During one of our last trips to Italy, we visited the Valtellina Valley, where we enjoyed its gastronomy, culture, and, of course, the cycling experiences that the area has to offer. After a first stop in Sondrio and its surroundings, we moved on to Valchiavenna, a magnificent valley located between the northernmost point of Lake Como and Switzerland. Surrounded by nature, waterfalls, and majestic mountains, it is an extraordinary place.
Valchiavenna offers a great deal of outdoor sports activities, whether in winter or summer. Cycling is one of its highlights, mainly thanks to the several large mountain passes nearby, such as the Passo Spluga or the Passo Maloja, along with countless road and mountain biking options.
The Valchiavenna tourism department is making a great effort to continue expanding its tourism offerings, including quality sporting activities. Last year, they introduced a new event to showcase the emerging gravel cycling scene: the Valchiavenna Gravel Escape.
Gravel Escape
The event was created to give gravel enthusiasts an alternative route through the valley, allowing them to discover it more adventurously. The route begins in the region’s capital, Chiavenna, and passes through some of the area’s most emblematic and beautiful locations.
The main route spans 100 km and includes a well-balanced mix of gravel tracks, cycle paths, and quiet road segments with minimal traffic. Starting at the valley’s lowest, most open point, the route climbs to the highest peaks, even crossing the border with Switzerland at some point.
In addition to the main course, shorter options are available at 80 km and an even shorter one at 50 km. All routes can be completed on gravel, mountain, or electric bikes. At the finish, participants are treated to a pasta party, or more precisely, a pizzoccheri party.
The second edition of Valchiavenna Gravel Escape will take place on May 11, 2025. It is undoubtedly a non-competitive event that aims to become a great cycling experience through Valchiavenna, surrounded by wild vegetation, rivers with large flows, and landscapes that leave any nature lover speechless.
The valley in first person
Although the weather forecast could have been better, Giulia Guanella, head of marketing and communication for Valchiavenna Tourism and our host for those days, ensured that we made the most of our stay despite the rainy weather.
On the first day, we took advantage of the rain to explore Chiavenna and its surroundings, visiting some of the area’s most popular tourist attractions. That weekend coincided with the Sagra dei Crotti, a festival celebrating the region’s traditional crotti and locally produced wines and foods.
These caves carved into the rock, known as crotti, are very peculiar for their natural internal currents of cold air that maintain a constant temperature of around eight degrees year-round. Once used for food and wine storage, some have now been converted into restaurants or taverns, while others are directly open to the public as distinctive tourist sites in the area.
The forecast improved on our second day there, so we did not hesitate to get on our bikes. With Giulia, who picked us up at the hotel, we chose a route east of Chiavenna to take us through the more mountainous area featured in the Gravel Escape.
The storm from the previous day had not completely cleared, and the first hour of cycling was still in the rain. Fortunately, the forecast promised better weather soon. We advanced uphill from one side of the river to the other along a bike path that ran through a beautiful forest full of chestnut trees. Little by little, we headed up the mountain and reached a good elevation gain almost without noticing it. The recent rain, together with the soft light that gained presence as the morning passed, created a magical landscape around us.
As we ascended, we also approached the Swiss border, and consequently, we noticed how the architecture of the villages below subtly shifted.
We reached Palazzo Castelmur in Stampa, Switzerland, the highest point of Giulia’s chosen route. Along the way, we visited several points of interest and enjoyed some incredible postcard-worthy views. Although we only got as far as that point, the original route offered by Gravel Escape goes further east and climbs a few meters higher.
We began the descent along a different path, which offered us another perspective of Valchiavenna. We also took the opportunity to make a brief stop in the village of Bondo for hot coffee and a snack.
After the short break, we continued back towards Chiavenna, always enjoying the terrain. Just a few kilometers before reaching the town, we passed by the majestic Acquafraggia waterfall. It is located in Piuro and offers a spectacular 130-metre waterfall unique to this valley.
The route is 100% rideable with no technical challenging sections beyond its elevation gain. We felt privileged and grateful to complete part of the official Gravel Escape route firsthand, and we highly recommend it to anyone passionate about gravel and adventure cycling looking to explore an area as beautiful as Valchiavenna.
Outdoor Paradise
It took us a few days to appreciate the wide range of possibilities that the valley offers, especially when it comes to outdoor sports. Whether winter or summer, nature lovers in Valchiavenna will find endless ways to stay active and engaged.
The Valchiavenna Gravel Escape is just one of many sporting events on the region’s calendar. Chiavenna, the valley’s main town, is an ideal base camp for various activities, from sports to scenic riverbank strolls.
Alongside its sports activities, there is an impressive list of attractions: artisans, palaces, museums, bresaola or cheese producers, wine cellars, etc. This fantastic range of options puts the icing on the cake of an incredible valley that, thanks to the contribution of the Lombardy Region, we have been able to experience first-hand.
