Domodossola, Lago Maggiore e Valle Cannobina − loop tour

The Val Cannobio on the western shore of the northern Lago Maggiore is an unconditional recommendation for a great road bike tour. The approach from Verbania along the lake is naturally flat at first. You pass a number of small towns, each more beautiful than the last, but Cannero stands out in particular, which is really beautifully situated on a small alluvial fan on the lake shore. Passing the Castelli Cannero, Cannobio is quickly reached. If you are lucky, like I am today, and the traffic is moderate, this section is a lot of fun. In Cannobio you should at least take the time to visit the waterfront promenade, a short break for a coffee and a sweet pastry is also a good idea. Out of Cannobio it goes straight uphill, with a moderate incline you overcome the entrance to Val Cannobio, mostly in the shade in the forest. Beautiful views alternate with deep cuts at the roadside, where you can see some waterfalls. It continues very varied, mostly slightly uphill, there are also a few short intermediate slopes. Again and again you can see mountain villages built high on the steep valley slopes, but the road itself initially remains on the valley floor, which often narrows like a gorge. Even at midday there is often shade here, which should make the ride a pleasant thing even in midsummer. The surface is currently new for almost the entire route. Shortly before the end, the previously narrow to very narrow road becomes a wide, two-lane dirt road with two tunnels for about two kilometers. Before the last village of Finero, the route becomes narrow again and shortly after the village you reach the Pian dei Sali, a wonderful natural idyll, where a high moor right next to the road offers a true "oasis naturale". Shortly afterwards you reach the pass at 965m, which is officially called Passo Scopello. However, Cannobio's Marco Pantani fan club erected a stone monument there in 2004, which now refers to the pass as Passo Marco Pantani 🙂. Il Pirata would have been happy. The descent down to Malesco is short and unspectacular, as is the further journey via Santa Maria Maggiore down into the Toce valley, which you reach again at Masera. The return trip to Verbania is flat and in good weather you can now look forward to constant and mostly strong headwinds, the valley wind in large Alpine valleys is a very reliable factor. Nevertheless, the northern side of the valley between Cuzzago and Mergozzo is another highlight, the very steep mountain slopes there are untypically overgrown and yet swing well over 1000 meters above the valley floor, repeatedly cut through by gorge-like valleys - great. All in all a nice round tour, the highlight of which is clearly the passage through the Val Cannobio.

A nice tour that I take again and again when I'm on Lake Maggiore. First at the lake in the direction of Verbania, the arch over Pallanza is worthwhile because of the quiet route and many cafes on the promenade. Continue via Mergozzo through the Ossola Valley on a quiet branch line towards Domodossola. Today I had to avoid the biggest showers, which I managed to do with two shelters. After the first ascent of the day to Druogno, it goes downhill at high speed to Malesco, before the final ascent of the day towards Val Cannobina awaits. The Val Cannobina is rugged and villages stick to the mountains like birds' nests. Unfortunately, the road surface has been getting worse for years, so that the descent itself is less of a pleasure. The many great sights more than make up for it. There seems to be a game of cat and mouse when driving around a tunnel: Sunday the way to the memorial was blocked by a grille, today the bars were cut and the way was free. PS: Unfortunately this time the order of the pictures and the km indication is seldom correct. They can be better assigned via the labeling.

Chilling in the GA1 uphill and back in a strong headwind - but looking at the heart.... ø 117 Hz 😁

Nice tour, variated. This tour is best counterclockwise, on the road between Val Vigezzo and Masera there is a long tunnel with a lot of traffic that is OK downwards, but to be avoided upwards.

Did I already write that this is one of my favorite tours on Lake Maggiore? Not this year yet. Rolling into the Val d'Ossola, a steep climb into the Val Vigezzo, a short roll to Malesco, we had the climb to the Passo Pantani (passo Scopello) to ourselves today. The descent in the Cannobina Valley only briefly interrupted for the lunch break in Cursolo. A 3km detour to Alessandro, who likes to host you. Spontaneously there was panini with cheese and sausage on Monday, with advance notice you can also get polenta or other dishes. A visit to Alessandor's sun terrace at the upper end of the Cannobina Valley is a good place to stop for lunch on today's tour. That's why I'm putting an ad for Alessandro's "Ostello del Sole" in the comment or in the picture today. Since we are still here in the early season, many ships are not sailing yet. However, the Laveno-Intra car ferry runs regularly. With arrival and departure from the quarter to Laveno it was even 130km today. We were a little unlucky on the section of the Cannobio - Intra shore road, as we were right in the middle of the after-work rush hour and there were a lot of cars on the road. From 10.4. if ships from Cannobio and Cannero go to Luino again, the rush hour can certainly be avoided. Otherwise you can start today's round trip at many points. In Val Vigezzo and Cannobina, nature was almost completely in hibernation, only a few fresh greens could be seen. There were more blossoms in the lower Ossola Valley.

Finally got a break in the weather for this tour. Last time I did this one was with my buddy Kalle who’s not around anymore. Here’s thinking of you!

After Domodossola there is a long tunnel. That's why I recommend doing the tour the other way around. The climb from Cannobio is also more beautiful!