UNPAVED ROADS Val di Sole

Andrea came to MONROC with a gravel bike and the will to ride.
I’m local, but just as hungry for adventure.

After a real explorer’s breakfast – Gusto Lab croissants, alpine butter, local yogurt with honey and a strong coffee – we clipped in and rolled out right from the hotel.
A few warm-up kilometers on the Val di Sole cycle path and we were in Mezzana, the real meeting point of Unpaved Roads Val di Sole.

The vibe? Already on point: smiling faces, dusty bikes, lots of greetings.
The briefing was informal, the kind we like: a map, a couple of tips, and off we go. All together, no rush.
The first kilometers were about connecting: with those riding beside you, with the mountains, and with your own legs.
Chats flowed, stories were shared, and future rides were imagined.

The smooth cycle path led us into Vermiglio, and then came the real challenge.
We climbed an old military road up to the Tonale Pass – compact gravel, steady gradient, jaw-dropping views.

At the pass, a wild alpine bowl welcomed us. A gravel loop around the Tonale area followed – satisfying, scenic and silent.
After a quick break, we climbed again toward San Bartolomeo Hospice. The sky was grey, but it didn’t matter.
Alpine huts, grazing cattle, and the presence of Mount Presanella (3,558 m) hidden in respectful clouds – everything reminded us: this is real mountain riding.

Then the descent came.
Long, flowing, on another old military path. A road that once moved cannons and soldiers now carried us gently down to Vermiglio, then on through Cortina, Fucine, Ossana, Pellizzano, and back to Mezzana.
A chain of villages and forest paths – green, soft and perfect under our tires.

At the finish, a shared lunch and warm thanks to the organizers.
But the best reward was still waiting: a hot shower, a dip in the BlueMind Pool, and the quiet peace of MONROC’s adults-only area.

Andrea? No hesitation.
“Next time, I’ll do the long one. But first… I’m heading to the sauna.”

Here, gravel climbs. It breathes heavy. It crunches under your tires.

Val di Sole is steep, raw, and vertical – wedged between the Adamello-Presanella and Ortles-Cevedale groups, this is true Alpine territory. Steep gradients, technical terrain, unpredictable weather – and unforgettable beauty.

That’s why we call it Alpine Gravel.
Not just a label. A riding category in its own right.
High-altitude gravel that winds through old military roads, forest trails, singletrack, alpine huts and historic forts.
All set in a landscape that changes at every turn: woods, meadows, glacial basins, distant ridgelines.

Unpaved Roads Val di Sole is the perfect example. But just one of many.