Description

Val di Fassa is the gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites famous for their spectacular towering rock spires.

Nowhere is riding more dramatic and awe-inspiring. Val di Fassa is a valley historically so cut-off it's one of the few places where the Ladin dialect is still spoken. Val di Fassa is a destination for epic riding which every MTB rider should have on their 'bucket list'.

It is a multi-discipline sporting Mecca with much revolving around getting you outdoors to explore this magnificent place.

You will not feel out of place walking around in sports wear, every other person will be doing the same. There are two bike parks; Fassa Bike Park Belvedere and Mountain Bike Downhill Canazei in the area too should you wish to pay and make a great day of fun and technical downhill trails using the resort lifts (www.fassa.com/EN/Downhill-slopes-and-tracks/). This route provides a great showcase of what the area has to offer; some steep and challenging climbs through lush forestry and above the treeline to the ski resort; fun, flowy, at times technical single track descents winding through dense alpine forestation; along the beautiful valley beside the Avisio River; and through the quaint, traditional town of Moena. This route features in the annual Val di Fassa Marathon as the Granfondo Easy Track but don't let that fool you, this route is a moderately challenging ride.

You will be out for a good few hours.

Two of the climbing sections are pretty tough; the first is almost straight off the bat up a very steep (~20% gradient) but short forest track; a real challenge for any seasoned climber to clear it clean! And the second is the sustained and prolonged climb up toward the ski resort, made tough because you are climbing for some time without much respite. Once the ski resort is reached you can enjoyed the rest of the route downhill.

The sections of single track through the trees are all natural with lots of flow, some natural, rocky terrain and plenty of roots. To extend this route further you can bolt on the additional 'Val di Fassa - Hard' route which includes much of the same terrain on another part of the valley and mountains. There is a small area for free parking at the start of this route, but you could start from Moena town along the route but you may have to pay to park.