Finale Ligure and the Finale Outdoor Region are among Italy's most popular destinations for bikers and sportsmen. More than 250 trails with a huge variety of terrain and views, a climate that allows for virtually year-round activities, shuttle services, riders who come here from all over the world, and world-class sporting events. The Finale vibes are something unique that is really hard to pass up for all mountain bikers.
But if you think that the cycling experience in Finale is exclusively a shuttle tour to do the most classic and well-known descents, you are wrong. Touring in Finale is undoubtedly also that, but not only that. Thanks to the single lift services, you can go up in altitude and, having reached 1,000 meters, ring a series of trails spanning a vast territory, exploring the hinterland and then returning to the sea. Or you can completely dispense with the shuttle and, with technique and good legs (or with an e-mtb!), explore the fascinating and technical trails of the low plateaus: Caprazoppa, San Bernardino, Le Manie, Monte Grosso are a certainty, always! Then, if you know the trails around Finale like the back of your hand, you can always push eastward, toward Vado and Spotorno, or explore the trails of Pietra Ligure and Val Maremola, one of the areas that has been most developed in recent years, or push inland to Bardineto and Val Neva. But there is no shortage of new things to do in the Finale Outdoor Region, and thanks to a recent collaboration between the City of Loano and the Finale Outdoor Region Consortium, the Loano and Monte Carmo area is now ready to be discovered. Or rather, re-discovered!
Four refurbished trails to explore a lesser-known part of the Finale Outdoor Region
Thanks to this collaboration, four trails have been arranged: the Castagna Trail, the Quarry, Hamster, and Karma Trail, the latter already a special trial-the longest ever in the entire history of Finals events-of the 2017 Enduro World Series. Very different trails with different levels of difficulty lead riders to discover a new and lesser-known area of the Region, in the Loano area. The Karma Trail, in particular, offers a truly epic experience with its nearly 7 km length, a negative elevation gain of more than 1,000 meters and a breathtaking alpine environment.
Different experiences in one territory
The variety of environments, terrain and views is certainly a distinguishing characteristic of this portion of the Ligurian Riviera, and the Mount Carmo area once again adds something different. Mount Carmo is the highest peak in the Finale Outdoor Region and the first peak in the Alpine chain: the environment is unique and offers, to those who have the patience to reach its summit, a privileged view.
Indeed, from here the view sweeps 360 degrees from Corsica to the peaks of the Alps. Just below the summit of Mount Carmo, near the Amici del Carmo refuge, begins the Karma Trail, an ancient path used by walkers, wayfarers and shepherds, recently recovered by the trail builders of the Finale Outdoor Region and financed by the City of Loano. An intervention made possible with the support of the Friends of the Carmo, who opened and hosted the trail builders in the refuge for the period necessary for the restoration work that made this trail passable again even to bicycles (remember that here the users are mixed), but without distorting or changing its peculiarities.
A call for respect and caution
Access to Mount Carmo and the Karma Trail is a unique opportunity to discover the wilder, alpine side of the Finale Outdoor Region. Every meter of the Karma Trail must be conquered and enjoyed unhurriedly, with respect for a trail that, before us, we were traveled by shepherds and wayfarers. Respect for this trail and for this place is a must, and this is the philosophy with which the trail has been arranged by the trail builders, making it passable also for mountain bikes (while remaining for experienced bikers) but at the same time leaving its characteristics as a mountain trail intact. Passing priority to pedestrians then, but an adventure that we are sure will excite those who walk it for the first time.
Enrico Guala, marketing director of Finale Outdoor Region: “The climb to Mount Carmo and the Karma Trail are the perfect way to discover the wilder, alpine side of the Region. We invite anyone who decides to try this adventure to do so having the utmost respect for the trail, the place and the people they will meet on the way down. Forget the competitive spirit for 30 to 40 minutes and savor every passage, every turn, playing with the all-natural and extremely technical flow of the trail.”
Luca Lettieri, mayor of Loano, and Gianluigi Bocchio, deputy mayor with responsibility for sports and tourism: “Hiking the Karma Trail not only allows you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of our Mount Carmo, but it also allows you to take a real journey through time in the history and traditions of this area. Its recovery was possible thanks to the efforts of Finale Outdoor Region and the Friends of Carmo, who have always been ready to work to revive the typical traditions of the mountain and preserve and enhance its natural environment. To them go our heartfelt thanks. To mountain bikers, on the other hand, the invitation to visit us and discover ‘with their wheels’ how splendid our hinterland is.”.
As with all mountain trails, utmost care and preparation is required; in fact, if at sea level we can leave in spring or summer conditions at an altitude of 1,400 meters we can find ourselves in rain, snow and fog, conditions that can endanger unprepared tourists and make recovery efforts difficult.
Relying on the Region's guides is always the best way to safely discover the area.
To book an experience with a guide or to get more information about the area, visit www.finaleoutdoor.com
