Cycling in Comelico and Sappada

From Padola, through Alpine huts and places of the Great War

Starting point: Padola, tennis courts
Lenght: 29.9 km
Duration: 3 hours
Difficulty: difficult
Difference in height: 1000 m
Comments: very interesting itinerary from a historical and environmental point of view

Route
From the tennis courts, along the road to Padola, you will arrive at the Carabinieri Barracks. Turn left and go ahead till the crossing, then follow the directions to Belluno, Santo Stefano and Sappada. Continue towards Casamazzagno: few metres before the church turn left to a uphill road, first paved and then asphalted. The scenery here is magnificent: the Croda Rossa di Sesto, Cima Undici, the Popera... following it you will reach a crossing at 1600 m. Turning right (CAI sign n.147/148/149), you will reach another crossing, where you turn left towards Colrotondo (sign n.149/148). Keep the direction towards Rinfreddo-Colrotondo (sign n.149), here the track will enter a mule track. Here several latches will begin, and they will characterize the track till Passo Monte Croce. After about 16 km, you will arrive to Malga Rinfreddo, from where you will climb again to Malga Colrotondo. This area has been theatre of violent slaughters during the Great War and nowadays you can still see the ruins of the defence structures, of the trenches and the tunnels on the peak of Col Quaternà.From Malga Col Rotondo the descent to Passo Monte Croce eventually starts. Here turn left towards Padola.