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The Fodom old towns loop.

Dolomites

Arabba

Fedaia-Marmolada

Trentino-Alto Adige

A wonderful trip between bucolic villages.

Mountain Biking Moderate

Distance
27 km
Ascent
1.4 km
Descent
1.4 km
Duration
3-4 hrs
Low Point
1.2 km
High Point
1.8 km
Gradient
12˚
The Fodom old towns loop. Map

If you want to see some epic scenery and take a bike tour of some rarely-visited little villages, this is the ride for you!

Description

From Arabba go to the cable car parking area and then to the right of a river on a track which climbs though the forest and then descends steeply to Renaz. Follow a vague trail through long grass to cross a little bridge and then keep following the grassy track alongside the river until San Giovanni. Cross another bridge on the right and climb up a steep tarmac road to the village of Ornella.

Descend to the Col di Ornella and then take a gravel road, crossing a rickety (and scary!) wooden bridge and climbing a narrow road through a lovely forest full of black volcanic rock and moss. There are some really steep sections on this climb, before the descent to Roncat.

From Roncat carry on to Sottinghiazza, where the gravel finishes. Follow steep, rutted and pebble covered tarmac down through Sottil and then climb up to Pieve through Retiz/Retic. The last bit of the climb is stoney and a bit technical, but it's not too tricky.

Pass through Pieve and in front the pharmacy take a singletrack uphill and then through Brenta and Liviné. Half a km of road from Livine leads to the road to Corte, from where you keep climbing steeply to Contrin. A jeep track begins here - get on this and follow it over a bridge before traversing through fields to a fascinating working dairy farm called "Malga Cherz". Take the uphill trail from the farm and pass above the town of Cherz. The track undulates from here to Varda on a singletrack, passing over some streams and some rocky/muddy sections. This section is not the best idea after rain because it gets super muddy!

Blast back to Arabba on a road.

Difficulty

Moderate

Mostly stable trail tread with some variability, with unavoidable obstacles 8in/20cm tall or less. Other obstacles such as rock gullies and steep sections may exist. Ideal for lower intermediate riders.

Medium Exposure

2 out of 4

The trail contains some obstacles such as outcroppings and rock which could cause injury.

Remoteness

2 out of 4

Away from help but easily accessed.

Best time to visit

between May and October

Features

  • Picturesque
  • Singletrack
  • In the forest
  • Road sections
  • Roots
  • Rock Gardens

Similar routes nearby

Guidebooks in this area