Sestola Bikepark

A diverse mountain biking destination in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, combining lift-served downhill trails, long natural routes, and forest riding around Monte Cimone.

Mountain Biking in the Apennines

Located around Sestola and Monte Cimone in Emilia-Romagna, Cimone Bike Park is one of the main mountain biking destinations in the northern Apennines. The riding area combines lift-served downhill tracks with longer bike routes extending through the surrounding mountains and forests.

Sestola sits at approximately 1,020 meters above sea level in the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, within the Frignano Park. The wider Monte Cimone area provides a very different riding environment from the high Alpine resorts, with extensive beech forests, mountain ridges, and natural terrain.

Downhill Trails

The core of the bike park is its network of dedicated downhill tracks accessed from Sestola and the surrounding lift system. The official Cimone Bike Park map lists trails ranging from easier blue routes to demanding black downhill tracks.

The downhill network includes:

• Easy Ride – 2.20 km, blue

• Falco Rosso – 1.90 km, red

• Top Gun – 2.50 km, red

• Balla coi Lupi – 3.20 km, red

• Scaffa del Gatto – 4.50 km, red

• DH – 2.20 km, black

• Aquila Reale – 4.38 km, black

• Terminator – 2.50 km, black

The official lift and trail information lists the downhill routes together with their lengths and vertical differences. Scaffa del Gatto is currently listed at 4.50 km with 467 m of vertical difference, while Aquila Reale covers 4.38 km with 416 m.

Natural and Longer Bike Routes

Cimone is not limited to downhill riding. The official bike park map also includes a network of longer bike routes around Montecreto and the wider Cimone area.

Among them are:

• Via dei Monti – 9.00 km / 592 m

• Rio Canalone – 6.00 km / 592 m

• Pino Solitario – 5.60 km / 592 m

• La Marina – 8.20 km / 610 m

• La Fontanina – 7.00 km / 610 m

• Passo del Lupo – 6.50 km / 610 m

• Stellaro – 2.15 km / 582 m

• Ardicello – 1.46 km / 137 m

This variety makes the area suitable for riders interested in more than lift-accessed downhill, with longer mountain routes providing a different way to explore the Apennine terrain.

Lift Access

The bike park uses the existing Cimone lift network to provide access to the mountain. From Sestola, riders can use the Sestola–Pian del Falco chairlift, while the wider riding area is connected with additional lifts and transport services.

The official bike park map identifies the main mountain access points as:

• Sestola – Pian del Falco chairlift

• Passo del Lupo – Pian Cavallaro cableway

• Montecreto chairlift

The Sestola–Pian del Falco lift provides direct access from the town towards the upper riding area, while the wider lift network connects different parts of the Monte Cimone area.

A Forest Riding Experience

Cimone offers a distinctly Apennine riding experience. Instead of the exposed rocky terrain found at many high-altitude Alpine bike parks, much of the riding takes place through forests and mountain landscapes around Sestola, Pian del Falco, Passo del Lupo, and Montecreto.

The surrounding area is part of the Frignano Park, with extensive beech forests and mountain trails providing a scenic backdrop for both downhill and longer-distance riding.

A Destination for Different Riding Styles

With dedicated downhill tracks, natural bike routes, long descents, and several lift-access options, Cimone Bike Park offers considerable variety for mountain bikers.

The official trail network ranges from the blue Easy Ride to demanding black trails such as DH, Aquila Reale, and Terminator, while the longer routes around Montecreto provide an alternative for riders looking for extended mountain rides.

For riders looking to explore an Italian mountain biking destination away from the major Alpine resorts, Cimone Bike Park combines lift-served downhill riding with extensive Apennine terrain and forest scenery, making it a distinctive destination in Emilia-Romagna.