The best traffic-free bike rides around Alpago

Passo della Crosetta, located at an altitude of 1,127 meters, is a strategic Alpine pass that connects the Treviso plain, in the municipality of Fregona, to the Cansiglio plateau and the province of Belluno. Nestled in a majestic setting of ancient woods, dominated by beech and fir trees, the pass represents a privileged gateway to one of the most fascinating natural areas in the Veneto region. A very popular destination in every season, it is a reference point for motorcyclists and cyclists who appreciate its scenic hairpin bends, but also an ideal starting point for hikers, ski mountaineers, and trekking enthusiasts heading towards Monte Pizzoc or the Cansiglio plain. At the pass, the presence of the historic refreshment area and rest stops allows for a regenerating break, combining the wild beauty of the mountains with the typical hospitality of the area.

The Torrente Tesa (Alpago, Belluno) flows in the Alpago basin, in the province of Belluno (Veneto). It is the main tributary of Lake Santa Croce, collecting the waters of the entire hydrographic basin of the area. Near its mouth, close to Farra d'Alpago, there is a famous cable-stayed cycle-pedestrian bridge. It is a suspension bridge much frequented by cycle tourism lovers along the routes in the area.

Malga Valmenera is a farm-holiday facility located on the edge of the Piano di Valmenera, one of the three depressions that make up the central part of the Cansiglio Plateau. It occupies part of the western slopes and is surrounded by 74 hectares of meadows used for grazing its own livestock. The malga is open on weekends between September and June, while it remains open every day during July and August. It offers catering services with specialties of the Cimbra cuisine (beef stew, Alpago lamb bake, spit-roasted meat, pastin and grilled cheeses) and products of its own production (cheeses and cured meats). There are also 16 beds available in 7 single or double rooms with private bathrooms. Completely rebuilt in 2017 and transformed into a modern structure, it is owned by Veneto Agricoltura.

Together with Pian Cansiglio and Cornesega, Valmenera is one of the three depressions that make up the central part of the Cansiglio Plateau. The largest in terms of area. This evocative basin is particularly known for its cold microclimate, where record thermal inversions are recorded with temperatures that, in the winter months, can drop to extreme levels. A historical peak was reached in March 2005, when ARPA Veneto analyses recorded a temperature of -35.4°C. Located in the municipal territory of Tambre (BL), it has a wide and flat bottom, called Piano di Valmenera. It represents a typical polje, whose slopes are largely covered by arboreal vegetation; the western slopes, on the other hand, are characterized by meadows, with rather degraded herbaceous vegetation, due to exploitation in the form of mowing and grazing. The dairy farm of the same name, which today operates as a farm stay, is in fact surrounded by 74 hectares of meadows used for grazing its own livestock. Up to here, through the Campon valley, came a tongue of the ancient and vast Piave Glacier. The Piano di Valmenera and part of the basin are part of the "Pian di Landro-Baldassarre" Oriented Nature Reserve.

The cycle-pedestrian walkway over the Tesa stream is an architectural work of great charm, located near the northern bank of Lake Santa Croce, in Alpago. It is a 110-meter-long cable-stayed bridge, characterized by an elegant structure with metal pylons and a deck made of larch glulam, which integrates perfectly into the surrounding natural landscape. This bridge plays a fundamental strategic role for the area's soft mobility: it connects the two banks of the Tesa stream, allowing pedestrians and cyclists to cross in complete safety. The walkway is part of the Alpago cycle path and international cycle tourism routes, such as the famous Munich-Venice cycle path, offering those who cross it a spectacular panoramic view of the stream's mouth and the nearby body of water.

Lake Santa Croce, located in the picturesque basin of Alpago in the province of Belluno, is the largest body of water in the province and the second largest in the Veneto region. Surrounded by the majestic peaks of the Belluno Prealps, this natural lake is famous for its scenic beauty and its particular thermal conditions. The constant wind that blows regularly from early afternoon has made it an internationally renowned destination for lovers of water sports such as kitesurfing, windsurfing, and sailing. For those who prefer dry land or a more relaxed pace, the shores offer equipped beaches, a cycle path that circles the entire basin, and the extraordinary Sbarai Nature Oasis, a site of great value for birdwatching where you can walk admiring a rich avian fauna among majestic white willows.

Lake Santa Croce, the largest in the province of Belluno and the second largest in the Veneto region, is a natural lake formed by a landslide that closed off the Val Lapisina, blocking the Piave River's descent towards Vittorio Veneto and creating the Sella del Fadalto. Located in the Alpago area between Farra d'Alpago, Puos d'Alpago, and Ponte nelle Alpi, on the border with the province of Treviso, it is a body of water that reflects the mountains of the Alpago and the Nevegal in its crystal-clear waters. The villages along the shores still preserve examples of typical stepped-house architecture with roofs made of stone slabs, straw, and marsh reeds.

Cycle pedestrian bridge over the Tesa river.