Great Traverse of Biellese

The Great Crossing of Biellese (GtB) is a long circular route that takes place mostly at moderate altitudes or in flatlands, well-marked and easily accessible by public transport. The entire route can be completed in 15 consecutive days, staying overnight at B&Bs, hotels, and agritourism establishments encountered along the way. Alternatively, it can be divided into sections that can be traveled in one or more days and selected based on the time available and training. The GtB was conceived by the Province of Biella in 1996. In 1998, signage was installed along the entire route of 234 km. The majority of the path follows trails, dirt roads, and cartable roads with a natural surface. Some connecting sections must be traversed on paved roads, which, due to low traffic, do not present particular dangers for pedestrians.
The route has been divided into 57 short stages, with lengths ranging from 1 to 8 km, whose travel times range from 20 minutes to 3 hours. The stages have been grouped into 15 sections that can be completed in one day. The entire itinerary takes place at medium-low altitudes, so it is traversable for most of the year. The maximum altitude is reached along the Tracciolino, in the last stage, at about 1250 m. The rest of the route is mostly at altitudes below 1000 m, even in the mountainous section. The best periods to cover the entire route are between April and June, when extraordinary blooms of daffodils and rhododendrons can be admired in the mountainous section, and between September and October, when autumn colors the woods and chestnuts can be gathered. If you decide to divide the itinerary, the mountainous section, cooler and shaded, can also be traveled during the hottest periods, between July and August; the hilly and flat sections can be tackled even on beautiful winter days without particular problems.