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MTB
Mountain biking can't get much better than the Val di Sole experience
Discover jagged peaks, sun-soaked alpine valleys and epic rides in Val di Sole with this lowdown to the region.
Val di Sole is a true paradise for mountain bikers. It may host the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, but it’s not just paradise for pros. Riders of all abilities flock to this MTB Mecca thanks to a huge variety of trails and bike parks. With its network of routes, amenities, lifts and cycle buses, it’s uniquely geared for riders.
Expect big rocks and fast descents on the Golden Eagle Trail
© Lukas Pilz
Fun features on Val di Sole’s Upper Way Trail
© Lukas Pilz
La Preda trail: Felippe Zoffoli and Cristian Vender enjoy roots and rocks
© Lukas Pilz
Felippe Zoffoli livens up the flat with a wheelie beside Caprioli lake
© Lukas Pilz
Val di Sole is what comes to mind when you try to imagine dramatic mountain scenery. Bordered by the Ortles-Cevedale and Adamello-Presanella mountain ranges and the Brenta Dolomites – a UNESCO world heritage site – it’s simply breathtaking.
The 35km long Val di Sole cycle path is the ideal way to get to your starting point. It follows the beautiful Noce river through woodland and meadows along the valley floor. If you can’t face adding any extra mileage onto your ride, book yourself onto the Dolomiti Express train (bike train) and the Bike Bus which both offer a drop-off and collection service for you and your bike.
At last, the sun comes out on Val di Sole
© Lukas Pilz
Many lifts and transport services are free when you buy the Trentino Guest Card-Val di Sole Opportunity. For only €1 per day for guests, it’s definitely worth getting.
The riding
Val di Sole and Bike Park Val di Sole
Local guides Felippe Zoffoli and Cristian Vender celebrate an awesome ride
© Lukas Pilz
This area offers a huge amount of trails. Below, we select some of the best. Your starting point is the super-fast eight-person Daolasa - Val Mastellina Gondola lift in Commezzadura.
Black Snake Trail
6 min
POV: Val di Sole - Black Snake trail
POV video of the Black Snake trail, Val di Sole, June 12th 2018.
This is the legendary and notorious World Cup Downhill MTB track, and it’s got one deadly bite. It’s unbelievably steep, features big rocks and countless big roots – the snakes that give the route its name. It’s a very demanding course that favours riders with high skill levels and technical ability.
Golden Eagle Trail
Where eagles dare: Zoffoli and Vender descend the Golden Eagle Trail
© Lukas Pilz
Experienced riders will love the flow of Val di Sole’s trails
© Lukas Pilz
Taking flight on the Golden Eagle Trail
© Lukas Pilz
This intermediate trail offers everything a mountain biker’s heart desires: roots, rock gardens, jumps, berms and Northshore sections. Challenging and intermediate sections are the perfect mix for experienced riders.
La Preda Trail
7 min
POV: Val di Sole - La Preda trail
POV video of the La Preda trail, Val di Sole, June 12th 2018.
This is one of six MTB Enduro trails that start at the top of the gondola at the Rifugio Solander, at a height of 2,000m and descends 1,200m to the bottom.
The first part is an easy gravel road with great panoramic views. The second part through a conifer forest is a fun natural trail with some small man-made features. The trail is good for intermediate as well as for experienced riders.
You can rent bikes, equipment and also hire a guide at the bottom of the Daolasa – Gondola lift.
Tight corner on la Preda’s wooded section
© Lukas Pilz
Take me to the fun
© Lukas Pilz
Bike Park Ponte di Legno Tonale
The very first Family Bike Park in Trentino is situated in the heart of the Val di Sole resort at the Valbiolo chairlift station of Passo Tonale. At a height of 1,884m it’s above the tree line and has a high alpine character with stunning views of the surrounding glaciers and peaks, including the famous Monte Presanella.
Fast and furious – easy berm at Pontedi Legno-Tonale’s bike park
© Lukas Pilz
A drop-off at Passo Tonale’s intermediate graded Upper Way trail
© Lukas Pilz
Cristian Vender and Marco Pedergnana on the Easy Rider trail
© Lukas Pilz
The park offers three tracks with different skill level. Tonale Easy Rider (easy track), the Upper Way (moderate track) and the Race Line (challenging track) which offers fun riding over Northshore elements including banked turns and jumps.
6 min
POV: Val di Sole - Upper Way trail
POV MTB video of the Upper Way trail in Val di Sole
The easy and moderate tracks are quite flowy and suit all those who have never tried mountain biking.
If you've got young kids, bring them along too. Right next to the Bike Park, kids can also play and have fun at the fantastic Villaggio delle Marmotte, a special playground with games and slides.
And again, bikes and protective gear can be hired at the bottom of the chairlift.
Where to stay
For a list of bike-friendly hotels and chalets, head over here. They’re all ideally set-up to cater for the needs of riders, offering secure storage, cleaning and maintenance areas – both for you and your bike.
Say cheese! Local offerings at Val di Sole
© Lukas Pilz
Riding the lifts
The Bike Park Val di Sole is open from Saturday, June 9, 2018 until Sunday, September 23, 2018. Four hours costs €24 and a day pass is €29.
The Bike Park Ponte di Legno Tonale operation times are Saturday, June 23, 2018 to Sunday, September 9, 2018. One day costs €20 and a week pass is €80.
Getting there
Explore the Val di Sole MTB region
© Lukas Pilz
Val di Sole is situated in northern Italy and has good transport connections to Milan, Bologna, Venice and Innsbruck.
By car: From Bologna-Verona and from the Brennero, take the A22 Brennero motorway, the Trento Nord exit if you are coming from the south. The S. Michele all’Adige exit if you are coming from the north. Then follow the directions towards Cles in Val di Non SS43 and then to Val di Sole SS42.
From Bergamo-Brescia follow the SS42 to Passo Tonale.
By plane: The closest international airports are Verona (160km), Brescia (180km) Bergamo (250km) and Milan (335km).
By train/bus: You can reach the main city of Trento by train from anywhere in Europe.
At approximately 200m from the railway station in Trento, you can easily reach the Trento-Malè-Mezzana station, from where you can take the local train that connects Trento to Val di Sole. The train stops in all the towns that are located along the railway all the way to Mezzana.
When to go
Into the woods on la Preda’s 1,200m descent
© Lukas Pilz
The lift operating times govern the best time to visit, and that’s from the beginning of June to the end of September. Because Val di Sole is a sunny region it is possible to ride in April but since the lifts are not open, be prepared to pedal! In peak summer daytime temperatures can reach 30ºC but these are the mountains, so always be prepared for the weather to change quickly.
With thanks to our partners at Val di Sole and Trentino Marketing
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