Percorso Blenio–Lucomagno
Overview
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Distance 32 km
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Ascent 800 m
Intro
On the traffic-free old road towards Passo del Lucomagno, from Mother Nature’s parklands up to the rugged pass head, boundary between the Ticino and Graubünden. Descent through the Val Medel and Höllenschlucht (gorge) to the monastery village of Disentis.
Description
Valle Santa Maria – what a beautiful name! The river Brenno burbles through the valley and there is plenty of space to roam on the Alpe Pian Segno for cattle and hikers alike. With all the aromatic herbs and plants that grow in this area, the local cheese must taste superb. The small area at 1,750 metres above sea level is known as Acquacalda and is home to the Centro Pro Natura Lucomagno. This is also the site of the Selvasecca forest reserve, which is part of a Swiss monitoring network for forest reserves. In addition to numerous different animals, the forest is also home to various species of tree including spruce, larch, mountain pine and stone pine.
The landscape is a cyclist’s dream and you barely notice the altitude pass by. The ibex on the Alpe Casaccia are of a similar mind, apart from the fact that they while away their days ascending and descending over and again. For you, by contrast, it’s onwards and upwards! At 1,920 metres, you will reach the top of the pass, which is also the border with the Grisons. The restaurant on top of the Lukmanier Pass entices you with coffee and cake, while the market stall beside it offers sausages, cheese, honey, nut cake and specialties from the two cantons.
East of the Lai da Sontga Maria dam, the Scopi mountain watches over at 3,190 metres. To get to the Val Medel, the road for cars and bicycles leads through the Scopi Tunnel – far from a serene option when traffic is heavy. There are other, shorter “gallerias” (tunnels) that follow. One is the Galleria Vallatscha Gronda, on the way out of which a unique panorama comes into view once again. If you’re looking for an unspoilt pass with Alpine flowers, peat bogs, marshes and hay meadows nestled within rocky terrain, Lukmanier is the place for you. You can take a breather at Platta Acla bus station. Let your feet dangle awhile, admire the rustic hamlets and listen to the chaffinches and tree pipits.
It’s no surprise that the church in Platta is listed as part of Medel’s cultural heritage. Even if you’re just whizzing past, you will notice how perfectly it blends into the landscape. Left from Curaglia, there is a suspension bridge hovering in the distance. It leads over a slate gorge on the edge of the hamlet of Mutschnengia. This dreamlike sight is soon followed by the next: the Höllenschlucht gorge (Medelserschlucht) through which the Rein da Medel river flows and really gets quite lively. The descent comes to an end shortly before Disentis. And there’s still one last ascent to tackle. It’s a different story for the Rhine, which is all downhill from here under the name of Anterior Rhine. It flows through the Rheinwald, reaching the North Sea after about 1,000 kilometres. It’s not the North Sea that you will be cycling to today, but rather the imposing Benedictine abbey. Lizards soak up the sun on the walls that were once under the leadership of the Frankish monk Sigisbert. By this point, you’ve definitely earned a rest.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Camperio
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Disentis
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| Ascent |
800 m
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| Descent |
900 m
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| Distance |
32 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
32 km
|
| Physical requirements |
Medium
|
| Theme |
Over a pass, Through a gorge
|
| More information | https://schweizmobil.ch/en/cycling-in-switzerland/... |
Quick Facts
Route number
