Lake Como Mountainbiking Trails & Off-road Routes

Rent an MTB or E-MTB and explore Lake Como offroad! These mountainbike rides are organized according to level of technical difficulty (singletrek, rocks and roots, steep uphill and downhill, tight switchbacks, stairs, etc.). All of these rides are difficult in terms of elevation gain, so unless you mountainbike regularly and do a lot of climbing, we recommend renting the Bianchi T-Tronik Sport E-MTB (you will thank yourself later!) 
If you have never mountainbiked before, please do not attempt the hard or epic rides. 

EASY RIDES

Ghisallo family e-xperience
The perfect little ride to fully enjoy the mountainside above Bellagio, passing by some of the most beautiful viewpoints and along some of the roads that have played a big part in cycling history. Don’t miss seeing the Madonna del Ghisallo (protector of cyclists!) chapel and Cycling museum. Halfway down the descent to Bellagio, we recommend stopping at the Baita Belvedere for a coffee break or lunch with a view!


MEDIUM RIDES

ONNO & GHISALLINO TRAIL MIX
The Onno & Ghisallino routes is certainly our most popular road tour, as it’s 35km that incorporates and takes you to admire the diverse aspects of our area: lakeside roads, hill climbs through the woods, charming small towns, and the famous Madonna del Ghisallo chapel. Is there a way to make this even more fun? Yes, here we are with our 2020 Trail Mix version of the ride, with over 50% of the route being off-road on trails and old mule tracks to allow you to immerse yourself in the nature and views of this popular route even more!
This route requires biking experience and confidence in using a bike as there are some medium-level technical sections.

LAGO E MONTI (FROM VARENNA)
If you're looking for a ride that has the best of 3 worlds (forest, lake, and mountains), this is the loop for you! The ride is half road (backcountry roads) and half trail. For most of the ride you have a constant view over the lake, as you pedal along an old muletrack and other trails immersed in the woods. There are some technical sections, so we suggest having some MTB experience, but nothing extreme. To do this ride with a normal MTB we recommend having a good fitness level, while with an E-MTB you'll have a great experience as it's a ride for everybody, you just need have some biking experience and confidence as there are medium-level technical sections. Finish off the ride with a drink along Varenna's lakeside before heading back to Bellagio. ​

HARD RIDES

monte tremezzo: downhill dreams
This ride’s descent is without a doubt the best there is on Lake Como. From the top of Monte Tremezzo (1680m a.s.l.) you descend right to the lakeside, all on trails along the old military roads and forts that were built in the early 1900s to defend the Italian-Swiss border against Northern invasions. Take the cable car up to Pigra from Argegno, to start on an asphalt road with no traffic until the peak! Before descending, take a break at Rifugio Venini for a snack.
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*Given the technical difficulty and potential downhill dangers of this ride we recommend it for very advanced riders with downhill experience and confidence.
san primo trail network: Bellagio's backyard
The San Primo mountainside above Bellagio has an impressive trail network that leads to the San Primo neighborhood and ultimately, the peak. On our route you can enjoy some fun singletrack sections as well as some wider, steep trails that tick off the elevation gain quickly! After reaching the San Primo neighborhood. go a couple of extra kilometers to Rifugio Martina for a great meal with a view of Lake Como below! This ride is for experienced mountainbikers on a technical level. We recommend using an E-MTB for the ride unless you are in excellent physical condition as it is essentially an all uphill and then all downhill ride. 
​A guide is recommended in order to pick the best route for you from the many trails available. If you choose to go on your own, then we strongly suggest you rent a GPS with your bike to avoid getting lost as trails are not marked well. If you have your own gps device, we can provide you with a gpx file (free). 
Parco monte barrO & Brianza hills
The Negri brothers love taking their MTBs out for a spin around these parks…growing up here they know EVERY single trail there is to know in the area. In fact, these parks are like a MTB playground there’s so many trail possibilities! This area is not as widely known amongst the Lake Como tourists, as it’s on the southern margin of the Lake. The trail network here is waiting to be discovered by YOU! Single track, horse trails, dirt trails, gravel, and more! You’ll love the unique panoramic views that contribute to Lake Como’s diverse nature. These routes are best to ride on sunny days, because then you can really see how beautifully green the Brianza region is! It is necessary have MTB experience for these parks, and a guide is recommended given the infinite trails. There are several route possibilities depending on your level and distance/elevation needs, thus there is no link to a map like our other routes.
Level of difficulty: Hard-Epic

EPIC RIDES

Dorsale del Triangolo Lariano (Ridge Trail)
The most classic and renown route of the area, it takes you from Como to Bellagio riding along the mountain crest of the Larian Triangle. A transfer to Como will be necessary to begin, unless you’re already staying in the city. We suggest avoiding the first part of the climb out of Como as it’s entirely on asphalt, and instead taking the cable car up to start! Along this route, we suggest at least one pit stop at one of the many mountain lodges (‘rifugi’) to enjoy a nice hot meal and wonderful scenery. A guide is recommended for safety reasons and facilitated navigation.
Level of difficulty: Epic​; for advanced riders with MTB experience only, no beginners
Monte san primo: Reach the peak!
Did you know that it’s possible to ride all the way up to Monte San Primo at 1,682 meters a.s.l., the highest and most panoramic peak of the Larian Triangle? There are several trails to choose from above Bellagio, from classic routes to unofficial trails that are nestled deep into the forest. The ride to San Primo is almost entirely on trails, with a lot of technical singletrack and other rocky sections. There are lots of fun climbs that of about a medium level, with some steep sections that will put you to the test! The descent back to Bellagio is technical, with several single-track trails.
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This route is for highly advanced level mountainbikers.
A guide is recommended for this ride in order to pick the best route for you from the many trails available. If you choose to go on your own, then we strongly suggest you rent a GPS with your bike to avoid getting lost as trails are not marked well. If you have your own GPS device, we can provide you with a gpx file (free). ​