Fuorcla Minor

The route starts in Pontresina with the ascent towards Bernina Pass. Along the way, you alternate between trails and gravel roads on the eastern side of the valley until the Montebello curve of the main road, then follow this to a bridge on the right side. Now it goes on trails to Bernina Suot and from there on the ascent through the wonderful Val da Fain. This leads to Alp La Stretta via a gravel road, then continues on a trail to the La Stretta Pass. Here you are already in Italy and could descend to Livigno. However, we take the path over to Forcola di Livigno. This is very demanding, requires surefootedness and absolute freedom from dizziness. This section is partly very rocky, and the bikes have to be pushed and carried over scree fields. Then the path becomes smoother and leads down to the Forcola di Livigno. Back on Swiss soil, you now climb the well-developed trail up to Fuorcla Minor; fit mountain bikers manage this ascent entirely in the saddle. Here you are in a wonderfully high alpine region and could descend the technically demanding trail through Val Minor. Instead, we follow the signposted mountain bike route to Bernina Pass and from here take the well-known and also signposted mountain bike path through Val Bernina to Morteratsch. On the gravel road along the railway line, you finally roll back to Pontresina.

The bike route is easier to ride counterclockwise (fewer carrying sections).

Pontresina – Montebello – Bernina Suot – Val da Fain – Alp La Stretta – La Stretta – Forcola di Livigno – Fuorcla Minor – Passo del Bernina – Bernina Suot – Morteratsch – Pontresina