This itinerary by mountain bike, leads you through the beautiful Val Sanagra Park, a territory rich in flora, fauna and ancient rural settlements. From Menaggio you make your way to the village Loveno in order to reach Piamuro. Herere you enter the Val Sanagra Park. From the Vecchia Chioderia, an agriturismo with a trout farm, you cycle to the village Codogna. The road Sp 8, with beautiful views of the Val Menaggio, leads to the charming village of Naggio. The route continues into the upper part of Val Sanagra as far as Monti di Grandola 858 m, the highest point on this itinerary. You descend along a marvelous mule track, enjoying a splendid view of Lake Lugano and Lago di Piano to the village Gottro. From the Romanesque church of San Giorgio a challenging path leads to the Rogolone, a huge centuries-old oak, a natural monument and symbol of the Val Sanagra Park. From here you return to Codogna and pass Villa Camozzi, seat of the Val Sanagra Ethnographic and Naturalistic Museum. From here you cycle back the same way you came.
Description
From Menaggio follow the main road 340 in the direction of Lugano. After three bends turn right into via N. Sauro direction Loveno. After 500 meters take the continuation of via N. Sauro to the left. It comes out onto Largo Vittorio Veneto from where you go left into via Garovaglio. Once at the church of San Lorenzo, go left along via Catulla Mylius Vigoni. Past the sports center you reach the grassy plateau called Piamuro (alt. 381 m).
Continue straight on along the dirt road following the sign n. 4 of the Val Sanagra Park, and you soon reach the Sanagra river. From Mulino della Valle just before the bridge, turn right and follow the narrow path along the river. You pass the Fornace Galli, an old brick factory, and reach the agriturismo the Vecchia Chioderia, once a nail factory now a trout farm with inn. Pass in front of the farm and cross the bridge over the river and follow the steep road to Codogna (alt. 455 m) Turn right and, after 50 meters, follow the provincial road of Grandola to the right. Climb up to the church of Naggio (alt. 670 m) where you turn left. After about 200 meters turn right and followthe signs for Val Sanagra-Monti di Gottro. Once you have reached Monti di Grandola alt 858 m, the highest point of the itinerary, turn left and follow the sign for Crotto Mirabel.
From the parking take the steep descending path. At the junction turn right. The trail comes out onto a splendid mule track that goes down to the village of Gottro (alt. 567) At the piazza where there is a fountain turn left and near a wash house you reach the paved road. Continue to the right and after about 50 meters take a left. Leave the road almost immediately and follow the sign for the church of San Giorgio. At the church take the chalenging path in the direction of the Rogolone. At the fork keep right. From the Rogolone continue straight on until you get back to Codogna on the side of the villa Camozzi. Turn left and then right into via al Mulino and return back to the Vecchia Chioderia. Back the same way.
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