Mountain biking and e-biking on the Paganella Plateau is how many of our guests end up falling genuinely in love with this corner of Trentino. Not because it’s the most famous destination, but because it works — and works well, even if you’re not a seasoned rider with legs of steel.
When someone asks us where to go cycling from here, the first thing we do is stop talking about kilometres and elevation gain and start describing what you actually find along the way. Because that’s what really matters.
Cycling on the Paganella Plateau: the big picture
The Paganella Plateau — taking in Andalo, Molveno, Fai della Paganella and Cavedago — forms a raised tableland above the valleys, just a few minutes from San Lorenzo Dorsino, threaded together by a network of trails and forest roads that fill up with cyclists of every ability level in summer.
What makes this area interesting is the variety. There are technical descents that rip down through larch forest, but also loop routes on firm gravel tracks that suit someone who rides on Saturday mornings and comes home tired but not broken. The altitude helps too: you’re mostly pedalling between 900 and 1,600 metres, where summer temperatures stay manageable even in the middle of the day.
The network is well enough signposted that you won’t get lost, and varied enough to keep you on your toes.
E-bikes: why they genuinely make sense here
It might sound odd to say it, but riding an e-bike on the Paganella Plateau isn’t a shortcut for the lazy — it’s a different tool altogether, one that opens up routes that would otherwise demand a serious level of fitness. Climbs that swallow half a day on a regular bike become a morning ride on a good e-bike, with energy left over for the afternoon.
Several hire shops in the area let you choose between different types of bike, including full-suspension models for tackling the more technical sections. It’s worth booking ahead at weekends in July and August, because availability runs out faster than you’d expect.
One practical note: charging points do exist, but never take them for granted. Plan your charging stops before you set off, and don’t push your luck in the final kilometres with the display flashing at you.
The routes we’d recommend to a friend
We’re not here to reproduce the official map, but we’re happy to point you in the right direction.
If you’re starting from San Lorenzo Dorsino or thereabouts, the climb up to the plateau usually follows forest roads that rise steadily through the woods of the Valle del Limarò, or wind up towards Dorsino with views over the Valle del Sarca that more than justify the effort. These are proper climbs, not token ones.
Once you’re up on the plateau, the connections between the villages — Andalo, Cavedago, Fai della Paganella — often run on mixed surfaces that suit both MTBs with knobbly tyres and trail e-bikes. The lower routes towards Molveno, by contrast, offer smoother, less demanding riding, which works well for anyone with older children on their own bikes.
For up-to-date information on routes, difficulty ratings and trail conditions, the most reliable resource is Visit Paganella, which keeps a dedicated outdoor activities section with maps and practical details.
What to pack (and what to leave behind)
Those of us who live here have learnt that the weather on the plateau can change quickly. Even in high summer, heading out without a waterproof layer is a gamble you’ll lose eventually. Afternoon thunderstorms are a regular feature, not a rare exception.
In your pack, alongside a lightweight waterproof: a spare inner tube and the tools to fit it (bike park mechanics aren’t always on your route), enough water for the whole ride, and something proper to eat — not just energy bars. Mountain huts are out there, but they’re not always open or reached at the right time.
What to leave at home: any assumptions about how easy the trails are. Some of the technical descents catch out riders who’ve tackled plenty of trails elsewhere. Getting off and walking a tricky section once or twice is far better than coming off far from the village.
After the ride: what to do when you get back
A good day out on the Paganella Plateau tends to end the same way: legs asking for a rest and an appetite that needs more than a snack to satisfy.
Around the area you’ll find alpine dairies and mountain huts still serving proper Trentino food — canederli, local cheeses, meat dishes — without any fuss. These aren’t glossy restaurant guide places; they’re places where you eat well after a morning outdoors.
If you’d rather head back to base and recover at your own pace, Comano Spa is about half an hour’s drive from San Lorenzo Dorsino: a genuine option for anyone who wants to give their legs a different kind of treatment after a day in the saddle. You’ll find full details on opening times and access at termecomano.com.
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If you’re planning a stay with cycling as the main thread, Casa dei Pariani — the apartment in the village of San Lorenzo Dorsino — has space to store bikes and is conveniently placed for reaching the main trail access points. If you’d prefer something more secluded, tucked away in the woods, away from traffic and close to the trails, Masadega dei Pariani is the mountain hut that fits the bill: coming back there in the evening feels like a different kind of satisfaction. Get in touch and we’ll help you work out which of the two suits the way you like to travel.
