Cycling the Valsugana: From Trento to Bassano del Grappa Through Lakes and Orchards

The Valsugana by bicycle: 80 km of alpine sweetness

Among Trentino's cycleways, the one through the Valsugana may be the most underrated. While the crowds flock to the Adige cycleway, this 80-kilometre path from Trento to Bassano del Grappa runs quietly between two alpine lakes, orderly orchards arranged like gardens, and borghi where time seems to have stopped in the 1950s. It is an almost entirely flat route — or rather, a gentle downhill — that follows the Brenta River from its source all the way to the edge of the Venetian plain.

The route in detail

Trento – Lake Caldonazzo (25 km)

You start from Trento's centre, from the railway station where it is possible to rent a bicycle. The cycleway climbs briefly up the Montevaccino hill (the only uphill stretch, about 150 metres of elevation gain) then descends towards Pergine Valsugana, an ancient borgo with a castle commanding the valley. From here you reach Lake Caldonazzo, the largest swimming lake in Trentino. In summer a stop for a swim is almost compulsory: the waters are clean and pleasantly warm from June to September.

Lake Caldonazzo – Borgo Valsugana (20 km)

Skirting the lake you also pass Lake Levico, smaller and more intimate, nestled among the woods. The path then follows the Brenta through hazel groves and apple orchards. At Borgo Valsugana the river passes through the town beneath a covered wooden bridge that recalls Swiss landscapes. The historic centre deserves a stroll: frescoed palaces, the parish church and shops selling local produce.

Borgo Valsugana – Primolano (20 km)

The least known and perhaps the most beautiful stretch. The valley narrows, the Brenta quickens and the cycleway runs between rocky walls and beech forests. You pass through small towns such as Castelnuovo and Grigno, where it is still possible to find trattorias serving strangolapreti and polenta with mushrooms at honest prices. At Primolano you notice the Fort, a reminder of the Great War.

Primolano – Bassano del Grappa (15 km)

The final stretch descends decisively towards the plain. The landscape shifts: vineyards appear, then olive trees and the first signs of Venetian civilisation. The arrival at Bassano del Grappa, with its Ponte degli Alpini designed by Palladio and rebuilt many times over, is the perfect finale. A grappa at Nardini on the bridge is the toast that closes the journey.

Practical information

Difficulty and characteristics

An easy route, suitable for everyone including children aged 10 and up. Total length approximately 80 km, rideable in one long day or comfortably split into two stages. The elevation change is almost entirely downhill (about 300 metres from Trento to Bassano). Surface predominantly paved with short sections of compact gravel. Excellent signage with dedicated markers.

When to go

April to October. Spring (April-May) offers the orchard blossom — a carpet of white and pink petals along the entire valley. Summer is ideal for combining cycling with swimming in the lakes. Autumn brings extraordinary colours and the apple harvest.

How to return to Trento

The regional Bassano-Trento train accepts bicycles (modest supplement). The return journey takes about an hour and a half and allows you to enjoy the landscape from the window. Alternatively, several shuttle services take cyclists and bikes back to the starting point.

What to bring

• Swimwear for Lakes Caldonazzo and Levico
• Refillable water bottle (fountains frequent along the entire route)
• Basic repair kit
• Light jacket for the higher starting stretch
• Camera: the views are worth it

Where to eat

At Pergine Valsugana trattorias serve canederli and carne salada. At Borgo Valsugana you will find typical Trentino pastries: strudel and torta di fregoloti. At Bassano del Grappa, beyond the grappa, try the white asparagus (in season, March to June) and baccalà alla vicentina in the osterie of the centre.

Where to stay

Along the route there are B&Bs, agriturismi and family-run hotels. Prices are lower than in the more touristy areas of Trentino. Recommended are the campsite on Lake Caldonazzo and the agriturismi between Borgo and Grigno, where you sleep among the apple orchards.

Variants and connections

At Borgo Valsugana a detour leads to Castel Telvana, reached by a short 2 km climb. From Bassano you can continue towards Treviso along the Brenta cycleway (another 70 flat kilometres to the lagoon). Those wishing to extend the journey can combine the Valsugana with the Adige cycleway from Trento heading north, creating a three-day Trentino loop using regional trains for the return.

Rental and assistance

At Trento and Bassano several rental shops offer touring bikes, gravel bikes and e-bikes with the option of returning the bike in the other city. Cycle workshops can be found at Pergine, Borgo Valsugana and Bassano. Along the route, e-bike charging stations are present at the lakes and in the larger centres.

A cycleway for those who want to slow down

The Valsugana is not Italy's most spectacular cycleway, and that is precisely why it is one of the most beautiful. It has none of the drama of the Dolomites nor the grandeur of Lake Garda, but it offers something rarer: an entire day in which the only decision is where to stop for a coffee. It is cycle tourism in its purest form, where the bicycle is not a performance tool but a means of contemplation.