Part of the Five Crazy Down circuit, this route sits on the sun-drenched side of the valley which makes it a stellar choice for riders that want to keep riding as the leaves start to fall and the days get shorter.
Starting from Tirano station, follow the bike path along the River Adda until Lovero, where you’ll cross the bridge and enter Vervio. The paved climb to Alpe Susen starts here. Once there, keep going onto a gravel trail all the way to Rifugio Schiazzera – this part takes approximately two hours. Catch your breath at 2,000 metres of elevation and admire the view over the valley from up high. After the rifugio, you’ll meet the Sentiero Italia trail at 2,176 metres (signposted step 1); keep an eye on the signs to reach the highest point of the route at 2,210 metres above sea level.
With 12 km of smooth-rolling descent to go, expect a mixture of trails, gravel and paved roads and no super steep gradients. The first section down to Sovo (signposted step 2) is an easy, mellow-ish trail, before turning into a dirt track, then a mule track with hairpin turns, and then another dirt track until the tarmac road that brings you out above Baruffini (signposted step 3). The final part down to Tirano cuts through terraced vineyards and offers stunning views, especially in autumn when the landscape erupts in vibrant orange and reds.
INFOPOINT TIRANO
+39 0342 706066
iattirano@valtellinaturismo.com
Tirano has a lot going on in terms of its geography. After all, it’s where Switzerland and Italy meet, where the Aprica and Bernina passes merge, and on the road connecting Milan with the upper part of Valtellina. For a dose of ancient history, quaint old town charm and appealing views of centuries-old buildings, Tirano’s wealth of churches
