- Il Rogolone
- Alpe Logone and Alpe Erba
- La dorsale del triangolo Lariano
- Rifugio il Giovo and Rifugio S.Jorio
- La Valle d'Intelvi
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"LA VALLE D'INTELVI"
This route starts with a cable car ride from Argegno to Pigra along with your bike and leads along some of the alpine pastures in the Intelvi Valley where at the farmhouses local cheese is made. Spectacular views on lake Como and Lake Lugano.
Route:
Argegno - Pigra – Rifugio Boffalora – Rifugio Venini –
Alpe di Mezzegra – Ponna – S. Fedele – Argegno
Kilometres: 38 km
Ascent: 735 m.
Max. height 1.616 m. (Alpe di Mezzegra)
Time: h. 4:00 ca.
Route: 80% on tarred roads
Difficulty: medium
Physical effort : medium
Route:
At ARGEGNO you take the cable car (every 30 minutes from 8.00 till 11.30 from half June till the beginning of September till 12.00 - and from 14.00 till 16.30) with your bike to PIGRA. This breathtaking ride with a exceptional view of the lake will in 5 minutes take you up to 881 m. From the town Pigra you pick up the road in the direction of RIFUGIO BOFFALORA The narrow road ascends steeply to the pastures of ALPE DI COLONNO 1322 m with its chapel and characteristic cross. From here an easy stretch leads along the north slope of Cima del Duaria down to Alpe Boffalora 1.252 m with its beautiful grassy slopes where the same named rifugio stands that is open from Easter till 1 November Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday – August daily tel. 0344 56486. From here continue 100 m and you arrive at a fork. You continue straight on in the direction of RIFUGIO VENINI (left is the road to PONNA) The small road climbs up steeply past Alpe di Ossuccio where goats, cows, pigs and chicken occupy the road. From here cycle to ALPE DI LENNO 1493 m with a marvellous view of the Val Perlana. From behind the beverage place for cattle you have a magnificent view of Lake Lugano. Soon you arrive at Rifugio Venini 1.575 m open from the beginning of March till the end of November on Saturday and Sunday - July and August daily tel. 0344 56671. The little canon in front of the rifugio testifies the presence of the defence system called Linea Cadorna built during the first World War. The whole area is full with trenches and batteries. The road itself which here is a track used to be a military road. You continue on the almost even track to ALPE DI MEZZEGRA 1620 m from where you have a splendid view of the central lake area. From Alpe di Mezzegra you return the same way you came as far as the fork before reaching Rifugio Boffalora and turn right to Ponna. You cycle through beautiful woods and pass the Alpe di Ponna. Before reaching the town PONNA 870 m turn left following the indication for Como and reach Laino. At Laino you can choose to turn left to SAN FEDELE and from there back down to ARGEGNO or you can turn right and follow the road down to CLAINO CON OSTENO (270 m) on Lake Lugano and from there to Menaggio.
For the ones cycling to Menaggio: from Claino con Osteno continue on the road leading along the lake. In front of camping Darna, about 1 km before arriving at the town Porlezza there is a cycle path on the side of the road. Just past the bridge over the river Cuccio you turn right and follow the cycle path that leads to a beautiful wooden bridge over the river where once the train line Menaggio – Porlezza used to run. The train stopped running in 1935. The local government has projected a cycle path Porlezza – Menaggio following the route of the train. It has been completed as far as Bene Lario. Follow the path for about 300 m and then it becomes unpaved. At the next intersection turn right passing through the bars in order to pick up the continuation of the path. Then turn right again and follow the path as it leads to the Lake Piano. Boarding the lake you arrive at the information centre of the nature reserve Lago di Piano (276 m). You pass two camp-sites. Just passed the entrance of camp-site Ranocchio, turn right and follow the continuation of the cycle path that leads behind the campsite. It leads to BENE LARIO. When you reach a tarred road, cross it (the town Bene Lario is to the right) and go straight on till you end on the main road in the town of Grandola ed Uniti 4 km before Menaggio.
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