Bonalli MTB route number 1

The climb for all MTB routes in Castello dell'Acqua takes place along the municipal road that rises from the valley floor (Sentiero Valtellina parking area near the Sports Field of the Cavallari hamlet), passes through the town square and continues up to Alpe Piazzola and its splendid views over Valtellina (altitude 1200 m). The road is paved up to about 920 m where it becomes dirt with a good surface. The slope is mostly around 7-8% with gentler stretches and others tougher, exceeding 10%. You can avoid the effort by driving up to the small Ca' Gianni parking lot (altitude 860 m), or up to Alpe Piazzola, by purchasing a permit from authorized dealers of the Alpe Piazzola Reclamation Consortium. The route is fun and of medium difficulty, the surface is almost always firm, curves are wide and steps are few and not prohibitive. In the spring of 2017 the Mountain Community of Sondrio, in collaboration with the Municipal Administration of Castello dell'Acqua, reopened an ancient path that allowed cows to be driven from the Luviera hamlet to Alpe Piazzola before the current road was built. The descent starting from Piazzola (1205 m) begins on a mule track with a steep slope and partly uneven surface, quickly reaching La Piana locality where you continue on a dirt road until the path that descends to the right begins. The route is fairly wide with a regular slope, the surface is compact and can be travelled down to the Luviera hamlet with great MTB enjoyment. From Luviera you descend again on a mule track to Ca' Verina where, after a very short asphalt stretch, you take the dirt road leading to Bruga; once you cross the paved road, you head down valley towards the Baghetto bridge where you take the Valtellina trail toward Tirano to return to the starting point.