Dolomites!

After the feedback that Slovenia was a bit meh for mtb (we will however go and do a gravel tour!), we’ve decided to head to the Dolomites. Overwhelming amount of choice of stuff to do! We have accidentally clashed with the Italian peak holiday window (can’t do much about that as p20s holidays are fixed a year in advance), so it’s £££. But we have the campervan, trail bikes, boots and via ferrata kit.

Favourite rides, walks etc welcome to help narrow down our choices?!

…we’ve decided to head to the Dolomites

A triumph

Very good sir, very good. Did you sprint to post that?

Which Dolomites? There are lots of areas. There are over 25 Dolomite ranges and 9 Natural Parks with Dolomite in their name.

We’ve been parked up on the eastern edge Friulian Dolomites the past ten days. Not great for mtb, good for road, but much quieter than most areas.

Canazei has a bike park that should keep you entertained for a day.

Same goes for Cortina.

Kronplatz on the northern edge of Fanes is good fun..only a few trails, but solid riding with an awesome spa/sauna place near the lift where you can also park up your van for free.

Paganella, in the Brenta Dolomiti, is worth a visit and there’s enough for three days riding. Either park your van at Fai lift for free or a campsite at either Andalo or Molveno lake.

Oh, and there’s San Martino Bike park… Not been there, but meant to be good.

If you do go, let us know how it is.

Oh and if you’re still in Slovenia and coming across the border near Kobarid along the Soça/Inzonzo then there’s the Matajur. 12km and 1500m singletrail.

Which Dolomites? There are lots of areas. There are over 25 Dolomite ranges and 9 Natural Parks with Dolomite in their name.

Fair. In general probably the area east of Bolzano. Because we clash with the Italian holidays, we’ve booked a site for the first week at La Villa Stern, but we’ve got no firm plans and 1.5ish more weeks after that.

That said, we were also looking at going home via Livigno – as I said, overwhelmed by choice and not knowing that part of Italy.

Can recommend San Martino for the XC riding. Either off the Tognola (lift to top of bike park) and then head away from it and finish down the valley to the South of San Martino or up the Cima Rosetti (2 lifts to 2700m) and down towards the base of Passo Rolle and a “bit of a climb” to get back. Lots of 14-18 war trench lines and things to look at as the front-line went through the area.

When I was there the first bike park run was the only one opened and they have added a couple more lines since. There’s some big stuff involved if you’re a wheels on the ground type.

Def wheels on the ground riders, that love some mountain single track

Canazei is good for a few days. The old EWS trails are good as some of the other stuff in the area.

We enjoyed Livigno. Well worth a few days but it’s a pain to get to with a big van

Another option is to head a bit further south to Lake Garda. Loads of good riding g in the hills above Torbole

We went at the end of May this year and it was extremely busy, we needed to book in advance even for mid week.

We stayed at the campsite on the lake in Molveno.  There are lifts open and the area has an map and an app with plenty of routes which actually works well. It’s very pretty and they are going after the mtb crowd.  If you do consider staying I wouldn’t recommend paying the extra for a lakeside pitch, the field between them and the lake is basically the kids playing area and very noisy.

We looked at the area by Canazei but there are limited options for camping and we hadn’t booked .

I’ve split my post into two as I’m having posting issues.

We then stayed at Caldonazzo which was pretty as well. Lots of campsites, very touristy, very busy,  beach and lake based water sports, and very welcoming.  It wasn’t our usual type of place but fine for a couple of days. Nice ride round the lake and we did a trip up into the hills but not really an mtb type place.

We then bailed and went to the French Alps for a bit of peace.

The above seems very negative which is unfair, it is lovely and the locals were happy and welcoming.  Food is great, wonderful booze. Views are spectacular.

We just had picked May as we expected it to be quieter so we were a bit taken aback to find everywhere fully booked and needing to make restaurant reservations.

@timidwheeler The Italians are masters of late booking for holidays. Our partners don’t send their current season holiday brochures out until mid-April/early May!

@ahsat You’ll enjoy the mountainous routes at San Martino. Tre Cime side may pay to use a local guide as it’s not promoted on-line the first few kilometres are all on bedrock singletrack. Tognola side has some useful mapping.

Which Dolomites?

From memory 1300 (or was that only Toledo?), 1500, 1850 and Sprint.

Following. On my 2025 holiday list.

If you’ve got ferrata kit defo go do Ferrata delle Aquile, some very unique features up there

The klettersteig above Arabba on the old first world war frontline is amazing. Still got some of the old wooden sheds etc.  do it then imagine being there in winters, sans harness with people shooting at you.  Thinks it’s this one…

https://www.outdooractive.com/en/r/57507950?utm_source=unknown&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=user-shared-social-content

Thanks all, some googling to do. Have to say how full the campsites are is making me a little concerned about how busy it’ll be but hohum.

If you are travelling through Germany and want a convenient stop off, near the main roads, we stayed here for a night.  Due to traffic we were too late for food but we had a couple of pints and the locals had a singalong.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/7vZnwicZL3W6jBZXA

Edit – it is no dogs though, not sure if you have one.

@ahsat

Re via ferrata – this is a good resource for planning VF routes:

https://www.bergsteigen.com/touren/?tx_webxbergsteigen_bergsteigen%5Baction%5D=filter&tx_webxbergsteigen_bergsteigen%5Bcontroller%5D=Tour

The Della Trincee VF route @thegeneralist linked to above is fab but can be tricky, there have been a few fatalities on the descent section. The hardest VF bit is the start, and it is hard, but you’ll find it interesting as it’s different rock, not dolomitic limestone. It’s a great route but be extra careful on it if wet.

If you’re starting at La Villa. There are some great VF routes nearby between Corvara and Passo Gardena.  Look at VF Brigata Tridentina up to the Piscadiu hut (mid-grade), in addition to the easier stuff above the Dantercepies lift/hut at Passo Gardena. There’s a very easy route up Sassongher, more of walk with a handrail in places.

If you’re experienced and like a challenge, then head to Lagazoui and have a bash at VF Tomaselli, it’s an absolute cracker!  There are other routes accessible from the col there, the lift up and WWI tunnels down is always good if the weather is poor.

There’s lots to do in the area but it will require either good use of the local buses (usually excellent) or a drive out in the van.

Don’t forget that the area above La Villa/Stern is great for walking too, so if you’re having an easier day get a chair lift and saunter along the paths. The Santa Croce hut next to the church is a great place for lunch in the sun.

There are also 2 excellent VF routes from Passo Sella – the Col Rodella (mid-grade but short) and the Oscar Shuster up to Sasso Piatto (a big day out but only mid-grade VF)

I’ve done loads of Dolomites VF and walking trips so feel free to msg me for more info or photos