Mountainbike Gantkofel
Mountainbike Gantkofel

MTB tour to Mt. Mendola and Mt. Macaion

Difficult MTB tour which combines asphalted mountain pass roads, forest paths and single trails, rich in variety

Nearly 100 km and 2,200 m in altitude, two mountain passes and one summit - this MTB tour packs a punch. In the morning we start at Lana di Sopra, the day in May is perfect, coolish but sunny. At the rail station we turn into the Valle dell'Adige Cycle Path which we cycle until the junction near Ponte Adige. There we turn right towards Frangarto and Cornaiano, after about 1 km we can turn into the Oltradige Cycle Path which we take until San Michele Appiano. At the crossing near the road tunnel we proceed to the village centre and further along the Via Andreas Hofer road past the hamlet Ganda, where we finally turn into the Passo Mendola road (SS 42).

We pedal uphill, bend by bend, at the altitude of 1,000 m fantastic panoramic views on the Lake of Caldaro and the south of South Tyrol reward us. Arrived on the Mendola Pass, we cycle down towards the Val di Non and the Panorama Hotel. Behind the hotel a forest road to the meadows of the Regole di Malosco starts. The blooming spring meadows of the Regole, where we can choose between three taverns, is ideal for our lunch break. Then the path up to the "Bait del Prinz" waits for us. There arrived we follow the path for 500 m towards north - a narrow, steep and partly rocky trail. After the big wind gap (Bus del Macaion) the last ascent to the 1,866 m high peak of the Macaion mountain follows. The efforts are rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view on South Tyrol, from the Tessa mountain group near Merano via Bolzano to the Dolomites. Wow!

Finally here our descent starts. We bomb down the forest road first towards Fondo, then towards the Malga di Fondo mountain hut. At the first crossroads we turn right (confusing signposts!) and here we are. Now an arduous ascent to the Lake Tret follows. Due to the path surface we have to wheel (sandy and weathered). At the beautiful Lago di Tret, which is surrounded by blooming meadows, we cycle down via the Malga di San Felice to the Lochmann bridge where the path transitions into the road to the Passo Palade. Up to the Passo Palade - this is our last ascent for today. The top is reached! And now - here we go - downhill until Lana, where we can recover from the exertions. Particularly large numbers of motorcyclists drive the mountain pass roads at the weekends, therefore we recommend not to do this MTB tour at weekends.

Author: AT

circular route difficulty: difficult
  • Starting point:
    Lana, Tribus square
  • Time required:
    09:00 h
  • Track length:
    92,5 km
  • Altitude:
    from 242 m to 1.864 m
  • Altitude difference:
    +2188 m | -2188 m
  • Route:
    Lana - Ciclabile dell'Adige - Frangarto - San Michele - Passo Mendola - Paradiso - Regole di Malosco - Macaion - Passo Palade - Lana
  • Track surface:
    asphalt roads: 73 km, gravel paths/forest roads: 17 km, single trails: 3 km, partly to wheel and to carry
  • Recommended time of year:
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Download GPX track:
    MTB tour to Mt. Mendola and Mt. Macaion

If you want to do this tour, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.

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  6. Hotel Terme Merano
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  7. Guesthouse Micheli
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