Cistella Mountain Bike Tour

The Tour of Cistella MTB represents a loop of 38 km of extraordinary interest around the mountain symbol of high Ossola. It involves 3 municipalities of high Ossola (Varzo, Crodo, and Baceno). The route utilizes a network of existing trails and agro-silvo-pastoral and consortium paths.
The loop can be tackled starting from two locations: San Domenico (Municipality of Varzo), which is accessible by public transport, or Foppiano (municipality of Crodo), which is not served by public transport but allows you to tackle the most challenging section, the ascent to Passo della Colmine, with fresh legs.
The Tour of Cistella is demanding, with steep ascents, so the use of a good full-suspension E-bike is strongly recommended. Given the significant elevation gain and the overall duration of the loop, it is recommended to use the ski lifts from San Domenico to gain altitude and transport the bikes up to 2500 m at Punta del Dosso. Colle di Ciamporino can also be reached from San Domenico via service paths of the facilities, but we strongly discourage this option as they are uninteresting, very steep, often very damaged, and lead to unnecessary and risky battery consumption.
The route should only be tackled in a clockwise direction because the section of Valle Bondolero is only feasible downhill.
DESCRIPTION
Below is a description of the itinerary starting from San Domenico, but if you start from Foppiano, just begin reading from that point.
From the arrival of the Punta del Dosso chairlift, descend to Colle di Ciamporino along the beautiful bike route Easy Dosso 2500 of medium difficulty. From the pass, descend along the track to the starting station of the Bondolero chairlift. From here, head straight down, immediately crossing a small valley that becomes much more embedded and uncomfortable to cross further down; after an initial stretch through a high altitude meadow sprinkled with stones, the marked trail that reaches the bottom of Valle Bondolero is crossed, then descending to Alpe Bondolero, a grazing area where excellent cheese is produced (be careful of the grazing cows and everything they leave on the ground!).
From the Alpe hut, cross horizontally for 250 m to reach a small hill from which begins a rather rugged halfway trail that leads to Alpe Case di Sotto. From here, the trail begins to descend through the forest more decisively, forcing many to get off their bikes (alternatively, from the huts of Case di Sotto, one can move more to the left (descending) compared to the trail to take a steep meadow that allows for easy descent without particular obstacles). At the end of the steep trail, veer right to reach the valley floor of Val Bondolero, where a dirt service road begins that descends along the valley with some hairpin bends down to Piano di Rio Secco. From here, the road rises briefly and then continues downhill at mid-slope until reaching the houses of Agarù, where one enters the so-called Veia di Scuetar, one of the most appreciated MTB routes. The route continues on halfway trail with moderate slope and some obstacles but is almost always rideable, although caution is required as it is exposed. Cross a consortium path, ride it downhill for a short stretch, and immediately after take the trail on the right that continues at mid-slope until crossing the gorge of Rio Ghendola (with a short 40-meter portage uphill to overcome a steps). From here begins a very fun, wide and flat stretch, leading to cross a beautiful Via Crucis that connects Cravegna with the Oratory of Salèra. Cross the mule track and continue flat along a track that leads to the so-called Bacino, a building from which the conduits of the Verampio power station depart. From the Bacino the road becomes much wider and continues until it crosses the consortium path to Alpe Deccia. At the intersection, turn right and begin to ascend along the asphalt road for several hairpin bends until reaching the turnoff for Alpe Voma. Take the dirt path to Voma, which ends just before the huts, then continue flat on the trail bordered by a dry stone wall that crosses the Rio Alfenza. Immediately after the ford begins a descending tract that shortly becomes a steep asphalt road leading down to Foppiano. After passing the Pizzo del Frate hotel (the hotel offers charging service for e-bikes and is an excellent refreshment point before tackling the challenging ascent of Passo della Colmine), continue on a wide trail for about 200 m and, following the signs, take the left trail that descends to meet the consortium path for Alpe Cheggio. Begin to ascend the partially asphalted path to Cheggio for about 800 m, until crossing a tract that steeply rises to the right towards the locality of Faiö. Here begins the most arduous section of the route: the ascent of Passo della Colmine, which represents the watershed between Valle Antigorio and Val Divedro. At the beginning, follow a steep halfway trail that quickly with two steep hairpin bends leads to Cavraga (this stretch is hardly rideable given the rather slippery ground, but overall translates into 3-4 minutes of portage). From here, the trail continues first with a lower slope, then begins a long series of hairpin bends alternating easier stretches with steep sections that are hardly rideable. The trail is wide enough to enable one to guide the bike beside without needing to lift it. A final wide hairpin allows reaching the wooded ridge and Passo della Colmine. Don’t expect grand vistas; you are immersed in a dense but suggestive forest of fir trees! After catching your breath, the descent from the pass begins. The first section still requires a lot of concentration and good technique because the trail is steep (be careful). If you decide to get off your bike, don’t worry: it’s only 5 minutes! Finally, you reach a flatter section characterized by a small spring from which a new trail specifically created begins, descending with fun hairpin bends through a beautiful forest of firs and sparse beeches until crossing the consortium path that rises to Solcio. Continue along the asphalt consortium path until reaching Rifugio Piero Crosta in Solcio (the refuge offers free recharging service for e-bikes and provides tools for small repairs). From the refuge, continue on a long stretch of wide and panoramic dirt path at mid-slope that leads to Alpe Quaté and Moiero. From here begins the descent, first on dirt and then on asphalt that leads to Dorcia di dentro. Paying attention to cars that may be encountered, continue on a very steep winding stretch until reaching a diversion onto a trail that leads to Bosco delle Fate and finally reaches San Domenico where the loop ends.
Note: The itinerary is marked with red arrows that bear the code 50 which identifies the Tour of Cistella MTB.