Switzerland & Italy – Cruschetta Pass Loop from Santa Maria
By Lloyd Bower

Physical Technical Fun Scenery Singletrack Rideability
***** **** **** ****** **** ****

 

This circular ride offers absolutely stunning mountain scenery, some super singletrack, long climbs and equally long descents, with a couple of cross border crossings.

The ride starts from Santa Maria in southwest Switzerland close to the Italian border. The area offers some of the best singletrack mountain bike riding in the Alps and is a hidden gem.

Like most mountain singletrack in the Alps it has to be earned by a long ascent from the valley, so the route calls for a decent level of fitness.

Distance & Time

Approximately 35 miles with only a few miles of tarmac, and that is the initial cross border descent into Taufers across the Italian border. Time, reckon on between 5 and 7 hours.

Map & Formalities

Swiss mapping is amongst the best in the world, the Landeskart des Schweiz series is the equal of OS Maps, 5017 Unterengadin . Engiadina Bassa 1:50000 covers this route.

I used the Bike Explorer Unterengadin Map, which is 1:80000 scale, it is excellent for route ideas though does miss of many of the smaller tracks, though perfectly adequate to follow this route.

Once off road there are no great navigational challenges, signposting is typically excellent. However this route goes to 2393m, so go well prepared for any eventualities.

Many locals speak embarrassingly good English, but knowledge of German would certainly be an advantage.

Don’t forget the passport.

Refreshments

Occasional mountain refuges offering tea and cakes, or small hotels at S-Charl half way round, and there are plenty of opportunities to top up the water bottle\hydration pack from local taps.

Don’t rule out the water bottle as yesterday’s retro gear, in the Alps you’ll be needing to keep well hydrated. There are usually plenty of mountain water taps, and it’s much easier and quicker to refill with a bottle. Also you might well appreciate 2kg less weight on the back.

Accommodation and Food

There is an official Swiss Youth Hostel at Santa Maria, alternatively the Hotel Stelvio is branded as a bike hotel and offers reasonably priced accommodation. There are also limited B&B’s in Santa Maria and Valchava.

Foodwise, check whether the small pizza restaurant on the main road through Santa Maria as re-opened, it did offer good priced food & wine, but was under scaffolding when we visited in July 2003. There are limited other options in Santa Maria, or walk back up the road to the pizza restaurant in Valchava, it’s below the main restaurant and allows you to design your own toppings – note it is closed on sunday’s.

Access

Santa Maria is not on any main rail route, and the only feasible access is by road.

 

Route Directions

The route could equally be started from Taufers on the Italian border, or S-Charl but works better from Santa Maria.

  1. Starting from Santa Maria at 1375m head off on tarmac on the main road descending through Mustair and the Italian border to Taufers. You may need to show your passport though I didn’t.
  2. Pass through the main center in the small village of Taufers and then look out for a small road on the left with footpath signposts for Scarl Joch (not actually marked on the Bike Explorer Map, but being the Cruschetta Pass)
  3. Continue on this track as it becomes unsurfaced ignoring a few signposts to the left back into Switzerland.
  4. The track quickly gains altitude amongst trees and follows on the right hand side of Rio Valarola stream.
  5. Eventually the track crosses the stream, the going gets steeper immediately before a small farm marked as Alp Manglix on the Bike Explorer map is reached. There’s a water tap here and it’s worth replenishing for the 300m climb that remains to the pass.
  6. Take time to look at the marvelous scenery to the south including some snowy tops, before continuing on an eventually more gentler ascent.
  7. Soon the valley opens up, the track disappears into grassy singletrack as the small refuge of Praoiert appears on the right and the steeper pass of the Crushetta immediately in front.
  8. Bear to the right on the obvious track and prepare to shoulder the bike for the thankfully short climb to the top of the pass.
  9. A stony plateau is soon reached and it is possible to re-saddle the bike, though you’ll need to get off of couple of times before finally reaching the Crushetta col at 2296m and the Italian\Swiss border.
  10. No border formalities here! a small border post and a statue of Christ under a small shelter are the only signs of the national border.
  11. Take in the view, before beginning a long descent on singletrack, initially there’s the occasional obstacle to negotiate but soon it’s a lovely smooth grassy singletrack descent.
  12. There’s a mountain refuge at Alp Plaxier where it should be possible to get iced tea, the other alternative is to continue the descent and continue pass the return route to the small settlement of S-charl.
  13. I continued down to S-charl losing 170m. It’s small settlement situated on the dead end valley road from Scuol. There’s plenty of opportunity to refuel with drinks and local cake.
  14. Suitably refreshed, head back up to the track junction and now follow the footpath signs for Lu. Indeed red Swiss mountain bike route signs now begin to appear.
  15. Ignoring the faint footpath on the left which crosses the river, follow the main track on the right as it heads to Alp Astra
  16. The track ends at Alp Astra, and there’s a decision to be made between two singletrack routes, both offer returns to the Santa Maria valley. If you tired take the lower and shorter Pass da Costainas signposted for Lu, otherwise take the right path to the Funtana da S-charl pass.
  17. I took the Funtana da S-charl route, there’s an initial steep carry beyond the small farm of Alp Astra. But shortly this is topped out, and more sweet singletrack awaits.
  18. Follow this to the Funtana da S-charl col at 2393m, continue to Alp da Munt signposted as 30min, but it will take nothing like this on the bike.
  19. At Alp da Munt ignore the tempting continuing descent to Tshierv, and instead take the mountain bike signs to Lu, where even better singletrack awaits after contouring round a corner with worryingly steep drop offs. Thankfully there’s a fence to stop you careering over the edge as you admire the wonderful scenery.
  20. Some of the best riding of the route as to end eventually, it does when the other pass comes in from the left. Continue as it turns to track and pass through the pleasant settlement of Lu. This offers another opportunity of a free water top up, or alternatively there’s a small cafe.
  21. Leaving Lu head right and follow the signs for Tschierv, a long descent awaits (you’re still at 1920m), the track finally becomes tarmac as Tschierv is reached on the main Offen road pass.
  22. Turn left, joining the main road for a short distance before taking the off road track signposted on the left to Fuldera, continue on this track before leaving it to descend to Valchava.
  23. Going through Valchava rejoin the main road for the final ½ mile descent to the day’s starting point of Santa Maria.

 

Last Updated 13-01-2004
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