The Salt and Wine Road
The Salt and Wine Road is a short bikepacking loop that follows the Italian-Swiss border between the Stelvio National Park and Val Mustair Biosfera, two protected natural areas in the heart of the Alps.
The route mixes in dirt roads, singletrack trails, and an ancient road used in the Middle Ages to trade wine from Italy to central Europe and salt from Switzerland to northern Italy.
The Salt and Wine road was created to combine several mountain bike routes into a great two-day bikepacking loop. It packs a lot into a short distance: wide valleys, big blue lakes, majestic views of massive peaks, a small and charming Swiss village, and a natural hot water pool for relaxing at the end of the ride.
The Stelvio National Park and the Val Mustair Biosfera are famous for their singletrack trails, and they make a true paradise. For this reason, both can become crowded during the height of the summer season. As such, we chose to ride the loop in autumn since it’s the ideal time to enjoy the wild character of these landscapes without the crowds. Learn more about the ride itinerary under Trail Notes and when to ride it under Must Know.
ROUTE DIFFICULTY
The loop uses a variety of surfaces, including a little tarmac, lots of smooth and fast gravel roads, as well as some challenging singletrack. The Alpe del Gallo uphill section presents loose rock and roots that make it more demanding to ride. The alpine mountain environment also plays a role in the difficulty of the Salt and Wine Road, as the route reaches an altitude of 2,700 meters (8,900 feet), where bad weather can cause rough and dangerous conditions. For that reason, this loop is generally unrideable during winter and spring when it’s is covered in snow. Resupply is fairly straightforward (see Food/H2O below for details).
Please find the original article on bikepaking.com:
https://bikepacking.com/routes/salt-and-wine-road/
Credits: Francesco Bonvecchio andDenis Sassudelli
@bonvecchiofrancesco
Gps track:
