MTB tour to Mt. Roen and the Giogo di Corona

Demanding MTB tour in the south of South Tyrol with fantastic view on the Swiss, Austrian and Italian Alps

Map See map
video : MTB Sunrise Tour to Mt. Roen
We take the Mendola funicular at S. Antonio/Caldaro up to the Mendola pass (1,350 m asl.).
Foto: AT, © Peer
At the top of the pass we follow the path no. 500, a comfortable forest path with only short steep sections.
Foto: AT, © Peer
After 30 minutes we arrive at the Rif. Mezzavia (Halbweghütte mountain hut).
Foto: AT, © Peer
Also the Malga Romeno offers the possibility to take a rest. Here the paths to the Val di Non and to the Rif. Oltradige branch off.
Foto: AT, © Peer
We stick to the marker no. 500, the only path which makes an access to the summit by MTB possible.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Some parts are quite steep and have a slippery gravel surface, we have to wheel…
Foto: AT, © Peer
At 2,000 metres asl. the timberline is reached. The Monte Roen mountain is an extensive mountain with alpine meadows and high mountain vegetation.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Speciose alpine landscape - various alpine flowers bloom up here.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The summit is nearly reached…
Foto: AT, © Peer
The 2,116 m high peak is marked with a red pillar. In the background the impressive Dolomites.
Foto: AT, © Peer
On the neighbouring little peak a summit cross is located.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Unfortunately the visibility is not that good today - here the view down on Bolzano.
Foto: AT, © Peer
View towards south: on the crest of the Roen we already see the path, along which we will cycle soon.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The steepest and most dangerous sections we have to carry our bicycles down.
Foto: AT, © Peer
View on the Oltradige and Bassa Atesina with the Lake of Caldaro.
Foto: AT, © Peer
The last metres down to the Testa Nera are so steep, that even carrying is complicated. Watch out!
Foto: AT, © Peer
Arrived at the Testa Nera - the end of the first part of our descent.
Foto: AT, © Peer
A bit further south we reach the “Bocca di Val Calana”.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Now it’s getting easy: a nearly flat forest road proceeds towards south until the Giogo di Corona, where our second descent starts.
Foto: AT, © Peer
Descent along the forest path - gorgeous! A real reward!
Foto: AT, © Peer
Shortly before we reach the village of Corona, the road surface is again asphalt.
Foto: AT, © Peer
From Corona back to Caldaro it is only a pleasant ride. The MTB Roen tour is finished.
Foto: AT, © Peer

The Mendola packs a punch: The highest point of it, the Monte Roen mountain, indeed is "only" 2,116 m high, but this tour is rich in variety, gorgeous ascents and descents but also parts to wheel and to carry can be experienced. Our starting point is the valley station of the Mendola Funicular in Sant'Antonio di Caldaro. Due to the fact that it is weekend, plenty of bikers will choose the Mendola Road today, so we want to spare this section and enjoy the venerable funicular which also transports our bicycles. Arrived at the top we follow the marker no. 500, which leads us to the Rif. Mezzavia (Halbweg Hut) in 30 minutes. Further we proceed along the comfortable wide forest path to the Romeno Mountain Hut, a rustic cultivated hut at 1,780 m a.s.l.

Here cycling is over for the first time. The path no. 500 which proceeds from the Malga Romeno towards the summit of the Monte Roen is steep and has a bad gravel surface. More than half an hour we wheel and carry our bicycles, partly cycling can be managed. Finally the highest point is reached - the peak of the Monte Roen! We left the timberline below us and enjoy a fantastic panoramic view on the Swiss, Austrian and Italian alpine world. After a well-deserved break in the meadow we decide to cycle back via the Giogo di Corona.

A single trail proceeds until the viewpoint "Verbrenntes Egg" always towards south. At the steepest sections we have to carry our bicycles down, attention - the gravel is slippery! Then we carry on our descent, finally we reach a forest road which leads us to the Giogo di Corona. Here we start an appreciative descent down to the village of Corona (800 m a.s.l.) where we take the road towards Cortaccia and come back to Caldaro via Ronchi, Termeno village and along the Wine Road.

Author: AT

circular route difficulty: moderate summit route with lifts

Starting point:

S. Antonio di Caldaro (valley station Mendola funicular)
Time required:

05:00 h
Track length:

41,0 km
Altitude:

from 217 m to 2.112 m
Altitude difference:

+1092 m | -1955 m
Route:

Passo Mendola - Roen - Testa Nera - Giogo di Corona - Corona - Cortaccia - Termeno - Caldaro
Destination:

Roen (summit)
Track surface:

gravel path (forest road), single trail, slippy path, asphalt
Recommended time of year:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Download GPX track:

MTB tour to Mt. Roen and the Giogo di Corona