The best gravel rides around Polcenigo

Passo della Crosetta, located at an altitude of 1,127 meters, is a strategic Alpine pass that connects the Treviso plain, in the municipality of Fregona, to the Cansiglio plateau and the province of Belluno. Nestled in a majestic setting of ancient woods, dominated by beech and fir trees, the pass represents a privileged gateway to one of the most fascinating natural areas in the Veneto region. A very popular destination in every season, it is a reference point for motorcyclists and cyclists who appreciate its scenic hairpin bends, but also an ideal starting point for hikers, ski mountaineers, and trekking enthusiasts heading towards Monte Pizzoc or the Cansiglio plain. At the pass, the presence of the historic refreshment area and rest stops allows for a regenerating break, combining the wild beauty of the mountains with the typical hospitality of the area.

Il Ristoro Crosetta, located at an altitude of 1,118 meters on the homonymous pass that connects the Treviso plain to the Cansiglio plateau, is a historic and unmissable stop for hikers, cyclists, and motorcyclists. This cozy stone and wood structure embodies the quintessence of mountain hospitality, offering a regenerating refuge in every season. The cuisine offers the authentic flavors of the Veneto-Belluno tradition, featuring game dishes, typical Cansiglio cheeses, warm polenta, and fresh mushrooms, all accompanied by homemade desserts and a good glass of local wine. Nestled in a centuries-old beech and fir forest, the establishment boasts a strategic position that makes it the ideal starting point or refreshment stop for exploring the numerous surrounding nature trails, offering an old-world atmosphere for relaxation and good food.

Together with Pian Cansiglio and Cornesega, Valmenera is one of the three depressions that make up the central part of the Cansiglio Plateau. The largest in terms of area. This evocative basin is particularly known for its cold microclimate, where record thermal inversions are recorded with temperatures that, in the winter months, can drop to extreme levels. A historical peak was reached in March 2005, when ARPA Veneto analyses recorded a temperature of -35.4°C. Located in the municipal territory of Tambre (BL), it has a wide and flat bottom, called Piano di Valmenera. It represents a typical polje, whose slopes are largely covered by arboreal vegetation; the western slopes, on the other hand, are characterized by meadows, with rather degraded herbaceous vegetation, due to exploitation in the form of mowing and grazing. The dairy farm of the same name, which today operates as a farm stay, is in fact surrounded by 74 hectares of meadows used for grazing its own livestock. Up to here, through the Campon valley, came a tongue of the ancient and vast Piave Glacier. The Piano di Valmenera and part of the basin are part of the "Pian di Landro-Baldassarre" Oriented Nature Reserve.

the charm of this forest and the silence

Nestled at the foot of the Cavallo ridge, in the municipality of Budoia, Dardago is a village where time seems to flow with the same constancy as the waters of the Artugna stream. Characterized by spontaneous architecture in local stone, the historic center winds through narrow alleys and courtyards that bear witness to an authentic rural past. The church of Santa Maria Maggiore dominates the settlement, but it is the surrounding nature that defines the identity of the place: the trails that climb towards the mountain pastures offer panoramas ranging from the Friulian plain to the sea. The agricultural tradition lives on today in the valorization of typical products and in an atmosphere of rare tranquility, making this village a fundamental stop for those seeking genuine and silent contact with the roots of the Pedemontana.

For the color of the water

beautiful beech forest, gravel road

Unlike the classic Cansiglio loop, from Crosetta we descended towards Fregona for about 500 meters until reaching the 14% climb that leads to the Malghe trail. The route runs through Friuli Venezia Giulia, in the municipalities of Caneva and Polcenigo, through pastures. At km 7.41, we turn left to reach the Candaglia Forestry House and then resume the classic tour. We then reach Sant'Anna and Broz. From there, we climb back up to Campon to join the Taffarel.