The Lavizzara valley has many constasting points. Steep rocky gorges are located near to wide meadows that were moulded by the glaciers millions of years ago. Campo Tencia, the highest peak of Ticino, is surrounded by flat and airy fields. Luckily these oiasis of peace are hidden behind the woods and they are difficult to reach, so they were able to avoid the invasion of cement.
Gerra - Cheventino - Monti di Gerra - Pianascio - Cheventino - Gerra
Region: Vallemaggia
Altitude: 762 m
Ascent: 152 m
Length: 10 km
Time: 1.5 - 2 hours
Unrideable time: 5 - 10 minutes
Season: March - November
Skills: 2
Strength: 1
GPS Data: download
Map: show
This tour begins in Broglio, which is also the starting point of the tour to Alpe di Brunescio. Instead of climbing towards the woods, you have to follow the main road of the Lavizzara valley until you reach Prato. Leave the main road there, enter in the center of the village and join the gravel road on the opposite side. When the slope begins to increase, a red mounbtain biking sign points at a trail on the right. Follow the directions: the single-track is nice and flowy, and it winds into a chestnut wood.
On the other side of a bridge you wiull reach the meadows of Vedlà, surrounded by a vast range of threes. The houses of this small village lie one the edge of the fields, in front of a chapel. After a few hundreds meters there will be a bifurcation. The mountain bike track leaves this little plateau, while another trail continues on the left. Following the second one you rist get into a steep climb, then the path gets flat, even if it's not as flowy as in the first part.
The descent toward Broglio begins after crossing another bridge. The trail goes through a thick pinwood and finally reaches a gravel road. Follow this road on the left, and it will take you to another field that hosts some nice stone houses.
The road was built a few years ago, and it follows the river for a couple of kilometers, then it stops and you have to continue on the old single-track. You even have to walk for a few steps. When you reach a small bridge near Menzonio you can get back to the other side of the river. The main road will take you back to Broglio.