caldonazzo, the route climbs up the Kaiserjägerweg trail, past Fort Vezzena and then another 200 metres in altitude on a bumpy, sandy path to the top of Cima Vezzena. With a view to kneel down for. Return via the plateau and then along the Sentiero della Pace, initially exposed and tricky, but then increasingly easier and with beautiful views back to the lakeshore.
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Gitta Beimfohr
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