Sasso Birone Loop

Starting from via Valle dell'Oro, at the end of which there is a parking lot. Going back slightly, take via Mombello to the left, reach the end and take trail 8.

We continue to gain altitude more and more quickly in the woods and climb decisively through short hairpins and rapid leaps following the indications of trail 8.

At the only real fork, continue to the right.

After about an hour, we reach a pass. This is the Ceppo della Forcola, where we meet trail 1. On the right, there is a panoramic point; straight ahead leads down to Valmadrera, but we take left instead.

Here begins the most interesting part of the route, with a couple of steep ramps and a straight stretch westwards; we reach a steep rocky ledge, the most complicated point of the ascent, where if desired, we can help ourselves with some chains.

From here, still on trail 1, we ascend decisively towards the summit, now in sight. We reach it (thirty minutes from Forcola) and can admire the landscape.

To descend, continue north towards Monte Rai, which is easily reachable if desired. Instead, we take the trail to the left, particularly steep, which quickly and straight leads to Casota del Pastore. We go down further and reach a first signposted fork. We go left; a few meters below the second fork, we go straight on; going left would return to trail 8, but we descend straight down into the valley.

It is always a fast descent through the woods until we reach the old mule track that climbs to San Pietro al Monte. We descend it for a few hundred meters to the Oro locality. Here we turn left, enter the woods and descend rapidly to the stream, cross it and return to the starting point.