Cycling in a Nature Reserve between land and water

Nature and its sounds are the company of this bike tour that crosses the entire Reserve, an area of great importance and naturalistic value between Valtellina, Lake Como and Valchiavenna.

The route - on a surface that alternates between dirt and asphalt roads - has as its starting and finishing point the Ponte del Passo (Gera Lario) locality, which stands about halfway up the 1,600-hectare Pian di Spagna flat plain.

Northern Reserve - The first stretch - signs for "Itinerario Valchiavenna" - is on a bicycle path (on the side of SP4) until it crosses Via Poncetta / Via Baletrone: from here it is to follow the dirt road that crosses the Northern Reserve towards the shores of the Mezzola and Dascio lakes: cultivated fields, meadows, sedge and reed beds. The biodiversity is really varied and rich and it is possible to observe - along the way - typical flora and fauna such as frogs and toads, swans, foxes and deer. The intermediate stop - with picnic area - is Cascina Poncetta, a rustic farmhouse restored to an educational center. Directions to "Sorico" are to follow to return to the starting point.

South Reserve - The SS 340 Regina is to be crossed to Via Boschetto, a paved road of about 2 km - between houses and cultivated fields - that follows the Mera River on the hydrographic left to its mouth in Lake Como. The route then follows the 3ᵃ cross Via Boschetto and makes a detour to the beach: it is"La Punta," the only sandy beach on the Lario. The dirt road is for a stretch in the woods, then - on Via dell'Alberone - it is between cultivated fields and stables. The Reserve is defined as "oriented" precisely because silvo-pastoral cultivation and agricultural interventions that do not conflict with habitat conservation are possible. The Fortino d'Adda (17th century) is on the left and the trail goes right to Stallone Venini, then follows Via Fabbrichetta and returns to the starting point.