Wide open view before entering the woods

The starting line of this tour is in Cugliate, a small village northern of Valganna. Head west on the main paved road and follow the signs to Montegrino. After 3 kilometers you'll get to Castendallo, where you'll meet a bifurcation. Follow the road that climbs east (Via Roverpiano). At the next bifurcation follow the sign to Sette Termini; from here on you'll enter the woods. The road climbs gently (around 8%) and the U-turns follow each other with a good timing, allowing you to raise the pace (or just to take breath, depending on how your shape is...).

After 4 kilometers of easy climb, you'll get to a bifurcation, where you'll have to go on the right. This section of the road has been paved recently to street cyclists' happiness and MTBikers' sadness. After 3 more U-turns you'll get to the Sette Termini's restaurant. Keep on riding on the paved road, which will now start descending, and at the first U-turn leave the cement and take the fire road on the left. In a few minutes you'll get to the summit, a meadow that has been conquered by a few birches. Along the road you'll meet some wrong trails, but following the signs you should be able to find the right one.

Exciting descent through the pine woods

To head down you can use the western fire road (look for the white and red signs), that runs through the former pastures now invaded by ferns and takes you back to the paved road you just climbed. But don't be scared: if you follow down the road to the first U-turn, you'll meet another fire road that heads off and goes through a thick pinewood (keep following the white and red signs). The fire road gets tighter and tighter, and it quickly turns into a hiking path. Here things gets really enjoyable, but that's not a good reason to become barbarous: avoid destroying the microcosm that lives under your wheels by skidding and braking without any reason.

Sunset over Lake Ceresio, seen from San Paolo's church

Along the descent you'll cross a couple of tracks, which you'll have to ignore. Further down the path you'll meet another gravel road at 640 m above sea level. It's easy to get lost here, so if you don't have an altimeter or a GPS, you should verify that the road you're following has a sign that reads Marchirolo. Follow the road on the right. After 3 kilometers studded with climbs, some gentler and some tougher, you'll get to a paved road again. You're at Colle La Nave (813 m), a pass that joins Mount Sette Termini with Mount la Nave.

Ride down the paved road for a few meters and then, once you got at the lowest point, take the gravel road on the left. Follow the signs to San Paolo: you'll go through some more short but tough climbs and you'll arrive at the ancient and lonely church of San Paolo, that offers a magnificent view over Lake Ceresio. Go past the church and you'll start going down, until you'll get back to the paved road. Now you just have to ride down the paved road to get back to Cugliate.