How do I get to the start in Rastello for this cycling trip?

Rastello is a hamlet in the municipality of Roccaforte Mondovì, about 7 km south of the centre. It can be reached by car from Mondovì (15 minutes) and from Cuneo (45 minutes). Convenient parking is available on site, as well as a bar with terrace; the ideal starting point for preparing this cycling trip. From France, Nice is the natural gateway via the Tende tunnel, with train connections to Cuneo.

Is it possible to make this trip by bike using an electrically assisted bicycle?

Yes, but with important reservations. Section S2 between Gias Gruppetti and the Passo delle Saline requires excellent EV riding skills, because of the extra weight of the battery on a steep path. Portages are still likely even with electric assistance. The CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge (open in summer) can be used as an intermediate recharging point. For an e-bike tour of the region, however, the asphalt sections of the Ellero valley and the sections to Piaggia and Monesi are ideal.

Can we divide this cycling trip into several stages?

Yes, and it’s even advisable for a more comfortable stay. There are two options. A one-day trip for experienced mountain bikers: leaving early from Rastello, arriving in Margaria Loxe in the late afternoon. In two stages for a more relaxed cycling trip: first night in Piaggia or Monesi di Triora (accommodation available), second day towards Margaria Loxe and the Alta Via del Sale. The Foresteria di Carnino is also a good stop-off point for those who want to take a more detailed look at the itinerary.

Where can I get water on this cycle route?

There are water points all along the route: at Rastello at the start, at the CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge (open in summer) on the Pian Marchisio plateau, then at Carnino Inferiore, Upega, Piaggia and Monesi di Triora. Make sure you have a good supply of water between Gias Gruppetti and Carnino. The S2/S3 section around the Passo delle Saline is the most exposed and the furthest from any refreshment point.

What's the best time of year for this cycling trip?

From June to October. Early in the season, the Passo delle Saline may still be covered in snow, and this is also the best time to admire the Garb della Fuze waterfall in the Gola delle Fascette, which is only visible in spring or after heavy rain. July and August offer ideal conditions, but accommodation in Piaggia and Monesi fills up quickly at weekends. September remains the ideal window of opportunity for a cycling trip in the Alpes Maritimes.

What technical level is required for this course?

This cycling route is for experienced mountain bikers only. The route is graded S2 for the uphill section (Gias Gruppetti – Passo delle Saline) and S3 for the downhill section (Passo delle Saline – Carnino Inferiore); RivierALP’s most demanding technical levels. Traditional bikes are likely to have to carry some loads between Gias Gruppetti and the pass. The rest of the route (asphalt and dirt roads) is accessible to experienced cyclists in good physical condition. This is not the ideal cycling road trip for beginners.

What is the Via Pompea and why is it important on this route?

The Via Pompea is an ancient Roman road built around 100 BC by Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo to link Alba Pompeia (Alba) with Alba Ingauna (Albenga) and the sea. It crossed the Ellero valley and is one of the oldest trade routes in the Ligurian Alps, used for centuries to transport salt, wine and oil. In Rastello, you can still see the remains of the cobblestones, just one of the many features that make this cycling trip a real journey through history. The name of the hamlet of Rastello itself is linked to the administrative conflicts that marked the area between Roccaforte and Frabosa Sottana.

Can this cycle route link up with other RivierALP routes?

Yes, that’s its great strength. At Margaria Loxe, this cycling road trip joins the route from Limone Piemonte on the Alta Via del Sale. From here, you can continue on to Sanremo (the Col de Tende to Sanremo cyclo rando route, around 100 km) or Imperia (the Col de Tende to Imperia MTB route, 91 km). RivierALP allows you to put together tailor-made cross-border cycling trips between France and Italy , combining several routes to suit your tastes and ability. See our maps here .

What ideas for cycling holidays can be built around this route?

There are several ideas for cycling trips around this itinerary. For a sportive weekend: arrival in Rastello on Friday evening, cycling road trip on Saturday to Piaggia or Monesi, descent to the sea on Sunday from Margaria Loxe. For a week-long cycling trip, you can combine the itinerary from Rastello with the Limone Piemonte – Menton crossing or the cyclo rando to Sanremo to link the Alps to the sea in several stages. From France, Nice is the ideal gateway via the Tende tunnel to reach Piedmont in less than two hours and start this cycling road trip in the Alpes Maritimes.

Where can you stay on this cycle route between Rastello and the Via del Sale?

There are several options, depending on how far along the route you are. The Foresteria di Carnino, in the hamlet of Carnino Inferiore, is a quality stopover well known to outdoor enthusiasts. At Piaggia and Monesi di Triora, more comfortable accommodation is available for an intermediate stay before the ascent to Margaria Loxe. For mountain bikers who want to start their cycling trip directly at altitude, the CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge (open in summer) offers an overnight stay in the heart of the Pian Marchisio plateau.

What other ideas are there for cycling trips in the region?

RivierALP offers a real guide to cycling road trips between Piedmont and Liguria. From Limone Piemonte, there are two main routes to the sea: the cyclo rando to Sanremo (99.7 km, S0 to S3) and the mountain bike route to Imperia (91 km, S2/S3) via the Colle di Nava . For more accessible stays, the walking itinerary from Roccaforte Mondovì to the Don Barbera refuge offers an alternative on foot in the same area. On the French side, the Limone Piemonte – Menton crossing (124 km, 8 stages) is the network’s flagship route for hikers wishing to link the Alpes Maritimes to the Mediterranean.

Cycling road trip to the Haute Route du Sel

Rastello – Piaggia – Haute Route du Sel itinerary

From Rastello to Via del Sale

Some cycling road trips are unforgettable. And that’s the case with this itinerary starting from the hamlet of Rastello. Through the Ellero valley, this mountain bike route follows the ancient Roman Via Pompea to cross the Pian Marchisio plateau and climb the Passo delle Saline to an altitude of over 2,170 metres. On the finishing line? Margaria Loxe, at the crossroads of the Alta Via del Sale and the gateway to Sanremo and Imperia. A 41.5-kilometre cycle journey that promises to be one of the most memorable ever at RivierALP.

See the gpx route

Rastello (Roccaforte Mondovì) - Piaggia - Haute Route du Sel :the MTB(AE) trail in figures

41.5 kilometres

Ascent: 2,381 metres
Negative difference in altitude: 1,361 metres

By bike: Mountain bike(AE)/VAE

Difficulty :

Level S3, trained cyclists

Surface :

35% dirt roads / 45% asphalt / 20% technical single tracks

Cycle route from Rastello From Rastello to the Via del Sale: an unforgettable cycling trip

With bike in hand, you have a date withone of RivierALP’s most beautiful cycle routes. Over more than 40 kilometres, you’ll have the chance to cross no less than two millennia of Alpine history, while exploring a twentieth-century military road. Here, the landscape changes by the hour. From the dense forests of the Ellero valley to the Bosco delle Navette, via the karst plateau of the Marguareis and the hamlets of Bergamo… This is the kind of cycling trip that quickly becomes addictive.

We set off from Rastello, a small hamlet in the municipality of Roccaforte Mondovì. As soon as you start pedalling towards Pian Marchisio, the tone is set. The gradient is steep, the terrain progressively harder… The cardio levels climb, and that’s not something you won’t enjoy. From Gruppetti (1,860 metres), the S2 signel track to the Passo delle Saline requires real technical skill. And for traditional bikes, a few portage sections are unavoidable. But the reward is well worth the effort. Fromthe pass at 2,174 metres, the karstic landscapes of the Marguareis stretch as far as the eye can see. And it’s beautiful!

Itinerary detailsRastello (Roccaforte Mondoví) - Piaggia - Via del Sale

Randonnée VTT(AE) : Rastello (Roccaforte Mondovì) - Piaggia - Haute route du sel

DépartRastello - Piaggia

StageRastello → Piaggia → Via del Sale

ArrivéeVia del Sale

This itinerary is ideally completed in one day for experienced mountain bikers, or in two stages with an overnight stay in Piaggia or Monesi di Triora for a more leisurely stay.

Cultural heritage to see

From the Via Pompea to the hamlets of Brigasca

This cycling tour is a perfect combination of natural heritage and cultural discoveries. It all starts in Rastello, where you can still make out the cobbled remains of theancient Via Pompea, a Roman road built around 100 BC to link Pompeia to the sea. This trade route for flour, wine, oil and above all salt was also the scene of the terrible Salt Wars between the Savoy and the local communes. A legacy that has literally shaped the area, and whose place names (Casa del Sale, Passo delle Saline, Colletta delle Salse) still carry the memory today.

At higher altitudes, the karst landscape of the Marguareis is home to geological nuggets that are not to be missed. Not forgetting the hamlets of Carnino, Upega and Piaggia, which embody a page of contemporary history. The result of the partition of the Briga territory after the Treaty of Paris in 1947, they now form the municipality of Briga Alta, the third least populated in Italy with just 42 inhabitants. This is a cycling tour that spans centuries of history without ever leaving the marked trails.

The Haute Route du sel: the highlight of this cycling trip

Margaria Loxe, at an altitude of 1,850 metres, is not just the finish of this cycling trip. It’s a veritable historical and logistical crossroads of the Southern Alps. This is where theAlta Via del Sale, the old military road built between 1938 and 1939, crosses the routes coming from Limone Piemonte, the Ellero valley and the Piedmont valleys. A meeting point for Roman trade routes, twentieth-century military routes and RivierALP cycle routes.

From Margaria Loxe, ideas for cycling holidays and trips abound. To the west, the Tanarello pass opens the way to Sanremo and the descent to the Ligurian Sea, one of the most spectacular cycle routes in the region. And don’t forget the CAI Sanremo T.Gauzzi and La Terza refuges for a stopover before the descent to Imperia. This crossroads is also the junction with the route from Limone Piemonte, making it possible to put together cross-border cycling road trips between France and Italy over several days. Departing from Rastello and arriving by the sea. It’s a mountain bike route that richly deserves its status as one of RivierALP’s emblematic routes!

Testimonial

“I was looking for a cycling route that was unlike anything I’d done before. What I found at Rastello was an adventure in itself. The first few hours towards Pian Marchisio are pretty tough, but when the plateau opens up before us with the Marguareis in the background, you understand why this bike trip is worth the diversions. The S3 single track from the Passo delle Saline is the most intense moment: technically demanding, but visually incredible. And then Carnino, Upega, Piaggia… these three hamlets of Briga Alta stopped me in my tracks for longer than I expected. You don’t expect to find so much history in such unassuming villages. Arriving at Margaria Loxe, with the Via del Sale stretching out in front of you towards Sanremo, is one of those moments of a cycling trip that lasts a lifetime.”

– Ethan, touring cyclist, full itinerary completed in May

Everything you need to know about your cycle tour between Rastello (Roccaforte Mondovì) and Via del Sale

How do I get to the start in Rastello for this cycling trip?
Rastello is a hamlet in the municipality of Roccaforte Mondovì, about 7 km south of the centre. It can be reached by car from Mondovì (15 minutes) and from Cuneo (45 minutes). Convenient parking is available on site, as well as a bar with terrace; the ideal starting point for preparing this cycling trip. From France, Nice is the natural gateway via the Tende tunnel, with train connections to Cuneo.
Is it possible to make this trip by bike using an electrically assisted bicycle?
Yes, but with important reservations. Section S2 between Gias Gruppetti and the Passo delle Saline requires excellent EV riding skills, because of the extra weight of the battery on a steep path. Portages are still likely even with electric assistance. The CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge (open in summer) can be used as an intermediate recharging point. For an e-bike tour of the region, however, the asphalt sections of the Ellero valley and the sections to Piaggia and Monesi are ideal.
Can we divide this cycling trip into several stages?
Yes, and it’s even advisable for a more comfortable stay. There are two options. A one-day trip for experienced mountain bikers: leaving early from Rastello, arriving in Margaria Loxe in the late afternoon. In two stages for a more relaxed cycling trip: first night in Piaggia or Monesi di Triora (accommodation available), second day towards Margaria Loxe and the Alta Via del Sale. The Foresteria di Carnino is also a good stop-off point for those who want to take a more detailed look at the itinerary.
Where can I get water on this cycle route?
There are water points all along the route: at Rastello at the start, at the CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge (open in summer) on the Pian Marchisio plateau, then at Carnino Inferiore, Upega, Piaggia and Monesi di Triora. Make sure you have a good supply of water between Gias Gruppetti and Carnino. The S2/S3 section around the Passo delle Saline is the most exposed and the furthest from any refreshment point.
What's the best time of year for this cycling trip?
From June to October. Early in the season, the Passo delle Saline may still be covered in snow, and this is also the best time to admire the Garb della Fuze waterfall in the Gola delle Fascette, which is only visible in spring or after heavy rain. July and August offer ideal conditions, but accommodation in Piaggia and Monesi fills up quickly at weekends. September remains the ideal window of opportunity for a cycling trip in the Alpes Maritimes.
What technical level is required for this course?
This cycling route is for experienced mountain bikers only. The route is graded S2 for the uphill section (Gias Gruppetti – Passo delle Saline) and S3 for the downhill section (Passo delle Saline – Carnino Inferiore); RivierALP’s most demanding technical levels. Traditional bikes are likely to have to carry some loads between Gias Gruppetti and the pass. The rest of the route (asphalt and dirt roads) is accessible to experienced cyclists in good physical condition. This is not the ideal cycling road trip for beginners.
What is the Via Pompea and why is it important on this route?
The Via Pompea is an ancient Roman road built around 100 BC by Gnaeus Pompeius Strabo to link Alba Pompeia (Alba) with Alba Ingauna (Albenga) and the sea. It crossed the Ellero valley and is one of the oldest trade routes in the Ligurian Alps, used for centuries to transport salt, wine and oil. In Rastello, you can still see the remains of the cobblestones, just one of the many features that make this cycling trip a real journey through history. The name of the hamlet of Rastello itself is linked to the administrative conflicts that marked the area between Roccaforte and Frabosa Sottana.
Can this cycle route link up with other RivierALP routes?
Yes, that’s its great strength. At Margaria Loxe, this cycling road trip joins the route from Limone Piemonte on the Alta Via del Sale. From here, you can continue on to Sanremo (the Col de Tende to Sanremo cyclo rando route, around 100 km) or Imperia (the Col de Tende to Imperia MTB route, 91 km). RivierALP allows you to put together tailor-made cross-border cycling trips between France andItaly, combining several routes to suit your tastes and ability. See our maps here.
What ideas for cycling holidays can be built around this route?
There are several ideas for cycling trips around this itinerary. For a sportive weekend: arrival in Rastello on Friday evening, cycling road trip on Saturday to Piaggia or Monesi, descent to the sea on Sunday from Margaria Loxe. For a week-long cycling trip, you can combine the itinerary from Rastello with the Limone Piemonte – Menton crossing or the cyclo rando to Sanremo to link the Alps to the sea in several stages. From France, Nice is the ideal gateway via the Tende tunnel to reach Piedmont in less than two hours and start this cycling road trip in the Alpes Maritimes.
Where can you stay on this cycle route between Rastello and the Via del Sale?
There are several options, depending on how far along the route you are. The Foresteria di Carnino, in the hamlet of Carnino Inferiore, is a quality stopover well known to outdoor enthusiasts. At Piaggia and Monesi di Triora, more comfortable accommodation is available for an intermediate stay before the ascent to Margaria Loxe. For mountain bikers who want to start their cycling trip directly at altitude, the CAI Mondovì – Havis De Giorgio refuge (open in summer) offers an overnight stay in the heart of the Pian Marchisio plateau.
What other ideas are there for cycling trips in the region?
RivierALP offers a real guide to cycling road trips between Piedmont and Liguria. From Limone Piemonte, there are two main routes to the sea: the cyclo rando to Sanremo (99.7 km, S0 to S3) and the mountain bike route to Imperia (91 km, S2/S3) via the Colle di Nava. For more accessible stays, the walking itinerary from Roccaforte Mondovì to the Don Barbera refuge offers an alternative on foot in the same area. On the French side, the Limone Piemonte – Menton crossing (124 km, 8 stages) is the network’s flagship route for hikers wishing to link the Alpes Maritimes to the Mediterranean.