Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Login or Signup

Get the App

Login or Signup

Routes
Bike touring routes & trails
Italy
Emilia-Romagna
Bologna
Pianoro

Beaver Lake – Val di Zena loop from IT4050012 - SIC-ZPS - Contrafforte Pliocenico

Routes
Bike touring routes & trails
Italy
Emilia-Romagna
Bologna
Pianoro

Beaver Lake – Val di Zena loop from IT4050012 - SIC-ZPS - Contrafforte Pliocenico

Hard

4.4

(51)

495

riders

Beaver Lake – Val di Zena loop from IT4050012 - SIC-ZPS - Contrafforte Pliocenico

03:15

49.5km

610m

Cycling

Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Gessi Bolognesi, Calanchi dell'Abbadessa

Gessi Bolognesi, Calanchi dell'Abbadessa

Waypoints

A

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

1

13.6 km

Ford on the Zena stream

Highlight • River

Small ford on the Zena stream without great difficulty. However, it is better to avoid it in the rainy season, or to inquire in advance.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

2

14.3 km

Beaver Lake

Highlight • Lake

Ponds very popular in summer by fishermen and patrons of the bar next door

Translated by Google •

Tip by

3

14.3 km

Lake of the Beavers

Highlight • Lake

I don't know why it's called that since there are no beavers in the area. The lake is for sport fishing, but it is also an idyllic place for walking or bird watching. There is a bar-restaurant next door. In the summer there are music evenings, and the restaurant is very busy at the weekend.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4

25.0 km

Fontanella

Highlight • Rest Area

Alongside the cycle path, always fresh

Translated by Google •

Tip by

25.5 km

Forestazione urbana Fattoria del dono

Forest

6

26.1 km

Via Galletta Cycle Path

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

One of the cycle paths on the outskirts of Bologna, at the foot of the Gessi. From here you can access various paths on the hills

Translated by Google •

Tip by

7

29.4 km

Casa Fantini Trail

Highlight • Trail

Casa Fantini is the point of arrival (or departure) of a path that leads near the cave and then climbs to rejoin the Via di Gaibola. Doing it uphill is for hikers, even with the e-bike it is certainly challenging and probably requires you to go down and push in a few stretches. In any case, the best of himself is given in descent starting from via di Gaibola (there are tracks in some laps that I have saved and which have the name "Fantini" in the description).
Immediately after the downhill start there is a climb that is quite technical and above all muddy if it has rained. After the descent it is technical and fast, in particular high enough there is a very steep but short descent on the ground to be faced with attention to the weights (out of the saddle) and where I suggest to give up. The descent alternates on the ground and on gypsum rock, but there is no shortage of roots .... in short, forget to sit on the saddle!
Arriving at a sharp bend (there the path forks and I believe that part of it heads towards Via dell'Eremo), a second, even more technical stretch begins, where in particular about halfway down the descent there is a small drop if you holds the right and must be tackled by further lightening the front if you go slow, otherwise you fly it. At the end of the path, keep to the left that goes towards the Fantini house, because on the right the road is closed by a chain ..... before reaching the house there is a series of well-spaced steps to go out of the saddle and enjoyable for those who it has a cushioned bi ... otherwise keep the left to the side of the steps.
I do not recommend doing it after it has rained and if you see that there are muddy areas in the surroundings, it is guaranteed that you will find it there too and it will not be much fun if you do not have soft tires that are also suitable for muddy terrain. Beware of hikers, at least the three times I have done the path I have always met them in several places!

Translated by Google •

Tip by

8

31.7 km

Val di Zena

Highlight • Gorge

Interesting route for training with long stretches of gentle uphill gradient and some short stretches to force the leg uphill! Cold winter and hot summer but with many shaded areas! There is little traffic even if the road is not very wide. You can reach Quinzano and Loiano if you want to tackle long uphill stretches.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

B

49.5 km

End point

Bus stop

Loading

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

39.8 km

4.29 km

2.88 km

2.17 km

300 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

36.2 km

11.0 km

1.47 km

851 m

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Elevation

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (350 m)

Lowest point (70 m)

Sign up to see more specific route details

Sign up for free

Weather

Powered by Foreca

Saturday 29 August

32°C

17°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

guide_signup

Want to know more?

Sign up for a free komoot account to join the conversation.

Sign up for free

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

Save

Edit route

Download GPX

Move start point

Print

Share

Embed on a website

Report an Issue

Report restricted access

Nearby routes

Hard

4.8

127

Bologna to Florence via the Acquerino Cantagallo Nature Reserve

09:31h

138km

1,700m

Explore
RoutesRoute plannerFeaturesRedeem a voucherHikesMTB TrailsRoad cycling routesBikepackingSitemap
Download the app
Follow Us on Socials

© komoot GmbH

Privacy Policy