Cycling from Cutigliano to Abetone - Visit Pistoia
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Cycling from Cutigliano to Abetone

With a scenic stretch by cable car

Abetone Cutigliano

 

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routes
In the mountains
Abetone Cutigliano
length
48 Km
Difference in altitude
Salita 1500 m, discesa 2300 m

A true immersion in the lush nature of the Pistoia Mountains. A challenging itinerary that begins with a ride on the cable car.

The itinerary begins at Doganaccia, at an altitude of 1,545 meters. To gain approximately 800 meters of elevation, you can take the Cutigliano-Doganaccia cable car, which in eight minutes will bring you to the starting point. Here, at the bike rental, there’s a small service point where you can check tyre pressure and refill your water before starting your scenic ride.

The route starts with a descent on part of the Abetone Gravity Park trail, heading towards Melo. Before reaching the village, take a climb that leads you straight into the heart of the most important dairy farms of the Pistoia Mountains, Le Roncacce and Taufi. A stop here offers the opportunity to visit them.

From there, you continue along the slopes of Libro Aperto towards the Melo-Rivoreta municipal road, which will take you to the beginning of the ascent towards Abetone. In the small village of Rivoreta, you’ll find a fountain right on the road, allowing you to tackle the climb with full water bottles.

The climb is manageable but includes steep sections with double-digit gradients. It’s important to pace yourself over the 2.5 km of gravel, adjusting your speed to your ability. After the gravel ends, the climb continues on asphalt, passing through Bicchiere and Secchia. At Lago Verde, you can find food, and water, and even recharge your e-bike batteries at the family-run refuge.

The ride continues along the slopes of Libro Aperto, and after about a kilometre of forest trail, you reach the start of the CAI trails at Casetta di Lapo.

The first part of the gravel climb is very rideable, but you need to be cautious with the second part, as the surface changes from a steep, paved section to a steep, very technical and uneven one.

You can bypass this section by following the signs for Boscolungo, which take you onto the SS 12. Follow it to the Abetone town square, and from there, take the Maiori-Verginetta loop to return to Casetta di Lapo.

From Casetta di Lapo, descend to Abetone via the beautiful and easy forest road, and from the square, take Regina Margherita Street, just a few steps from the Abetone town hall. Here, the easy gravel path ends beside the small Lago Baccioli and merges onto the provincial road SP 20.

After losing some elevation, and reaching the starting point of the old ski lifts at Pian di Novello, take the forest road of the Pian degli Ontani Biogenetic Reserve. You’ll ride for about 8 km through a high forest of beech trees: the surface is particularly easy, allowing you to breathe calmly, immersed in a silence that invites listening.

Here, shortly after Balzo del Cinghiale, turn left and start descending towards Cutigliano, paying attention as the ground can be loose in some periods, so it’s important to adjust your speed. Keeping left and passing the white-red barrier of the Unione dei Comuni Montani, continue descending towards the SP 20. Once the first part of the gravel road ends and you reach the asphalt, you can choose to continue following the trail with the final stretch of descent on asphalt, or descend on asphalt towards Cutigliano via the SP 20 following the road signs.

The trail leads you onto the gravel above the agriturismo La Piastra, a simple descent although steep in its first part, which becomes a bit rougher in its second part. By keeping controlled speeds according to your abilities, it represents the last bit of fun for the day.

The gravel ends in the small village of Castellina: moderate your speed so as not to disturb the residents, and then cross the Cutigliano bridge to return, after a stop in the village square, to the cable car parking lot.

Itinerary by Leonardo Corsini

Stages Itinerary

 
Prato montagna estate

Doganaccia 2000

Abetone Cutigliano
TAPPA 1

Doganaccia 2000

On the Croce Arcana slopes, in the town of Abetone Cutigliano, Doganaccia 2000 offers you enjoyable outdoor activities all the year round in the splendid setting of the Pistoia Mountains.
 

Abetone Gravity Park

Abetone Cutigliano
TAPPA 2

Abetone Gravity Park

Un riferimento per i downhiller dell'Italia centrale, con un mix unico di calda ospitalità e stile toscano, dotato di un'officina e un noleggio bici con le ultime novità.
 

Libro Aperto

Abetone Cutigliano
TAPPA 3

Libro Aperto

Mountain group of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, named after its distinctive shape resembling an open book. From the summit, at 1937 meters above sea level, you can admire, on clear days, the Po Valley, the Alps, and the Apennine ridge of the Abetone area.
 

Riserva Naturale Biogenetica di Pian degli Ontani

Abetone Cutigliano
TAPPA 4

Riserva Naturale Biogenetica di Pian degli Ontani

The Riserva Naturale Biogenetica di Pian degli Ontani is an area of great natural value established to preserve and enhance the habitat of monumental beech forests. These forests originated from the conversion of woodlands that were once used for charcoal production, which was employed in the numerous ironworks in the area.

Altri Itineraries: 
Abetone Cutigliano

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