Toce MTB route | Stage 2 Premia - Formazza

From Premia, follow the state road for 150 meters downhill (pay attention to traffic) and near a chapel, the Cappella dal Self, take the steep mule track with steps that descends until it crosses the Toce River and then goes up even more steeply up to the town of Cagiogno. This stretch is not very pedalable. Alternatively, to avoid carrying the bike on your shoulders, it is possible, from the Self chapel, to continue on the state road to Piedilago and take the asphalt road to Cagiogno. From Cagiogno, follow the asphalt road until before the bridge over the Toce river, then turn right and following the hiking arrows with the G00 trail sign, take a sheep track that continues along the artificial lake of Piedilago. From the end of the lake, you return to the asphalt road which continues on level ground passing downstream the hamlet of Cristo and continues along the river. Further on, the track runs beautifully through well-kept meadows until it reaches the bridge right in front of the Premia Thermal Baths. Instead of going towards the bridge, follow the signs for Via del Gries and continue along the meadows alongside the Toce for a long flat stretch, until you reach Case Cini.Once you have crossed the hamlet, continue on the sheep track that runs along the river; cross the Toce river at the ford (in case of water use the bridge at Case Cini) until you cross the state road along which you continue paying attention to traffic, especially in summer. You pass the towns of Chioso and Foppiano and continue along the state road until you reach the entrance to the long road tunnel that goes up to Formazza. You do not enter the tunnel but continue straight along the old road that goes up with numerous hairpin bends which are now no longer used by cars until you reach Fondovalle. Here you cross the bridge over the Toce and take the agricultural road, a long flat road that goes up the valley on the left bank up to Valdo. Cross the Toce river again and go up in the direction of the chairlift departure but immediately before arriving you continue straight until you reach a wooden bridge that leads to the center of Ponte, the municipal seat of the municipality of Formazza.