There is no better way to explore the Dolomites than on a bike, road or MTB. And you don’t need to be sporty or a champion. There are easy routes, such as the Dolomites cycle path, or you can rent an e-bike that will certainly make life easier on the more demanding routes. And then there are the legendary tours, like the Sellaronda, to be tackled both on the road and on MTB trails. We have chosen 3 routes, from the easiest to the most legendary.
On foot, by bike, on snowshoes… the Fuciade hut is much loved precisely because it is easy to reach and the starting point of countless other routes.
From Moena, drive up to the San Pellegrino Pass, descend about 200 metres on the other side and, at a ski-slope overpass, turn left onto the paved road that soon leads to the car park near Hotel Miralago, where you can leave the car.
From here a comfortable dirt road, flat or gently climbing, takes you to the Fuciade basin, a spectacular limestone amphitheatre dominated by majestic peaks (Sas de l’Om, Jigolé, Sas de Valfreida). The route is really short by MTB, but you have two options:
Starting from the Micheluzzi hut above Campitello di Fassa, reached by shuttle bus to save yourself the first 400 metres of climbing, ride up Val Duron to the pass of the same name on a pleasantly flat first stretch. From the Duron Pass the high-level traverse begins, up to the Sassopiatto hut, where you can admire the white peaks of the Sella group, the Odle/Geisler and the Sciliar plateau in a series of fun ups and downs and breathtaking views.
It may take a while to reach the Sassopiatto hut from the Duron Pass, but the beauty of the mountains will reward you. A stop at the hut is a must after a fairly demanding stretch. The route is a continuous up-and-down that requires concentration and some technique. The climb to the Sella Pass, on a dirt road with already tired legs, is perhaps the toughest part. From the pass to the Comici hut it is much easier and more relaxing, although it climbs again to 2,200 metres before the final descent to Canazei, on the dirt track or the paved road, surrounded by the peaks of Piz Boè and the Marmolada, the undisputed queens of the Dolomites. From Canazei to Campitello it will be a breeze.
If you love cycling, the Sellaronda is a must: the cyclists’ Mecca, crossing the Pordoi, Campolongo, Gardena and Sella passes. One of the most important cycling events is dedicated to it, the Sellaronda Bike Day, now held on two days a year, one in June and one in September, when the four most coveted Dolomite passes are closed to traffic and crossed by a long stream of cyclists.
From Canazei the demanding climb to the Sella and Pordoi passes begins. At the fork you can choose whether to ride clockwise or anticlockwise, towards the Sella or the Pordoi. From here you just keep your head down, through endless climbs and hairpins and descents that are never long or restful enough. Don’t skimp on stops: water, photos and snacks are a must, to catch your breath and enjoy the scenery.
The route is so incredible that no description does it justice. It has to be experienced – but perhaps you already know that. It will be one of your most incredible challenges, but what a satisfaction!
