Nature Reserve Guide
Riserva Naturale Della Bessa is a nature reserve in Italy, characterized by a unique landscape shaped by both ancient Roman gold mining and glacial activity. Its terrain features vast stone mounds and deep valleys, giving it a distinctive appearance. Situated between 270 and 430 meters of altitude, the reserve offers a network of trails and dirt roads suitable for several sports like hiking, mountain biking, touring cycling, jogging, and more. This blend of geological history and reclaimed nature provides a…
148
Routes
4.4
(376)
Average rating
2462
People visited

3.8
(4)
9
hikers
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
hikers
18.7km
05:20
420m
420m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

5.0
(3)
8
hikers
8.43km
02:14
90m
90m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

3.0
(1)
2
hikers
8.29km
02:27
260m
260m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(1)
5
riders
34.3km
02:38
450m
450m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.0
(1)
15
riders
41.3km
03:27
890m
890m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
9
riders
19.0km
01:49
260m
250m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
riders
15.9km
01:22
390m
390m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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15.7km
01:32
420m
420m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(4)
21
riders
45.2km
05:26
1,980m
1,980m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.0
(3)
10
riders
27.1km
02:30
680m
690m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.5
(2)
12
riders
19.6km
01:49
400m
400m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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5.0
(1)
1
runners
18.6km
02:18
410m
410m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

3.0
(1)
53
runners
12.3km
01:27
180m
180m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(3)
36
runners
16.9km
01:58
180m
180m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
26
runners
19.9km
02:21
230m
230m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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3.0
(2)
78
riders
43.5km
02:10
220m
220m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(2)
67
riders
45.0km
02:25
800m
800m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.4
(7)
37
riders
27.8km
01:46
610m
610m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

4.0
(1)
30
riders
31.6km
01:30
340m
340m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.5
(2)
22
riders
18.6km
01:08
160m
160m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

8
riders
63.6km
04:49
930m
930m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

6
riders
61.6km
04:23
1,030m
1,020m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
9
riders
58.3km
04:50
1,020m
1,020m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.
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Riserva Naturale Della Bessa is a nature reserve in Italy characterized by a unique landscape shaped by ancient Roman gold mining and glacial activity. It features vast stone mounds and deep valleys, remnants of its past as one of the largest open-pit gold mines. The reserve is also part of the Serra moraine, one of Europe's largest.
The reserve offers a variety of outdoor activities including hiking, mountain biking, touring cycling, jogging, road cycling, and gravel biking. There are more than 70 routes available, catering to different skill levels. Visitors can explore the area's unique landscape through these activities.
Yes, Riserva Naturale Della Bessa features easy trails suitable for beginners and those seeking less strenuous walks. These routes often explore historical gold mining areas and are generally suitable for all fitness levels. For more options, refer to the Easy hikes in Riserva Naturale Della Bessa guide.
Popular hiking routes include the Victimula Goldpanners' Arena loop, which allows exploration of the historical gold mining area. Other notable trails are the "Great Biellese Traverse" at 5.2 miles (8.4 km) and the "Biellese countryside trail to Sala Biellese" at 5.1 miles (8.3 km). More options can be found in the Hiking in Riserva Naturale Della Bessa guide.
The reserve offers several mountain biking trails, with options ranging from moderate to difficult. Examples include the "Mongrando Dam Tour" at 9.7 miles (15.7 km) and the "Croce Serra Castle – Belvedere Panoramic Viewpoint loop from Mongrando" at 23.3 miles (37.6 km). Dirt roads within the Bessa are well-suited for mountain bikes. Consult the MTB Trails in Riserva Naturale Della Bessa guide for more routes.
Yes, the reserve and surrounding areas offer touring cycling routes. The "Victimula – Victimula Goldpanners' Arena loop from Borriana" is an easy 6.1-mile (9.8 km) option. Other routes like the "Mongrando Dam Loop" at 9.9 miles (15.9 km) provide further exploration. More routes are detailed in the Cycling in Riserva Naturale Della Bessa guide.
Key points of interest include the vast stone mounds, known as "ciapei," and deep valleys, or "bunde," which are remnants of ancient Roman gold mining. The area also features large glacial erratics scattered throughout the park. These features offer a tangible connection to the reserve's geological and archaeological past.
Riserva Naturale Della Bessa is situated between 886 feet (270 meters) and 1,411 feet (430 meters) of altitude. This relatively low elevation makes many of its trails accessible to a wide range of visitors. The terrain is characterized by morainic hills and the Elvo and Olobbia rivers.
Riserva Naturale Della Bessa is a popular destination on komoot, with more than 600 visitors having shared their experiences. The routes in the reserve have an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars. There are 78 routes available for various sports.
Komoot offers several guides for Riserva Naturale Della Bessa, including guides for Hiking, MTB Trails, Cycling, and Running Trails. There are also guides for Easy hikes and Attractions.
Yes, the reserve offers a network of easy trails that are suitable for families with children. These routes are generally well-maintained and allow for exploration of the unique landscape without requiring advanced fitness levels. The Victimula Goldpanners' Arena loop is an example of a trail that can be enjoyed by families.
Geologically, Riserva Naturale Della Bessa is part of the Serra moraine, one of Europe's largest, formed by glacial activity from the Aosta Valley. This glacial action transported a wide array of rocks, including granite, gneiss, and diorite, which are visible in the accumulated heaps. The area also features large glacial erratics.
The reserve is managed by the Ente di Gestione delle Aree Protette del Ticino e del Lago Maggiore. The Visitor Centre in Vermogno can be reached at +39 015 677276. The managing body, Ente Parco, can be contacted at 011.4320011.

