VisitOssola, in collaboration with MTB guide Veronica Cantonetti, offers two routes to discover the Anzasca Valley on your mountain bike.
Alpe Provaccio (Bannio Anzino)
The starting point is Riscillone, a village in the municipality of Bannio Anzino, where there is a small car park. Get on your bike and ride along a medium-steep asphalt road until you reach Alpe Balmo. From here the route continues along a dirt road to Alpe Provaccio. When you reach your destination, you can catch your breath and feast your eyes on the spectacular view of Monte Rosa.
Alpe Provaccio was equipped with ski facilities for the winter season until the late 1980s and you can still see evidence of this small station with its ski lift and old chairlift. A dirt road (under construction as of April 2022) leads away from Alpe Provaccio. Once completed, it will connect to Alpe Rausa and will therefore make it possible to extend the cycling route up to this panoramic mountain pasture at an altitude of 1600 metres.
The proposed route is very enjoyable: although it is suitable for cyclists with a good fitness level, it does not pose any particular challenges. The return journey to Riscillone is along the same road as the ascent.
Fairy Lake (Macugnaga)
Veronica’s second tip takes us to the foot of Monte Rosa. Isella, a hamlet in Macugnaga, is the starting point for the route to the enchanting Fairy Lake: from Isella, following the signs, a moderately steep dirt road (used by many pedestrians and a few cars) leads up to Fairy Lake. In the wonderful setting of this destination, you can relax or enjoy a natural snack at the restaurant overlooking the turquoise water.
You can also continue and follow an easily accessible path along the lake. There are two options for the descent: you can either return along the dirt road you took on the way up or you can take a path through the woods to the hamlet of Fornarelli, from where you can return to the Isella car park in a few minutes.
The uphill route is undemanding and suitable for everyone, while the descent through the path requires a certain degree of balance and an ability to cope with slightly uneven terrain.
