MTB from Lago del Segrino to the top of Cornizzolo

It is absolutely not recommended to continue by bike over the Malascarpa stone

Ascent to Cornizzolo and from there to Sasso Malascarpa. Descent towards the Gajum springs and return from Canzo. Very demanding descent to the sources with long stretches on foot but it was worth it!

After the stone of malascarpa the path is absolutely not suitable for bicycles. It is a hiking trail.

Hand-made descent from cornizzolo to terz 'alpe, only feasible for skilled people on bikes and maybe even without mud

Classic climb to Cornizzolo from Eupilio, stop at Sasso Malascarpa and then descend towards Terzialpe through a path that is sometimes challenging (down from the saddle). Finally, descent to Canzo and Lake Segrino.

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/4DS9vJqbSi0 Be careful, this route includes a stretch of MTB portage on sections where you need to be careful. We decline all responsibility and I am publishing it to share its characteristics in case others like me are considering following a similar path before testing it. Ring carried out with a non-electric mountain bike. Starting from Lake Segrino you go up towards Cornizzolo and the SEC refuge following an asphalt road, the first stretch open to cars and subsequently only for pedestrians and cyclists. The slopes are medium-challenging, from 10% up. The route winds through an alternation of shade provided by the forest and areas more exposed to the sun. Only towards the end on the last hairpin bends do you emerge from the vegetation and the slope leaves some space for a gentler stretch, until you reach the SEC refuge at around 1,100 meters (730m difference in altitude from Lago Segrino). Continue straight, along the road that quickly turns into a dirt road and passes under the Rai antennas. From here it turns into a path, until you reach Sasso Malascarpa at 1,190 meters (another 110 meters difference in altitude from the SEC ref.), the highest point of this circular route. Be careful because the first part of the next stretch to descend towards Terz'Alpe is not pedalable and it is often necessary to portage with stretches where it is easy to lose grip. Once you arrive at Colma di Val Ravella, take the Traverso path (in front, the one that bends slightly to the left uphill). From here on the single track becomes practicable and not demanding again, with some short stretches where you gain a little altitude, but mainly flat or downhill. Continue until you reach the forestry-pastoral dirt road. You take it by turning left (downhill) and at the crossroads (Second'Alpe) you can decide whether to continue left up to Terz'Alpe or go right returning towards Canzo. In my case I preferred to first reach Terz'Alpe and then retrace my steps along the forest-pastoral road, passing through Prim'Alpe and returning to Lake Segrino after leaving Canzo behind. An undoubtedly very beautiful route, partly on the ridge, but with a rather tiring portage part on terrain where you have to pay close attention to how you move.

Link to the video of this loop: https://youtu.be/iTfk0Qd4wuw Compared to what I did in 2024 (see link to the video: https://youtu.be/4DS9vJqbSi0?feature=shared ), I went looking for a variant where the sections to be covered out of the saddle were reduced or less challenging. Introduction: this loop route has dangerous sections if done on a mountain bike and has sections where advanced riding skills are required. For this outing I used a muscular mountain bike. Departure from Lago del Segrino, in the Eupilio area. The first part of the route can also be done with a racing bike and almost all the difference in altitude does not involve particular difficulties as it is on an asphalt road. Although the difference in altitude up to Cornizzolo/Rifugio SEC is only 700 meters, the slopes are often over 10%. Here, you can relax, looking at the panorama that opens up towards Lake Annone. The route continues, always straight, and passes on a dirt road. Given the beautiful day, I decided to continue in the direction of Mount Rai. On the right, there are still some views that are worth the effort made so far, often pedaling on the summit located between Val Ravella and Valmadrera. Continuing along the dirt road, you climb another 100 meters in altitude. Here you leave the Rai repeater behind you and continue for a short stretch on semi-flat along a path, until you reach the Malascarpa rock. This is the highest point of the route. Having started late, like last time I took the opportunity to eat and recover some energy. In this area you are immersed in the nature of the mountain, between two valleys, the view of the Corni di Canzo and, moving your gaze further down, in the distance, the next destination of the Terz'Alpe farmhouse. After the break, differently from what I had done in the past, I decided to go back in the direction of the SEC Refuge, but taking the path on the right in the direction of the Corni di Canzo. From here, a fun single track starts, mostly downhill, with some technical sections. You leave the ruins of Alpe Alto behind you and continue pedaling along the mountainside, immersed in the cool of the woods. After a short stretch, you come across a path that deviates to the right from the main route. Here I decided to go right. The route towards Terz’Alpe gets longer, but I was aware that once I got to the Colma della Val Ravella I would then continue on the saddle. I didn’t know what I would find and in fact, after a short pedalable segment, I came across a part (15/20 minutes) where I had to get off the saddle several times or with a very technical surface. You also have to pay attention to the slope, often very steep. The surface is very stony and uneven and for a moment I even thought that I hadn’t made the best choice. Once the difficulties were overcome, the single track gradually improved, becoming rideable up to Colma della Val Ravella, recognizable by the presence of benches and tables and the convergence of several paths. You are still in the middle of the woods, but some grassy areas open up. From this point you have to take the Sentiero del Traverso, keeping left of the one that goes up towards the Corni di Canzo that tower just above. This new single track is easy to ride, but with some short technical sections. It is a non-challenging up and down in the first half, then you start to quickly lose altitude, finally reaching first the dirt road and then the Terz’Alpe farmhouse where you can indulge in a good slice of cake. The return is all downhill along the dirt road, up to Canzo and from there on the state road closing the loop at Lago del Segrino.