The 8 Best Bike Parks in Italy for Downhill MTB

3. Pila Bike Park (Pila, Valle d’Aosta)

It’ s particularly impressive panorama because it’ sits in front of the most emblazoned 4000s in the Alps: in fact, you can see Mont Blanc, Grand Combin, Monte Rosa and Matterhorn. Despite its fame due in part to the Downhill World Cup, Pila Bike Park also offers flow descents. The mostù famous MTB school in Valle d’Aosta (and one of the best in Europe!) offers lessons by taking you two days in a row to the bike park in the morning.

A rider descends a trail flow at the Pila Bike Park

• Prices and logistics

  Probably the most convenient resort on the list. From Aosta you take the gondola, which takes you to the base of all the other lifts in a quarter of an hour. Excellent value for money: 27 euros day bike pass

• Trails

  With a prevalence of natural trails, the Pila bike park has a lot to offer for different specialties: in fact, in addition to the trails marked for DH biking you can also try a 4km circuit for cross country biking and an 11km Pila-Aosta free-ride course. DH bike recommended.

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  Not to be missed

  The Desarpa with its 15 km for 2100 mt of descent è a must-do trail. If you can ride it all the way from the top to the bottom (not è easy), arrived already; you can only exclaim a “Wow!”

4. Amiata Bike Park (Castel del Piano (GR), Tuscany)

Mount Amiata è a volcano, which sits isolated between the provinces of Grosseto and Siena, Tuscany. From the summit on the clearest days you can see the major mountains of central Italy, from Lazio to Abruzzo. Although it is a bike park relatively new (2015) there are already many trails with a good choice of flow, single track and wide sections to interpret

• Prices and logistics

  The bike park is located 50 km from the nearest highway exit, in the southernmost part of Tuscany. 25 euros for the daily bike pass, 30 euros with also the shuttle to the enduro area.

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  Trails

  Amiata Bike Park is developed on two sides. The first è that of Castel del Piano where è developed the bike park, more suitable for DH bikes. The side of Abbadia San Salvatore instead è where there are enduro trails, also on 800 meters of elevation gain.

• Not to be missed

  We recommend you go to Mount Amiata in October, when your thirst for riding is not è over yet, and you will enjoy the last turns of the season, without crowds and with perfect temperature, maintained by the grandiose beech forests that carpet the mountain. Besides, we are in one of the richest culinary areas in Italy, and autumn è mushroom season… canò suffice.

5. Val di Sole Bike Park (Commezzadura, Trentino)

One of the most beautiful valleys in Trentino (and d’Italy), Val di Sole offers possibilities for any kind of outdoor activity but the bike è definitely the best means to maximize fun and exploration. Two little gems are the side valleys of Peio and Rabbi.

Since 2006 è it has become a fixed stop for the World Cup of MTB. È a reference point for all enthusiasts: in Val di Sole there are itineraries truly for every type of biker, from the family looking for a soft  route to the fierce riders who want to arrive at the end of the day shredded, but satisfied. The parabolics of Commezzadura

• Prices and logistics

  We arrive in Val di Sole either through Val di Non from Trento or from Valtellina via Passo del Tonale. Set among the mostù beautiful mountains in our Alps. 33 euros for the daily bike pass.

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  Trails

  There are two bike parks, not very close, but each large enough for an adrenaline-filled day. Beginner trails are mostly at Passo del Tonale with easy flows even for kids. If you want to confront international gradients, Commezzadura è the place for you.

• Not to be missed

  After a’busy day of riding there are various opportunities for a well-deserved culinary reward: we recommend eating at the'agriturismo Malga Valpiana. It will give youà the highest relaxing moment of the vacation.

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6. Bardonecchia Bike Park (Bardonecchia, Piedmont)

Bardonecchia è a very accessible and family-friendly mountain, offers guaranteed fun for every target audience. The bike park in Bardonecchia è very popular for those coming from Piedmont and Northern Italy.

 A rider rides in Bardonecchia bike park

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  Prices and logistics

  Bardonecchia is located at the top of the Susa Valley in Piedmont, the’highway comes directly to the town. 23 euro daily bike pass.

• Trails

  Divided between Camp Smith and Melezet. The first moreù quiet and for beginners, the second moreù suitable for downhill with fast flows, 40 trails to try with relative difficulty; for a total of 400 km of trail.

• Not to be missed

  We recommend that you rent your e-bike and take advantage of the former military roads that very comfortably take you to the top of the mountain without ever getting out of the saddle or stopping pedaling.

7. Abetone Gravity Park (Abetone (PT), Tuscany)

“An old mountain, inhabited by people proud of their isolation” soì reads the bike park's website. Abetone è a historic ski resort among the oldest in Europe, since 2008 in its summer guise also as bike park.

Erwin Ronzon, pro Enduro rider, at the'Abetone Gravity Park during the championships

• Prices and logistics

  The Abetone is located in the high valleys of the Pistoia mountains, 70 km from Florence, on the border with Emilia Romagna at 1338 meters above sea level. The cost of a daily bike pass at the’Abetone Bike Park è of 22€

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  Trails

  Don't expect the fluidityà of commercial trails, here you have to have some’ old school mentality to appreciate difficult and mostly natural descents.  The recommended bike è definitely the DH bike, however with the new frame geometries you will also enjoy enduro.

• Don't miss

  We recommend going to Abetone during the days of the Italian Championships or Coppa Italia when the hype è skyrocketing and the Tuscan hospitality will make every moment special.

8. Carosello Mountain Park (Livigno, Lombardy)

The second-largest bike park in Livigno, less packed with trails than Mottolino, but just as scenic and sunnier than nearby Mottolino.

 A trail flow of the Carosello in Livigno

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  Prices and logistics

  The Carosello mountain is located across from the Mottolino mountain in Livigno. The cost of the daily bike pass è 37 euros bike.

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  Trails

  It's preferable to ride an enduro bike. 50 km of tracks and natural trails.

• Not to be missed

  Have a day set aside to do the “Tutti Frutti Epic MTB tour” (after you watch the short linked video, you'll be wanting to do it)! All 50 km of the route to be done in a’single day or less. Requires some’ training – below is the map of the entire route

Circuit of the Tutti Frutti Epic MTB Tour at Carosello di Livigno

The 3 best areas for Downhill and Enduro MTB in Italy without bike park

Here instead are three incredible MTB areas in which to ride mostly enduro bikes. There are also vans that replace the lifts (recommended, in lieu of riding every lift).

Finale Ligure (Liguria)

Here already in the late ’80s the first MTB races were organized. In ’99 the 24h will start. In Finale you won't find a bike park or lifts, né protective mattresses on the obstacles. Finale è for hardcore enduro riders. Technical trails and natural drops to challenge even the pros. In Finale you can breathe a’different air from the rest of the bike parks, perhaps more wild and authentic.

• Prices and logistics

  Finale è 70 km from Genoa, Liguria. Shuttle to the ascent from 10 euros. Possibility of touring 365 days a year (but in summer it's hot).

• Trails

  The trails are mostly natural with lots of technical sections to ride, however looking hard you can also find more flowing trails with fast stretches and acrobatic jumps.  The end rock è unique in the world, è very solid and creates driving sections that leave no room for error.

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  Not to be missed

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  We recommend Finale in the fall or midwinter, when you won’t find hordes of tourists but only locals who can advise you (if you know how to deal with the initial Ligurian ruggedness) on the best downhill lines. When after an’intense day, sweaty and dusty, you will dive into the sea and then the wow effect will be’guaranteed.

Massa Marittima (Tuscany)

The community of Trail brothers Tuscany è very active. They tell their story this way: "The idea of this project è was born about 5 years ago by a group of friends from different sectors of the MTB world. The common desire was to be able to create and grow the territory and trails of Massa Marittima, an area already world-renowned for its splendid natural beauty, wonderful springs and much more.

 Tour of Enduro MTB on a Massa Marittima trail

We started right away designing and building trails, initially trying to connect or extend existing ones, and then moving on to making new ones. Our biggest passion è trail building, we spend many days a year building new trails and improving or maintaining existing ones".

On the following page are meticulously marked all the trails you can do.

• Prices and logistics

  Don't be fooled by the name, Massa Marittima is not è in the province of Massa Carrara, but is located farther south, in the province of Grosseto. There is no fixed shuttle service yet, it is best to contact Trail brothers Tuscany directly.

• Trails

  The easy trails are not entry level; you'll be riding enduros here. The terrain seems tailor-made to generate technical and very challenging single tracks.

• Not to be missed

  The’Hotel di Massa Vecchia offers all the biker services you need. It has a spectacular pool, the place is not è very far from the sea and you can make trails that reach the beach.

Promontorio di Piombino (Tuscany)

Last in order, not in beauty. Piombino è an area not too big, but very up-and-coming and definitely noteworthy. Trust the folks at Tuscany Bike to explore the area and the Piombino headland. The classic enduro tour è quite challenging, but it allows you to tour the whole area in one day.

 Enduro tour on the Piombino Promontory with Tuscany Bike

Matteo (the owner) è a young man super passionate about the sport who will make you feel at home… even on the trails!

 Matteo Dondiero of Tuscany Bike

List of Bike Parks in Italy (subdivided by region)

To book a bike park in various regions in Italy there is an online service – eBikeCult talks more about it in this article.

Piedmont

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• Bikepark Prato Nevoso (Prato Nevoso, CN)
• Caldirola Bike Park (AL)
• Sauze d'Oulx Bike Park
• Monte Alpet Bike Village (Serra Pamparato, CN)

Trentino Alto Adige

• Fassa bike park (Campitello di Fassa, Canazei)
• Lavarone Bike Park (Folgaria)
• Plan de Corones (Bolzano)
• San Martino Bike Arena (San Martino di Castrozza, TN)
• Ponte di Legno Tonale Bike Park

Liguria

• Bike Park Santo Stefano D'Aveto (Rocca d'Aveto, GE)

Lombardy

• Spiazzi di Gromo Bike Park (Gromo, BG)
• Madesimo Bike Park (Madesimo, SO)

Val d’Aosta

• Cervinia Bike Park
• La Thuile Bike Park

Abruzzo

• Campo Felice Bike Park (Aquila)

Emilia Romagna

• Cimone Gravity Park (Sestola, MO)

Basilicata

• Bike Park Monte Pierfaone (Abriola, Potenza)

 Erwin Ronzon at the Bike Park in La Thuile, Valle d'Aosta