THE PLEASANT WAYS OF THE INDACO ROUTE – This route goes through one of the best conserved valleys around Lake Orta, an oasis where animals and human activity have always lived contentedly side by side. This is born of reciprocal respect where man has wisely preserved and respected great stretches of wood and used “difficult” pastures, making the history of these places.

COUNTRY PATHS

Wherever a hut was established, a microscopic little world was created, caring for herd animals and transforming the products from the breeding and milking.   And at the same time everything around the woodland has continued to live undisturbed in all its beauty, offering shelter to many animal species, many of which are rare, such as the Black Woodpecker, and, in more distant times, bears.

TRAINING REQUIRED

Half of our route goes uphill at first but then flattens out and heads straight into open countryside. Being mainly on dirt trails, it requires skill in handling the bike and you need to be fit and in training in order to complete the full itinerary without too many problems. Our route takes us through this unspoilt and natural place in the first instance by following the Indaco Ring, one of the four Quadrifoglio itineraries, with an interesting diversion towards the end. Departure is from Ameno, a cheerful little village, the nerve centre of many artistic and cultural activities.

Before setting off, don’t miss a visit to the little Gothic park and the Tornielli palazzo, now the seat of the municipal authorities, where the little lanes in the central part of the village take us back to times past thanks to the locals ensuring its excellent state of conservation.  As you leave the village, you go down an untarmacked road towards the hamlet of Pezzasco, where a vast clearing is made over to a horse-riding centre and several farmhouses where excellent cheese products are made and sold.

OVER THE ROMAN BRIDGE

On the other side of the Roman bridge crossing the Agogna River, we run into a bucolic atmosphere. We follow the tarmac road into the hamlet where goats and cows are put out to pasture. A little further on, we turn left in the direction of Milanetto. Here the road becomes really steep for a kilometre or more. The views start to be interesting on the right until, once at the cool water fountain, the tarmac gives way to dirt trail which leads to the village of Cassano. This hamlet is a little masterpiece with its narrow little streets going past stone period houses as far as the church dedicated to St John the Baptist and its belvedere. From here you can see the whole of the Agogna valley, the lake and, in the distance, Monte Rosa.

THE WAYFARERS CROSSROADS

As you leave Cassano you keep on going uphill and a little further on you reach the Chapel of Vago, a devotional site of some significance as can be seen from the votive offerings left there in times past and still kept there.  This crossroads opens up a number of interesting destinations as far as Lake Maggiore. You will find a picnic area here with spaces for barbecuing and tables to eat at.

On we go now, following the signs for the Alpe Cascione where three age-old beech trees mark the point of entry into the silence of the WWF oasis. If you are there in the early hours of the morning or at sundown, you may well see roe deer, badgers and boar, and a great many birds, such as woodpeckers and great tits.

As we arrive at the first open space of the Alp, we have our first opportunity to fully admire the view that stretches towards Mottarone

AN OASIS AND A STORY

Ancient farm houses share with us moments of rare authenticity. We go on uphill over terrain that is crumbly and on wet days quite muddy, to get to a fork where excellent signposting guides us towards the Alpe Marandino. Once on the Alp and at the highest point of the route, take a break, take in and enjoy the majesty of the Mottarone mount and the 3 Little Mountains.

On clear days with very blue skies, you can see the Grigna and the Swiss Alps.  Now, back to your pedals and set off again, and if on occasion you see no directions, just keep right when you find a field in front of you. There are few signs here, but do not worry, you are not lost, and very soon you will see they return again to show you the way.

FAST AND WINDING STRETCHES

Now the downhilll part starts. If you are skilled in downhill, this will be right up your street: the fast, winding bits will thrill you. Follow the signs towards Ameno and you’ll soon get to Sculera, a little hamlet in the wood around the farms of Ameno. Like Cassano, it has a large church in the woods. Here every year a very popular celebration is held, attracting all the inhabitants of the valley, with hundreds of people camping in the woods, communing with mother earth and taking part in the religious service.

We whizz down to Tacchino, a hamlet near Ameno whose four farmhouses are now abandoned and uninhabited. We go left at the fork and take the wide mule trail which, after the bridge over the Agogna River, takes us back to tarmac roads

DON’T MISS THIS VISIT

We now cross over the Agogna River again and take the cobbled street going past the riding stables. If you have time before ending the tour, do take a little time in the park of the Villa Monte Oro, with its centuries-old trees.

THE PLEASANT WAYS OF THE INDACO ROUTE

TYPES OF ROAD
Singletrack: 1.76 km
Path: 3.32 km
Bike path: 0 km
Asphalt road: 6.84 km

SURFACES
Natural: 3.66 km
Unpaved: 1.19 km
Dirt road: 1.85 km
Paved area: 288 m
Asphalt: 4.94 km
Unknown: 1.22 km

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