Description of the route

Technical difficulty: difficult
Physical difficulty: difficult
Bike-friendly: 90%
Type of Route: unpaved farm road (initial asphalt section) – trail – asphalt municipal road
Footpath signposts: 10 – 10D - 8 - (3C)

Undoubtedly the jewel in Cogne Valley’s crown for MTB lovers.

Before the village of Lillaz, take the farm road to your left that leads up to Urtier valley.

Once you’ve passed the village of Les Goilles Dessus, Crêt chapel and the Tsavanis mountain pasture, cross the small bridge on your left and continue along trail No 10D up to the crossroads for Invergneux pass.

From the crossroads, you leave the farm road and the route becomes tougher: more experienced bikers will be able to pedal for certain sections, while for everyone else it’ll be bikes over the shoulder!

Once you reach the pass at 2,908 metres, you descend along Grauson valley. In Pralognan, it is possible to branch off to the right to reach the Grauson refuge; the itinerary, though short, is demanding due to the steep climbs.

Continuing the descent, you will come across the villages of Pila, home to several waterfalls, and Tcheseu, where you cross the stream. After about five minutes, you reach a fork in the road: from here, the route continues toward the hamlet of Gimillan via two possible variants. The first one is easier, passing the oratory of Révèntì, the second, more challenging, turns right along trail 3C; this climbs up, crosses the Pian della Cretetta, and then descends toward Gimillan along a dirt road. 

The descent from the pass to the Pila mountain pasture is more technically difficult and is only recommended for advanced bikers with suitable gear.

From Gimillan you descend along the road towards the regional capital. Once you’ve passed the village of Montroz, you can take a detour to your left down the “old” municipal road that passes the Park’s Visitor Centre.

Once you’ve reached the roundabout, take the first left and pass through the village of Molina (Via Filon Liconi) then join the municipal road leading to Lillaz.