While Italy is known for great, scenic mountain biking. Naturally, there are some great bike parks with lift access, that every downhill, freeride or enduro rider should visit when in Italy.
The following bike park map shows you where bike parks are located in Italy:
Pretty much all spots are found in the north and north-west regions of Italy, which are covered by the European Alps. There’re three main regions in particular: Trentino (Trento), Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta) and South Tyrol (Alto Adige).
Some even close to the sea. No wonder that a number of Italian MTB spots have been host to UCI Downhill World Cup and Enduro World Series races.
With close proximity to Switzerland, France and Austria the Italian MTB destinations are popular for road trips.
As with most European parks located in the mountains, the summer season is short due to low temperatures and snowfall. The window of opportunity can only be three months long in some of the places situated at high elevations.
Mottolino Bike Park (South Tyrol)
Arguably the best overall bike park in Italy – certainly my personal favorite – is Mottolino in Livigno, right at the Swiss border, close to Austria. It’s got everything a mountain biker could wish for: a huge selection of tracks, manmade and natural features, lots of jumps, scary steep sections and flowy mellow lines.
All with an amazing panorama on every single one of them. In fact, the mountain right across the town of Livigno has a big network of enduro singletrails with lift access for multi-day tours.
All of the downhill tracks are on the same mountain, with one gondola going all the way up to over 2.600 meters in altitude. The choice is yours on how to combine them for the perfect way down.
Since there are multiple crossings and downright intersections between trails, the options are almost endless. From easy flow trails like Take It Easy for anyone on the hunt for flow, to trails like Black Eye for riders who can handle steep tech or massive jumps on SIC58.
For POV trail previews, check out my Youtube playlist with all trails at Mottolino.
No matter where you fall on the skill spectrum, Mottolino got something for you. Even one of the biggest gap jumps I’ve ever seen and an airbag jump at the lift station to get huge air and even some tricks in.
What’s also rare is the predictable trail surfaces all the way down. There is hardly any loose gravel like in so many other alpine bike parks. Even when it does get dry and loose (regularly), the tracks remain very rideable all year round, even with big holes forming at the end of a season in September/October.
Pila Bike Planet (Aosta Valley)
Despite Mottolino becoming more known, Pila is probably still one of the most famous bike parks in Italy for the UCI Downhill World Cups held there. While the downhill line provides expert riders with 2.6km of rough natural terrain, there are trails to work yourself up to that level also. Freeride, flow and beginner lines round out the menu of difficulties to select from.
Again, this bike park is at elevation. So much so, that there is a gondola taking you up to the hotel village before a chairlift takes you up to the actual trailheads. This also leads to one of the highlights here: a 1.800-meter descent from the peak all the way down to Aosta.
The total number of trails may not be impressive, but the special characteristic of this park is the variability in connecting the individual sections. As you can see on the Pila Trailforks map, many lines run parallel to each other and criss-cross all over the mountain.
Kronplatz Freeride Bike Park (South Tyrol)
The Kronplatz Freeride Bike Park at Plan de Corones in South Tyrol is well worth a mention. With no less than 4 gondolas taking riders up the mountain, it’s a rather unique park. And a growing one in terms of trails and popularity.
The South Tyrol region (where Mottolino is also located) has always been somewhat of an insider tip among mountain bikers. So while there are excellent bike parks, it’s not as much traffic on the trails as one would expect. Paired with generally great weather, well-shaped trails and enthusiastic riders, it’s one hell of a biking destination.
The trails overall are on the natural character with the opportunity to find some even less-ridden ones higher up if you don’t mind the pedaling. But in order to ride some downhill, the trails accessible by the lifts are more than enough to satisfy.
If you do, however, climb another 1.300 meters, you’re rewarded with an iconic MTB trail, and definitely the highlight here: the 8km long Herrnsteig Trail. It may look flowy in most parts, but there are some challenging sections in there. Don’t get caught out.
A quick warning on those lifts tho: While Bikepark Kronplatz is usually in season from June to October, not all lifts are in operation during the entire period, so check before going.
Val di Sole Bike Park (Trentino)
Next to Mottolino and Pila, Val di Sole is one of the few Italian venues that were host to UCI Downhill World Cup races and World Championships before. The notoriously rough and natural Black Snake downhill line is probably why you’ve heard the name before.
But “Val di Sole Bike Land” has so much more to offer, not just for downhill riders ready to test their limits. There’re a number of single trails and natural flow lines as well, taking you all over the valley of the sun.
And then just peeking over the mountain range to the west are a couple more mountain bike destinations in Passo del Tonale Bike Area and Stelvio Trail Park filled with trails to explore. With some pedaling between villages, there are hundreds of trail kilometers, thousands of meters of descending and epic views available.
Cervino Bike Park (Aosta Valley)
Speaking of beautiful vistas: Cervino Bike Park in Cervinia Valtourneche sits right at the foot of the Matterhorn mountain. With gondolas taking bikers up to 3.500 meters, spectacular memories and photos are guaranteed. It’s a popular MTB-photography spot because of its impressive landscape.
Even the valley town of Cervinia is located 2.000 meters above sea level, so adjusting to that altitude may be necessary before going to burn some laps. And if you have, why not ride a very special kind of mountain bike trail: the glacier trail. It does what it says and literally starts on a glacier between patches of snow.
In general, all trails have a similar feel to them. This bike area is making do with what nature provides without too much trail-building going on. Machines wouldn’t get up there anyway. So expect natural downhill, freeride and flow lines there.
With the upsides of being this high up, also come the downsides of a narrow time window of no snow in those mountains. Therefore the opening hours of bike park Cervino are limited, usually from July to September. So plan your trip accordingly.
La Thuile (Aosta Valley)
La Thuile is another one on the list of Italian mountain bike destinations gaining popularity in recent years, partly due to the exposure from the Enduro World Series races held there. But also of course to the quality riding on offer there.
The trails are accessible by lift, but you can guess why the EWS races here: Monte Belvedere is filled with highly technical downhill tracks from top to bottom. There are also a few easy lines for beginners, but the difficult ones are the majority here.
So, experienced riders will have a blast challenging themselves on technical sections, steep shoots and root carpets stretching down from a peak of 2.500 meters down to the village of La Thuile at 1.200 meters.
Sauze d’Oulx & Bardonecchia Bike Parks (Piedmont)
I can’t mention one without the other in the Piedmont area. While Bardonecchia Bike Park is surely the more well-known, the nearby Sauze d’Oulx shouldn’t be missed either. Together they are the initial hotspot for the Italian downhill and enduro scene with multiple races held here.
Of the two bike parks, Sauze d’Oulx is the smaller, concise one with “only” two chairlifts and downhill tracks with 1.000 meters of vertical descent. To give you an idea of the size here.
Bardonecchia Bike Park, on the other hand, is just overbearing in comparison with a number of trails with lift access and then countless more in a network of trails spanning hundreds of kilometers for anyone willing to pedal instead of purely riding downhill – both is possible here.
Paganella Bike Park (Trentino)
Paganella is another mountain bike area in the Trentino region. And with good reason. The riding is not only beautiful and enjoyable, but the choices for a way down the mountain seem to be limitless here. You really get spoiled with trail options.
The number of trails directly accessible from the lift is relatively small. But that being said …
Around the actual bike park with lift access, the trails extend over an area of hundreds of trail kilometers. That huge trail network means there are tracks that are suitable for all kinds of riders: cross-country riders, freeriders, downhillers and even for families with junior riders.
Abetone Gravity Park (Tuscany)
There’re only a few bike parks not located in the Alps, and Abetone Gravity Park is one of the best in central Italy. With just shy of 2.000 meters of elevation, there is actually more downhill mountain biking going on than one would expect for this flatter part of Italy.
With track lengths between 3 and 6 km, the choice is yours between mellow flow lines and steep tracks straight down the mountain.
But be warned, some sections on the black lines are truly challenging with massive rock gardens littered all the way down. IXS European Cup races are held here for a reason.
Cimone Gravity Park (Emilia Romagna)
Over the years, Cimone Bike Park (also known as Sestola Bike Park) has become a go-to location for freeride MTB enthusiasts.
Especially during the early months of the season, which usually starts as early as May here and ends in September.
The majority of the tracks here are natural and technical ones, with a couple of easy trails for beginners and to get your feet wet.
For the experts among you, there’s also a fine selection of curated deep black sections that definitely test your riding and trail reading skills.
The mountain bike trails around Monte Cimone cover an area of well over 100 km with 3 chairlifts, 1 cable car, and numerous coaches with bike racks to shuttle taking you to whichever trail you want to go next.
Enduro Shuttling: Finale Ligure
If you’ve ever heard of the Enduro World Cup, you likely know of Finale Ligure – a staple stop of the world race series. And for good reason:
Finale Ligure is not just a biking destination; it’s a dream come true for every mountain biker. Imagine winding trails with breathtaking views of the Italian Riviera. That’s Finale Ligure for you! The variety of trails here is mind-blowing. From flowy singletracks to technical descents, it’s got everything.
The trails here are epic. You’ve got choices like DH Men, a World Cup track, or Rollercoaster, offering a mix of natural and man-made features. Every trail offers a unique experience, challenging yet fun. Riding here feels like the trails are testing you, pushing your limits, but in the most exhilarating way.
The town of Finale Ligure is charming, filled with friendly locals and great food. After a day on the trails, you can enjoy amazing Italian cuisine. And accommodation? Plenty of bike-friendly options around.
The weather in Finale Ligure is mostly sunny, perfect for riding. But here’s a tip: spring and autumn are the best times to visit. You’ll avoid the summer heat and the winter chill. Trust me, riding in comfortable weather makes a huge difference.
From personal experience, Finale Ligure is a must-visit. It’s not just about the trails, but the whole package. The scenery, the culture, the food – it’s a complete experience. If you’re a mountain biker, Finale Ligure should be at the top of your list. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
Enduro Shuttling: Lago di Garda (Trentino)
What mountain biker hasn’t at least heard of the MTB paradise Lake Garda? Technically there is a lift taking bikers up to the trailheads of downhill lines like the famous Altissimo on the Monte Baldo, on the east side of Lago di Garda. In addition to that, there are quite a lot of options to shuttle up some hills here.
But, it’s no bike park by any means.
The mountain bike area around Lake Garda is more for the all-mountain and cross-country riders. Don’t even think about bringing a downhill bike here or you’re in for a miserable time on some beautiful trails.
Enduro with Lifts: Nauders (Val Venosta)
Also known as the 3-Country Trail Area, Nauders and Reschen Lake are right where the borders between Italy, Austria and Switzerland meet.
Nauders is home of the famous Bunker Trail and bell tower submerged in the Reschen lake you’ve probably seen before.
There are tons of trails here but spaced out from one another. Multiple gondolas get you up the many mountains. Don’t bring a downhill bike like I did. You’ll have to do some uphill pedaling to get around this area.
