Montefosca

Tour along Graguenza ridge
Distance Level difference Departing from Running Time Country roads Difficulty
29,2 Km 1000 m Ponte Tiglio 2:45 h 50 % Hard


This roundtrip runs counterclockwise the Craguenza ridge. Departing is from Ponte Tiglio along the normal road to Antro and then Coceanzi. From there begins the long run to Montefosca, along nice country roads in the woods. Once in Montafosca begins the raise to the Bocchetta di Masarolis and to the Boccehtta di Calla. From here there are two possible ways: the first is a nice single-track that runs along the Craguenza ridge, the second is a normal road the follows, at lower altitude, the same track. However both ways arrive at the Sella di Puller where normal road runs down to Ponte Tiglio. Cars can be left in Antro instead at Ponte Tiglio, so that tour will be 2 km shorter and with 140 meters less to climb. The single-track toi Craguenza is very nice and only the last 200 meters just before the top must be run with bike by hand. The amazing overviews and the long, funny descent are a worth-while effort.

Roundtrip Map
References
Altimetric profile
Km Elev. Dir. Description
0,0 175 Departing from Ponte Tiglio to Tarcetta along the normal road. Follow signs to "Antro". Once passed Tarcetta, there's a large bend to left and rise begins.
2,0 316 Antro. Turn right. The road keeps on climbing. A path starts from the square in front of the Church to the interesting San Giovanni d'Antro caves. The caves are opened to visitors. The road runs in the woods passing Sosgne and Dorbolò.
5,1 570 Coceanzi. Go to the end of the village, and, at the hairpin bend, go ahead follows signs to "Castagno Monumentale". After few meters a country road begins stay on the right. The road that raises on the left goes to Cedarmas but it's full of bramble-bushes.
6,2 600 Go ahead. On the left a path goes, in a pair of minutes, to the "Castagno Monumentale" (Monumental Chestnut Tree): a chestnut tree over 300 year old, still producing chestnuts, 24 meters (96 feet) tall, and with a 9 meters (18 feet) circumference. A visit is interesting. The toru continues up and down in the woods.
8,3 575 After a long descent and a small climb there's the asphalted road to Montefosca and Calla: take it climbing and turning left.
8,9 - Main road countinues bending left: go straight on following "Goregnavas" sign. Before entering the village keep left and always go ahead.
9,4 680 Passed Goregnavas a nice country road on the right runs into the wild woods of mount Kladje. As long as the country road goes, the road-bed becomes whorse, but always good enough for biking.
12,6 635 After a long descent, on the right there's the bridge on Bodrino: cross it and rise towards Montefosca.
13,4 - Normal road. Go ahead climbing to the village.
13,6 710 Montefosca. Once passed the Church and the War Memorial there's the main road: turn right. After the village stay on the normal road that climbs to Fraccadizze and Canebola.
15,2 854 Pass with small Chapel and signs to paths for Mt. Vogu and Mt. Lubia. Go ahead, in descent, along the normal road.
16,2 840 Take the country road that climbs on the left. This is the beginning of the raise to Bocchetta di Masarolis. The road-bed is in good conditions and the slope never too hard.
18,5 960 Bocchetta di Masarolis and amazing overviews all over eastern Friuli. After a short, plain, piece, the road goes down. Stay always on the main country road.
19,3 925 Old barracks and asphalted road (in very bad conditions). Go down.
19,5 - Hairpin Bend. Take the large country road straight on. After few meters becomes no more than a path in the meadows. This path is marked by CAI's (Italian Alpine Society) red and white signs. Follow this path that always is clear. Those that don't like single-tracks, can follow the normal road: at Km 20,6 there's Tamoris (stay on the left) and at Km 21,3 take the normal road on the left (there's a "frane", landslips, sign, but is not true) that at Km 24,9 joins Km 23,1 of the main roundtrip. This detour is 1,8 Km longer than the single-track.
19,9 866 Bocchetta di Calla the. Wonderful overviews on Montefosca and Alpi Giulie. Go along the path in the grass, passing near a small cross.
20,1 - Wood. Ride off the bike because path is hard. Keep right at the first forking, left at the following. However every path goes to the top.
20,4 948 Craguenza plane. Amazing overviews. Ride on your bike and run down on the meadow along the ridge on the right. Path becomes more clear. The descent is funny and never too difficult.
21,0 912 Naturalistic path "Antro-Craguenza" sign. Go down along the country road on the right. The descent continues. Take care of some small rocks near the end of the descent.
22,5 700 End of long descent and country roads junction. Go ahead also at the following junctions.
23,1 690 Covered road that comes from Tamoris and Masarolis: still go ahead. Shortly after begins the country road that goes down to Cividale.
23,8 660 Forking, with heap of dung on the left. Turn right. After few meters there's the normal road. A nice detour is on the right towards "Alle Ciuske" tavern. The normal roundtrip goes to left to Antro passing through Spignon.
26,6 377 Cross with the road covered going on. Turn right. Pass through Antro (turn left) and go down to Tarcetta.
29,2 175 Once passed Tarcetta, arrival at departing point at Ponte Tiglio.

Roads status: all roads are in good contidions. Updated to July, 27th 2002.
Note: this roundtrip is available on "Le Valli del Natisone in Mountain Bike" by Brunello Pagavino, roundtrip n. 18 and on "Valli del Natisone in MTB" by Roberto Russi, roundtrip n. 5.
 
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