This beautiful tour, one of the most popular in Valchiavenna, takes us through San Giacomo Filippo, Mese and Gordona, small villages which are bathed in sun for most of the year.
The route starts from Chiavenna, taking us along the well-known "Via Spluga" to reach the village of San Giacomo Filippo, and then continues on a tarmac road up about ten hairpin bends towards Olmo.
We then follow a dirt road which takes us to Sommarovina, a beautiful village in an enviable position, with a panoramic view like few villages in the valley.
After a few more hairpin bends our main ascent is finally over: from here we will ride along part of a long traverse, called "Mezzacosta delle Lepontine", passing by "Il Cigolino", a natural terrace overlooking the whole of Valchiavenna.
Shortly afterwards we will come across the second, albeit short but steep, climb of the day, which will take us to Calones, at an altitude of 1400m.
We will then enter into the undergrowth along a slightly uphill trail, before starting to descend towards the Mounts of Menarola. Here there are some technical passages, in particular a couple of tight hairpin bends, which will put our trials skills to the test!
Once on the asphalt road from Gordona up to Menarola, we will climb the last 100 m of altitude gain to reach the Dardano pastures, where the main descent of the day will begin: the first part is a series of hairpin bends on a natural path, which is steep at times with a rocky background, followed by a second faster part on a mule trail, which crosses the road several times, until we reach Gordona, after more than 1000 m of altitude drop!
The last part of the trail will take us to Mese, and then on to Chiavenna just in time for a nice beer in the old town centre!
Adam's Bike Tours organizes all kind of mountain bike tours in the amazing area of Valchiavenna, Northern Lake Como and Lower Valtellina