The route develops in the area which in wintertime is devoted to skiing, and is a more demanding variant to the “Alpe Groppera Ring (gentle)” excursion.
The first stretch of the outing from Madesimo to Alpe Motta takes you along an asphalt road within a wood much-loved in his day by poet Giosuè Carducci. Once at the aforementioned Alpe take the flat section to the heart of the little nucleus. Leaving the habitation behind, you begin to climb what in winter represents the ski piste (the blue“Serenissima”), before carrying on to the arrival point of the Palù chairlift on the “skiweg” which leads all the way to the upper pastures of Alpe Motta.
At the fountain leave the asphalt road behind and adopt the path which heads for the Statua di Nostra Signora D’Europa. (1.925 m), created at the behest of Don Luigi Re. A hundred metres after crossing the little bridge, you might take a short detour on the right to delight in Lago Azzurro, nestling in woodland, which has the distinctive feature of being naturally fed by an underground spring. But don’t forget to take a little time out at the foot of the statue itself. It’s a panoramic paradise that extends fully 360 degrees taking in the entire summits of Valle Spluga down to the peaks above Lake Como.
Back on your trusty two-wheeler, head downhill to the departure spot of the Serenissima chairlift, from where you climb again up towards la Colmanetta following a trail created in wintertime to allow skiers to move from the eastern Colmanetta area to Motta Alta. Now turn northwards on dirt trails to arrive at the Groppera basin, partly by way of a tunnel. And so to the very foot of il Canalone, one of the most sensational off-piste winter attractions within the entire Alpine arc.
From the mountain dwellings of Groppera to get back down to Madesimo, take the blue “Baloon” track of the MadeBike Park. Anyone preferring to cycle down on an asphalt surface can take the consortium road to the valley bottom.