CYCLAMEN AND VOTIVE PILLARS MTB RING TRAIL FROM LOTTULO

21 km

One of the tours that the wonderful Valle Maira offers to MTB lovers, one of the “musts” of the area. The trail of the Cyclamen and the more hidden but equally fascinating trail of the votive pillars are the ingredients of this beautiful MTB ring trail that will allow us to ride at a high altitude, admiring breathtaking views and the magnificent blooms of wild cyclamen in August and September. A ring route, suitable for bikers with an average level of training given the bumpy surface on both the uphill and downhill stretches.

Difficulty level

Climb: MC+ / Descent: BC

Exposition

S1

Distance

21 km

Altitude difference

750 mt

Lowest / Highest point

800 m min - 1.300 m max

Season

AUTUMN , SUMMER , SPRING

Recommended season

From end of May to October

Tour type

Ring

Suitable for

Full / front MTB or front / full E-Bike

Targets

SPORTSPERSON

Please note that itineraries may include roads where motor vehicles are allowed. Authors and trail testers are not responsible for the information contained.

The Stages

the route

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The full route is about 21 km long, with an elevation gain of over 750 metres. It is an itinerary that we recommend you tackle with a front or full MTB or e-bike as the terrain it features is mostly unpaved and bumpy. A dirt road that we recommend you travel when the cyclamen are in bloom, taking great care on both the uphill and downhill stretches due to its popularity with hikers.

The route starts from Lottulo, in the clearing on the left in a curve just before the village, where you can park, and heads upstream in the direction of Acceglio. The first stretch of road that you will face is on asphalt and features gentle slopes that will enable you to warm up your leg muscles for the climb to Camoglieres. About a couple of kilometres after leaving Lottulo, you turn right onto a stretch of paved road with steep ramps that leads you, a few kilometres later, to the beautiful village of Camoglieres. Continue uphill as far as the cordoned off “via ferrata” junction then turn left onto the dirt road of the Cyclamen route.

Heading slightly uphill, you will ride along a beautiful loop-shaped scenic path, lined with helpful signs displaying information about the local flora along the way. As you pedal, the gradient will flatten out and you will arrive in the area of a gigantic Scots pine forest, unfortunately seriously damaged by a fire in 1990. From here, the route descends slightly and on your left you come across a votive pillar dedicated to the Madonna with cliffs at the back, the ideal location for a selfie. You continue downhill, and the slope increases but the surface is perfect and at the junction you follow the yellow notches of the Occitan paths, until you reach “case Caricatori”.

After a short stop to fill your water bottle, having left the dirt road, you continue your descent for a short distance on asphalt, ignoring the first junction with yellow arrows, and carrying on until you reach the signpost indicating Macra. Here, turn right, and take the dirt path, which is a real spectacle. Firm rocks alternate with smooth surfaces and the route continuously crosses the stream on wooden bridges, but pay attention to your speed because the area is very popular with trekkers.

Following the signs for Macra, you’ll soon reach the end of the village; continue for a stretch along the provincial road and after a few metres turn right and go as far as the bridge where you will find the signs for Celle Macra. After crossing the bridge, a 5-km climb with a regular gradient awaits you. Pass through the villages of Matalia and Bassura until you reach Celle Macra and, leaving it behind on the right, continue as far as the village of Ansoleglio, and pass through it until the end of the asphalt road. From here, the second and last descent of the tour begins: initially you’ll find yourself on a wide dirt road that then narrows into a smooth and fast single-track course with many votive pillars. 

Keep right at the first votive pillar you encounter, and at the MTB signpost, follow the arrow. Then ignore the second MTB arrow and refrain from going down to the left, but stay at the same altitude, going to the right. 

The second part of the descent is more technical, with steps and hairpin bends, but it is no less beautiful. Once on the asphalt in Garino, turn left to go back uphill on the provincial road of the Maira Valley: Lottulo is right above it. One of the longest single-track paths in the lower and middle Maira Valley offers a worthy conclusion to this beautiful ring trail.

Download Cycling and Cycling Tourism Itineraries in the Province of Cuneo

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What

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sleeping

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