Passo della Morte (All Mountain / Enduro)
The elevation gain and distance involved make this quite a challenging tour; the route also presents some technical complications on certain steep stretches on loose rocky terrain
Signage: 746. Passo della Morte Trail - Tour
With an elevation gain of over 1700 m, stretches of steep gradient and a distance of 56 km, this tour needs some serious preparation.
Particularly on the western slopes of Mount Brento and Mount Casale, a gps device could come in really useful.
If you plan to do it on an emtb, bearing in mind the average autonomy of the batteries currently available on the market, you need to manage consumption carefully.
On the downhill run, as already mentioned, the terrain may be treacherous as it is very rough and loose in certain sections. Once you get down to the Lower Sarca Valley, your return trip to Arco will be mostly on cycle paths.
Track types
Rest stops
Rifugio Malga San GiovanniSafety information
ITRS - International Trail Rating System
The ITRS is an objective way to assess trails and routes from a biker’s perspective, evaluating four aspects:
- Technical Difficulty: riding skill level needed
- Endurance: combined effect of length, uphill and downhill
- Wilderness: amount of planning required based on mobile phone reception, rescue options, water supply and wildlife
- Exposure: consequences of a fall
Discover more about the ITRS system and check the classification of this tour in the photo gallery.
Safety Tips
- Always wear your helmet.
- Plan your ride.
- You share the trail with other users. Yield right of way to hikers.
- Let your speed be determined by your experience.
- Ride slowly on crowded trails, overtake with politeness and respect.
- Cycle only on authorized and open trails.
- Avoid muddy trails in order not to damage them further.
- Respect public and private property.
- Always be self-sufficient.
- Do not cycle solo in remote areas.
This information is subject to inevitable variations, so none of these indications are absolute. It is not entirely possible to avoid giving inexact or imprecise information, given how quickly environmental and weather conditions can change. For this reason, we decline any responsibility for changes which the user may encounter. In any case, it is advisable to check environment and weather conditions before setting out.
Tips and hints
For more information on routes, bike services (rentals, workshops, shops) and cycling friendly accommodation: Garda Trentino - +39 0464 554444
Start
Destination
Turn-by-turn directions
The track provided gives the starting point as Arco; the cycle path near the Caneve car park, to be exact. Following the initial directions you head towards the town centre where you will find no signposts telling you what way to go. Nonetheless, it is easy to see and get to the church in the town centre, and cross Piazza III Novembre leaving the building behind you. At the left end of the square, at the start of via Vergolano, turn into the lane on your right and immediately turn left into Via del Dosso. Follow the old-fashioned laneway which leads into the historic part of Arco and continue on down via Stranfora. Keep on straight leaving the little church of San Bernardino on your left. When you have passed the old fountain, head uphill a short distance before turning left through the ancient walls (Porta Stranfora). Continue on to the right past the entrance to the Parco Arciducale and then turn left.
From the next junction on you will find directions again marked with the number 747, leading you through the Olivaia olive groves of Arco. Here the gradient is at times really steep. Once you come back onto the paved road, keep to the right and follow it in the firection of Padaro, about a kilometre away. When you get to the town you will also find a fresh water spring, the gradient levels off a little but you are still looking at around 10%. Keep on straight following the main road past Mandrea and Doss del Cléf. When you come to San Giovanni al Monte, you can stop off at the farmhouse for lunch in the mountains. It is a classic destination for local cyclists, but to get over the hill, you have to climb a further 350 m or so. In Marcarie, you will find yourself back on a dirt road again, with clear signposting to take to the meadowns of Malga di Vigo. Turn right here towards Malga Valbona. Once you reach it you will have to climb again for a bit to come to the higest point on the route but it’s not that far. Follow the clear signposting along the forest road and keep left, then right at the next fork. Finally, you are over the crest of the hill and begin your descent towards Comano, still on a forest road, until you come to the signpost for route 746 which you leave on your right. Here you begin a stretch on an old mule trail which is rather loose and little used. There is then another short stretch on forest road in the area around the church of Santa Croce which you leave on your right. The terrain gets quite loose again, there is a short uphill stretch, then you turn sharp left following a downhill trail which leads you onto a paved road for the centre of Cormano.
You come out on a bend, and follow directions, keeping to the left and continuing on downhill to the nearby town. Before you get there, keep to the right and head straight on down the forest road for the Passo della Morte. One over the pass, you are heading downhill once more until you come to the cycle path in the gorge Forra del Limarò. The terrain is initially smooth, but it gradually gets looser and more technical. Once you come to the cycle path, keep to the right and follow it down until soon after, you come to the main road. Keep on downhill around 4 bends until you come on the cycle path near Sarche on your right. Follow the river of the same name along the cycle path in the direction of Garda as far as Pietramurata. When you are in front of the church, follow directions and cross the countryside until you come back onto the cycle path which you follow as far as Dro. Here it is interrupted again, but follow the directions for bikes, cross through the town centre, and keep on going down the road towards Ceniga. Once you pass this little town and the acess road for the Roman Bridge on your right, you will come across the cycle path once more which you taken as far as Arco, your point of departure.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
The main towns in Garda Trentino - Riva del Garda, Arco, Torbole sul Garda, Nago – are connected by several urban and intercity bus lines which will take you to the starting point of tours or in the immediate surroundings.
You can also get to Riva del Garda and Torbole sul Garda by the public ferry service.
Up-to-date information on timetables and routes.
By road
Find out how to reach Garda Trentino.
Parking
Parking near the former hospital (Via Rosmini) or the former cemetery (Viale Damiano Chiesa).
Paid parking: Terme Romane (Viale Roma), Vecchia stazione (Largo Medaglie d’Oro), Ex-agraria (Via Lutti), Area ex-Cattoi (Viale Rovereto).
Coordinates
Author’s map recommendations
Garda Trentino BIKE Map – Available in the info points of Garda Trentino (Riva del Garda, Arco, Torbole sul Garda, Ledro, Comano Terme)
Equipment
Riding your bike requires specific clothing and equipment, even for relatively short and easy trips. It is always better to be prepared… e.g. for bad weather or a sudden drop in your energy levels. The unexpected things are part of the fun!
Remember to thoroughly evaluate the type of route you plan on doing, the locations you intend to cross and the current season. Has it been raining? Attention: The paths may be slippery and require more caution.
What do I need to bring on my bike tour?
- An adequate water supply according to your needs (considering temperature, possibility of refuelling and duration of the route)
- Plenty of snacks (for example, dried fruit or energy bars)
- Waterproof / Windproof jacket
- A spare top / spare socks (Descending in a sweaty garment, will make you cold).
- Suncream
- Sunglasses
- Bike gloves/mitts
- Map or GPS device
- Bike lights: best placed on your helmet or handlebars. (It is always best to be prepared)
- Bike repair kit for punctures and mechanical breakdowns
- First aid kit
- Emergency whistle
It is always advised to let someone know where you plan to go and how long you expect to be.
Emergency telephone number 112.
Statistics
- 12 Waypoints
- 12 Waypoints
Questions and answers
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Photos from others