A highly satisfying mountain bike ride, especially in spring and autumn, when the not excessively lush vegetation allows you to more calmly tackle the descent from the picturesque Alpe Casalavera to Orzalina. There’s a beautiful view on offer from the lake in Casalavera across the nearby Moncucco and the entire Ossola plain.
From Domodossola, take the road that leads up to Alpe Lusentino. After an initial winding stretch that’s not too difficult and after passing through the village of Vagna, the route becomes more demanding, especially after Vallesone. Just before the square in Alpe Lusentino, turn right and after a short descent follow the road that climbs with several hairpin bends to Alpe Foppiano.
At the top of the first Domobianca Ski chairlift, the trail climbs via almost prohibitive slopes. Follow it for a few hundred metres until you find a junction with a new dirt road that, via a steep slope, runs along the northern side of the mountain.
The dirt track rejoins the old trail just below the Alpe Torcelli. Continue along a dirt track over the summit and, after some tough climbs, you get a bit of breathing space near Alpe Casalavera. After a short stretch along a false plateau, you’ll reach the characteristic lake. From the huts near the water, follow an almost flat path that runs along the side of the Moncucco to its eastern ridge, near a distinctive coppice made up of a dozen or so beech trees. Turn left and descend along the path that enters a beech forest until you reach Alpe Corte dei Raffi at 1395 m (4577 ft).
From the summit, turn right following the signpost in the direction of Tappia. The path now descends rather steeply and at times you may need to dismount in the woods. Always keep to the left until you cross a dirt road, which you can follow past Orzalina reservoir to the hamlet of Tappia. From the square below the church, take the path that leads to the “Cappella dell’Oro” (Chapel of Gold) with numerous ups and downs in the woods and then, via a steeper downhill stretch, crosses the Anzuno stream in Molini and heads towards the village of Anzuno, where it joins the paved road that comes up from the bottom of the valley. Turn left and after a characteristic washhouse follow the path that continues through the beautiful village, without losing any height, to the small church and comes with many ups and downs and a final short stretch of climb to San Defendente, where it turns into a paved road. Go down the road until you arrive at a chapel, turn left and take the dirt track that, after a brief descent, goes back up to the hamlet of Motto. Keep following the track, which shortly arrives at the hamlet of Premone. Turn left and take a narrow cobbled path which, after a right turn, crosses a paved road and then continues on steep stretches to some meadows. Once you’ve reached the path that comes from “Sacro Monte Calvario”, turn left, and after a few dozen metres take the paved road that goes up to Alpe Lusentino and descend to Domodossola.
Domodossola – Alpe Lusentino – Alpe Casalavera – Corte dei Raffi – Orzalina – Tappia – Anzuno – San Defendente – Campei – Domodossola
Domodossola 270 m (886 ft)
Alpe Casalavera 1598 m (5243 ft)
1328 m (4357 ft)
28 km
Good
May-October
IM
CNS f.285 Domodossola / IGC f.11 Domodossola and Val Formazza