TRAIL - ENDURO

We start from the Splugen Pass (2100 m) that we will reach from Chiavenna with a shuttle run, starting to ride along a part of the famous "Via Spluga", the ancient Roman road that connected Milan with Lindau.

Once we reach Montespluga, we ride along the lake of the same name and take a second part of Via Spluga, descending along the characteristic Cardinello. Riding down the gorge of the same name we will have to pay close attention to the exposed sections (some sections have to be walked), but it will certainly be worth it given the spectacular nature of the place, overhanging the Liro torrent.

We reach Isola where the second climb of the day awaits us with a shuttle run to reach an altitude of 1750 m. We then set off again in the direction of Lago Bianco along a fairly challenging climb, given by the steepness and the sometimes loose terrain, passing through Pian dei Cavalli, a vast green ridge used as a pasture that features prehistoric sites (the area was frequented 10,000 years ago by nomadic tribes of hunters who populated the Alps).

Once we reach the beautiful Lago Bianco, a ritual photo is a must, with a frame of majestic peaks as a backdrop.

We then set off again downhill, retracing a part of the trail that we had traveled uphill, in the direction of San Sisto, continuing on a rather wide and fast path followed by a decidedly more technical trail, immersed in a thick forest.

Finally, a nice lunch in a typical mountain refuge is something that no one can take away from us!

We set off again to reach Campodolcino and, passing through Starleggia, we will come across a fantastic new trail built in the summer of 2024 with technical passages on rock alternating with steep sections but with a nice coniferous base, guaranteed fun!

From here the "Sky Express" train, an underground funicular, will easily take us to Alpe Motta (1720 m) where we will continue up a paved road for about 150 m of elevation and then come across an adrenaline-filled descent in the Madesimo bike park. 

The last climb of the day of about 200 m elevation will take us to the hut on the Andossi ridge where we will spend the night.

We begin the second day by continuing with our climb on a dirt road started the day before, to reach an altitude of 2100 (300 m of altitude difference). From here we take a path that runs along a long amphitheater with a magnificent view of the valley overlooking Madesimo, an up and down trail with some portage sections to reach the beautiful Lago d'Emet (2175 m).

We continue towards Passo Emet, the border with Switzerland and reach it in about half an hour.

From here, entering Swiss territory, we begin descending a trail on a natural surface and reach a mountain farm, where we will continue our descent to reach Innerferrera, in the Avers Valley. A short lunch and then take a ride on the postal bus, which will take us to Juf (2126 m), the highest year-round inhabited village in Europe.

We start climbing again on a dirt road that we will leave shortly, to come across a long stretch of portage lasting about an hour and a half, until we reach the Passo della Forcellina (2672 m), the highest point of our 3 days!

We descend on the opposite side along a beautiful single-trail, arriving at the Septimer Pass, one of the oldest and most important communication routes between the north and south of the Alps.

We will spend the night here at the recently restored Cesa da Sett refuge, at an altitude of 2300 m.

To finish-off with our 3 days, what better than a long descent to Chiavenna?

They say that a good day starts in the morning! And so we start immediately with a nice descent along the old Roman road that from the Septimer Pass descends into Val Marotz, a mix of mule track (don't worry, we won't get bored!) and trail on natural ground, with technical passages alternating with faster sections.

A series of swithbacks will lead us to a dirt road, we will follow it for a short stretch and then down the path that cuts through the dirt road, until we reach the town of Casaccia (1450 m).

We will descend the entire Val Bregaglia along sections of single-trail, mule tracks and dirt roads immersed in typical Swiss villages, a nice finale to conclude our 3 days in style and deserve a (at least) beer in the historic center of Chiavenna, altitude 333 m!

POSSIBILITY OF HAVING A MORE CHALLENGING LAST DAY, ADDING A FURTHER CLIMB OF 700M ELEVATION, OF WHICH 50' OF PORTAGE, GOING UP THE VAL MAROTZ AND THE VAL DA CAM (SEE THIS TOUR)