Ring tour on Cansiglio from Dardago

The Cansiglio plain is a pre-Alpine plateau that is worth exploring every month of the year for its extraordinary alternation of colours. The route I propose starts from the province of Pordenone and takes place mainly on uneven asphalt roads, dirt roads and paths.

The departure is in Dardago, a small hamlet of Budoia in the province of Pordenone, located about 200 meters above sea level. From here, follow the main road north, via San Tomè, which leads you out of the town towards the Venezia delle Nevi cycle-pedestrian path.
The Venice of the snow is a cycle/pedestrian road restored in 2019 that allows you to go up from Dardago to Piancavallo, with a difference in height of approximately 1,100 meters and an average gradient of 7.5%; this first part of the ride is not trivial at all, in fact there are some gradients that exceed 20%.

Once you have finished this arduous climb, you are in the territory of the Cansiglio forest. A relaxing downhill slope now awaits you which will give you the opportunity to catch your breath and admire the beautiful beech trees which make up one of the largest forests in Europe. The dirt road closed to traffic on which you are cycling will lead you slightly downhill between mountain huts and dairy farms, always remaining between 1,200 and 1,500 meters above sea level, until it crosses the main road Via del Cansiglio.
To avoid the descent to the starting point on the busy state road, follow the track that leads back onto the gravel and enjoy this last wild stretch: head straight towards the last attraction of the day, the Gorgazzo spring.

The Gorgazzo source is an underwater cave located near the hamlet of Polcenigo; its name derives from the Friulian “gorc” which means abyss. Its clear waters are a real spectacle, on sunny days it is possible to see the statue of Christ which has been positioned on the seabed at the mouth of the cavity. Once past the source, you have less than five kilometers left to return to the starting point: Dardago.