Price on Request
Sku:
isy0069
Availability on Request
Group
Round trip
4 days
Hard
Operated by BikeLife
Departure calendar
What You’ll See on Your Trip
Trip Itinerary
More information regarding the time and meeting point for the first/last day will be provided after the booking.
Departure from L’Aquila old town along the disused L'Aquila-Capitignano railway line. Ride at a constant gradient over smooth terrain passing through Pizzoli, Barete, and Montereale up to Capitignano. From here, an unpaved climb leads to the high-altitude pastures of Lake Campotosto. Enjoy a scenic ride around the lake, crossing toward Capannelle Pass, followed by a mid-slope trail at the foot of Mount San Franco down to Fonte Cerreto.
Activity & Terrain: All-Mountain / MTB | Disused railway dirt track, mule path, secondary asphalt, and singletrack | Difficulty: Moderate
Logistics & Charging: Departure from L’Aquila Station/Castle. Bike-friendly facilities upon arrival in Fonte Cerreto.
Gourmet Stop (NOT INCLUDED / EXTRA): Lunch or snack on the lake shores featuring Campotosto cured meats ("coglioni di mulo"), Pecorino cheese, and rustic bread.
Km Stage: 65
Height difference: 1400 m
From Fonte Cerreto, climb along forest dirt roads toward Monte Cristo Pass into the vast eastern alpine pastures. Crossing the plateau on mule tracks and fast dirt paths, reach the Medici village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio. The final section features a scenic mid-slope singletrack through high meadows leading straight to the fortress of Rocca Calascio.
Activity & Terrain: All-Mountain / Enduro | Unpaved dirt tracks, alpine pastures, and guided singletrack | Difficulty: Moderate/Challenging
Logistics & Charging: Water refill and battery charging points in Paganica/Camarda and Santo Stefano di Sessanio. Arrival on foot/bike in Calascio village.
Gourmet Stop (NOT INCLUDED / EXTRA): Tasting of the famous Santo Stefano di Sessanio PGI Lentil Soup and evening meal featuring local specialties near the fortress.
Km Stage: 45
Height difference: 1350 m
Morning departure toward the scenic Valianara Canyon (Scoppaturo Canyon), famous Western movie set. Climb Campo Imperatore plateau on dirt tracks up to the Observatory square. From here, tackle the exposed singletrack traverse to Vado di Corno (2,000 m), starting the technical Enduro descent (S2/S3 difficulty) over rock and forest toward Fonte Cerreto, with a final valley trail return into L'Aquila.
Activity & Terrain: MTB Enduro | Mountain dirt tracks, exposed singletrack, technical S2/S3 rock and forest Enduro descent | Difficulty: Challenging
Logistics & Charging: E-Bike charging and refreshments available at plain mountain huts (Mucciante/Giuliana) and Campo Imperatore square.
Gourmet Stop (NOT INCLUDED / EXTRA): Iconic stop at Ristoro Mucciante for traditional open-air grilled arrosticini skewers and a shot of Gentian liqueur.
Km Stage: 55
Height difference: 1500 m
Breakfast at hotel, check-out, and end of services.
Travel Tour Overview
Gran Sasso MTB Adventure: From the Disused Rail to Campo Imperatore
An extraordinary MTB adventure into the heart of authentic, wild Abruzzo, designed for riders who love combining historic railway heritage with high-altitude mountain biking. The tour kicks off along the charming track of the disused L'Aquila - Capitignano railway, pedaling past smooth embankments and historic stations in the Upper Aterno Valley before ascending toward Lake Campotosto.
Over the following days, the itinerary transforms into an Enduro/All-Mountain high-altitude expedition: from the vast alpine pastures of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and the ancient towers of Rocca Calascio, to the lunar scenery of Valianara Canyon (Scoppaturo) and Campo Imperatore. The journey culminates crossing the technical Vado di Corno pass (2,000 m) followed by a long, adrenaline-fueled singletrack descent straight into L'Aquila.
Suitable for Enduro MTB, All-Mountain, and Full Suspension E-MTBs.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:
- Disused L'Aquila-Capitignano Railway: Historic ride along the former railway line and old stations of the Upper Aterno Valley.
- High-Altitude Lakes & Passes: Endless pastures, the Lake Campotosto loop, and Capannelle Pass.
- Historic Stone Villages: The Medici charm of Santo Stefano di Sessanio and majestic Rocca Calascio.
- Cinematic Landscapes: Valianara Canyon (Scoppaturo) and Campo Imperatore's "Little Tibet."
- S2/S3 Enduro Singletracks: Exposed high-altitude traverse at Vado di Corno (2,000 m) and a long rock-and-forest descent to L'Aquila.
- Iconic Gastronomy: Campotosto cured meats, PGI lentil soup, open-air grilled arrosticini at Ristoro Mucciante, and Gentian liqueur.
- Full Support & Assistance: Guided group tour with Guide, assistant, and support van, or self-guided freedom with GPX tracks and included luggage transfer (individual upon request).
EXCLUSIVE NEW FEATURE – EXPERIENCE THE EXOSKELETON (NOT INCLUDED):
We want to make high-altitude mountain biking accessible to everyone. During booking, you can choose to add the rental of our innovative wearable exoskeleton: cutting-edge technology designed to empower, support, and protect your physical strength, allowing you to handle steep ascents and technical singletracks with far less fatigue. Technical equipment and exoskeleton rentals are not included in the base tour price and can be selected at checkout.
What’s Included in Your Trip
- Please read the Terms and conditions before making your booking
Must-Know Details
Euro
No
ID Card or Passport
112
220v
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