MTB: Crossing the Monscera Pass
Difficulty
Medium
Period
Summer

The tour around the Monscera Pass, in the upper Bognanco valley, is a very demanding mountain bike route in the high mountains, not least in terms of altitude. After a very long, but not too difficult climb, the stretch you have to cover with your mountain bike on your shoulder requires a good level of physical fitness. The final stretch is very interesting, with the pass clearly visible and increasingly close. The toil of climbing at altitude is rewarded by the view from the top, a classic smugglers’ route at the beginning of the century, which stretches over the picturesque Bognanco Valley and the Swiss Weissmies chain.

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Description

From Domodossola, follow the state road to Crevoladossola, passing through Varzo and continue to the border of Iselle and Gondo, in Switzerland. Shortly after the border, leave the state road and take the road that descends on the left and then winds its way up several sharply sloping hairpin bends and climbs steeply into the Zwischbergental Valley to Lake Zwischbergen. Continue towards the valley and reach the fork for the Furggupass. Continue straight until you reach a small bridge and climb up to the left along the hairpin bends of the road, some of which is unpaved, that leads to the village of Possetta.
Do not continue along the path that climbs up to the Tschawiner alpine pastures, but at some houses take the path that heads towards the visible Monscera Pass. The route, which needs to be taken on foot, climbs quickly through the woods, then comes out and crosses some rocky slopes on the hillside and after a last stretch of grass leads to the summit at 2103 m (6900 ft). Go down the opposite side, first on a path, then – after having skirted a small lake – on the road, at times very uneven, which crosses Alpe di Monscera and descends into the woods via several hairpin bends until you reach Alpe San Bernardo after a short climb. From the white church follow the vehicle accessible road that goes down to Graniga, San Lorenzo, Bognanco Fonti and, finally, Domodossola.

Useful info

Route

Domodossola – Gondo – Zwischbergental – Monscera Pass – San Bernardo – Bognanco – Domodossola

Starting point

Domodossola 270 m (886 ft)

Highest point reached

Monscera Pass, 2103 m (6900 ft)

Overall ascent

1849 m (6006 ft)

Lenght

66 km

Cyclability

Good

Best time of year

July – September

Difficulty

MI

Maps

CNS f.274 Visp, f.275 Valle Antigorio, f.285 Domodossola, f.1309 Simplon / IGC f.11 Domodossola and Val Formazza

Ideal for
Everybody
You will discover
Nature
Sport
Guide to itineraries and useful info
Ideal for
Everybody
You will discover
Nature
Sport
Guide to itineraries and useful info
Choose your
mountain guide
Pro loco della Valle Divedro
Frazione San Domenico
28868 Varzo (VB)
See map
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tour or nature guide

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