An MTB adventure ride from Val Gardena to Val Contrin in the Dolomites

The second ride of three in the summer of 2024, with the intention of exploring Val Contrin, a quiet but scenic valley. Starting again from Ortisei and riding up to Selva to catch the Ciampinoi gondola. On exiting the gondola there’s a great view of Sassolungo and the route over to Passo Sella is clear. To minimise climbing, the Gran Paradiso chairlift offers an interesting ascent with its special bike carriers. A short ride up from the Passo Sella Mountain Resort, track 655 leads down to the Val der Antermon where the lifts meet on the Sellaronda ski circuit. Great views of the Sella Group and the Marmolada from this track.
The off road section down to Canazei was closed so it was down the road with it’s multiple switchbacks but on the bike downhill isn’t a problem as one is going about the same speed as most of the traffic and the hairpins are fun. Through Canazei the quiet route by the river was closed for works so it was on to the pavement and road to Alba.
Turning off for Val Contrin, the initial section is a climb up through the forest which leads to the main gentle sloping part of the valley. The view towards the end of the valley is superb and there was a lot of snow still in the mountains. At the end of the gently sloping section there is a climb up to Rifugio Contrin. Unfortunately I missed the Arturo Andreoletti monument and Malga Contrin.
After a lunch break it was an easy descent back down the valley to Alba followed by the cycle path by the river to Campitello to catch the Col Rodella cable car up to the high point just below Col Rodella.
A short section of Sellaronda singletrack follows down to Passo Sella. Heading north to a decision point about which way to return to Ortisei, this time I chose to go past the Comici hut and down the Ampezan valley to Monte Pana, then on to Santa Cristina and Ortisei. Another great ride in the beautiful Dolomites.
00:00 Cycle path to Ciampinoi
00:28 Ciampinoi to Gran Paradiso
02:47 Bike carrier
04:09 To Passo Sella
04:37 To Val der Antermon
07:14 To Canazei
08:35 To Alba
09:25 The climb to Val Contrin
10:01 Val Contrin
13:35 Rifugio Contrin
16:32 Path by Canazei
17:18 Col Rodella cable car
17:42 Sellaronda singletrack
20:01 Which way home ?
21:03 Biker’s service point
21:25 Piste
22:30 Down the Ampezan valley
23:46 Monte Pana
25:02 Santa Cristina
25:27 Ortisei

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Great views and great weather !