There is a simple and beautiful way to experience Val di Sole, and you do not need to be a serious cyclist: get in the saddle and follow the cycle path that runs along the river Noce, from one end of the valley to the other. It is almost flat, with a few gently downhill stretches, set among meadows, woods and orchards, with the mountains all around. In this guide we tell you what the cycle path is like and what to see as you ride, starting from the village of Dimaro and drawing only on places we truly know. We at Italy Holiday have been welcoming guests in this area for a long time, and this is the ride we would recommend to a friend.

The Val di Sole cycle path, in brief

The Val di Sole cycle path follows the river Noce along the whole valley, from Cogolo di Pejo, high up, down to the Mostizzolo bridge, where the Noce flows into Lake Santa Giustina. It is around thirty-five kilometres on a comfortable route, mostly flat with gently downhill sections, which makes it a ride suitable even for families with children.

The nice thing is that you are not forced to do the whole route and pedal back. The Trento-Malè railway also runs down the valley, and there is a service that lets you load your bike onto the train: you can ride one way, enjoying the descent, and then return comfortably by train with your bike. That way you choose how far to go. Dimaro, where we suggest you base yourself, sits right along this route, an ideal starting point to head down the valley or up toward the upper Val di Sole.

What to see as you cycle in Val di Sole

As you follow the river, the valley offers many side trips worth a stop: villages, mountain lakes, a castle and an imposing dam. Here are the places we recommend, all along the valley or just above it.

1. Val di Sole and the river Noce, the valley you ride

Val di Sole is a wide alpine valley in Trentino, enclosed between the Brenta Dolomites and the Adamello and Presanella ranges, within Stelvio National Park. It is crossed by the river Noce, considered one of the best rivers in Europe for rafting, and the cycle path you follow runs right along its banks.

Cycling here means having the river water on one side and the mountains all around, passing from green meadows to small villages, from woods to the orchards of the lower valley. It is a valley that lives on nature and sport in every season, and it is perfect from May to September for two wheels and the open air. The cycle path is the most relaxed way to discover it all, at your own pace.

2. Diga di Santa Giustina, the lowest point of the valley

Where the cycle path ends, at the Mostizzolo bridge, the river Noce widens into Lake Santa Giustina, held back by an imposing dam. The Santa Giustina dam is a huge structure over one hundred and fifty metres high, inaugurated in 1951: for a long time it was the highest in Europe. Below it opens a deep gorge, carved by the river into the rock.

From the Mostizzolo bridge your gaze drops from above onto this spectacular landscape of emerald water and rock walls. It is a scenic finale for anyone riding the cycle path from the top down toward the valley floor, as well as the most convenient point to find the railway station and the train that carries your bike.

3. Castello di San Michele, a medieval fortress in Ossana

Heading up toward the upper valley, a short detour from the cycle path takes you to Ossana, where the Castello di San Michele looms over the village. It is a medieval fortress built on a rocky spur, with powerful walls, a drawbridge, an old chapel and an imposing keep, the main tower, 25 metres high. From up there you enjoy a sweeping view over the upper part of the valley.

The castle has more than a thousand years of history and is lovely to visit in every season. At Christmas it becomes even more evocative: Ossana is famous for its many nativity scenes, and within the castle walls a nativity dedicated to the Great War is set up. It is a stop that pairs history with the view, just steps from the route.

4. Lago dei Caprioli, an emerald corner above Pellizzano

A little above Pellizzano, set in the woods of the Fazzon locality, the Lago dei Caprioli awaits, a small mountain lake with emerald-coloured water at around 1,280 metres of altitude. It is surrounded by conifer forests and green meadows, and it is one of the most photographed spots in Val di Sole, perfect for a picnic and a break away from the saddle.

What families love most is the Sentiero degli Gnomi, the Gnomes' Trail, a path through the woods enriched with wooden sculptures that climbs toward the lake. It is a climb that takes some breath, but in return it gives children an adventure among the trees. You can also reach the lake by car. The best time runs from late spring to early autumn.

5. Val di Pejo, where the valley climbs toward the glaciers

At the upper end of the cycle path, Val di Pejo opens as a higher side valley, in the heart of Stelvio National Park. It is ringed by three-thousand-metre peaks like Vioz and Cevedale, with glaciers, mountain lakes and thermal springs. The healing waters of Pejo have been known since 1650, and to this day they are at the heart of the village's spa tradition.

In summer it is an ideal base for walking the park's trails, riding a cable car up toward three thousand metres and discovering the alpine lakes. It is the point where the valley turns wilder, perfect for those who want to finish the bike ride and then lift their eyes toward the high mountains. It pairs the park's nature with the well-being of the spa.

6. Lago delle Malghette, a mirror of water beneath the Brenta Dolomites

If you want to swap the bike for a walk, a few kilometres from Dimaro, heading up toward Madonna di Campiglio, the Lago delle Malghette awaits. It is an alpine lake at around 1,900 metres of altitude, in the heart of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, surrounded by conifer woods and facing the peaks of the Brenta Dolomites. Its clear waters mirror the mountains.

You reach it on foot with a walk through the woods, for example from the Madonna di Campiglio area. On its shores there is a hut where you can rest and eat something local. It is a fine addition for those who, beyond the valley-floor cycle path, want a taste of the high mountains around Dimaro. The best time runs from early summer to autumn.

A practical tip before you set off

The cycle path is easy, but a little care helps. Bring water, a light jacket and a helmet, because in the mountains the weather changes fast. If you want to use the bike-plus-train service so you do not retrace your steps, check the timetable and bike-space availability in advance, as they can vary with the season. If you travel with children, choose a shorter, downhill stretch, so the ride stays a pleasure all the way.

Where to stay to cycle in Val di Sole

The best way to experience the cycle path is to have a home of your own in Dimaro, right along the route, to set off from in the saddle each morning and return to in the evening after a day in the open air. With Italy Holiday you will find well-kept stays in the Dimaro and Val di Sole area, designed for families and travellers who love the mountains and two wheels.

Discover where to stay in Val di Sole and book your stay with Italy Holiday: your ideal base to cycle along the river Noce and explore the whole valley.

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