Val Raccolana - Altopiano Montasio

Val Raccolana is one of the prettiest places I've ever visited.  More waterfalls than I've ever seen in one place, spruce-covered mountain slopes, topped by a grassy altopiano with mountain-peak panoramas in all directions.  It's in the northeast corner of Italy, stretching from the Slovenian border to Torrente Fella, the main north-south water course from the Austrian border.  

From Chiusaforte the road starts off with a couple of kilometers of tough gradients (9-11%) but they are mostly short lived.  If you prefer a flat warm-up, you could start in Resiutta, or just drive the first 2 km from Chiusaforte and begin the ride on easier gradient.

As you follow Torrente Raccolana up the valley, numerous high waterfalls spill down the surrounding cliffs.  I lost count but I guess there are 20.  To capture them you would need a telephoto lens, but I snapped a few pictures of the closer ones.

After 11 km of this scenic easy riding the road suddenly heads upward steeply through the spruces, eventually climbing a series of 6 switchbacks, with U-shaped tunnels at the west ends.  Definitely bring red tail light and reflective garment, because it's dark in there and cars can't see you.  Finally after 17km you arrive at Selle Nevea (1162m) a ski area mostly deserted in summer.  Somewhere along this climb my left knee had a sudden sharp pain and I couldn't put any weight on it.  I pedaled with my right leg and let the left knee rest awhile.  I was having my doubts about the tough upper section to the altopiano.  

After the last ski lodge there's a small turn-off to the left for Altopiano Montasio.  This is a narrow mountain lane starting off with 400m of 14% average gradient and multiple 18% ramps.  I stood and panted like a train and made it to the first crest, but immediately the steepness recommenced, over and over until I reached 1400 meters.  Here the gradient lessens to 10% or so, and you enter the treeless altopiano.  A final steep standing slog until 1540m, where pavement ends and you continue on dirt roads.  My left knee never troubled me once on the killer Altopiana Montasio section- it was a miracle healing, so I'll credit Madonna del Ghisallo, the patron saint of cyclists.

Descent was fast and fun.  What a wonderful ride- this will be an annual pilgrimage.     

Monte Canin (2587m) on Slovenian border

Further eastward along Monte Canin

Jof di Montasio (2753m) above altopiano

Alpine meadows with rifugio, looking west

Wildflowers in the meadows

Another rifugio below Jof di Montasio

Looking west down Val Raccolana

Cascata del Rio Repepeit

Cascata del Rio Repepeit

Fontanone Goriuda

Looking northwest from Fontanone Goriuda cave

Fontanone Goriuda pool

Side view of Fontanone Goriuda

Tall view of lower Fontanone Goriuda

Upper cascate Fontanone Goriuda

Overall view

Close-up upper climb to Altopiano Montasio,
tornanti up to Sella Nevea

Steep gradients up to Altopiano Montasio

Altimetria

Sella Nevea - Altopiano del Montasio

The northeast corner of Friuli Venezia Giulia is home to the Julian Alps (named in Roman times after Julius Cesar).  Today I'm making my first climb there- from Chiusaforte (383 m) to Sella Nevea (1162 m), then continuing to Altopiano del Montasio (1515 m).

I drove from home fairly early and started the bike ride from Chiusaforte around 9 AM.  It was cool and clear, perfect climbing weather.  The ride began with a long warmup ascending Val Raccolana.  This is a spectacular gorge, with dense fir trees covering the steep walls, and streams from the high mountains plummeting hundreds of meters down sheer cliffs to the valley floor.   One particularly large waterfall is visible on your right about 685 meters altitude, just past Piani.  

Now the previously gentle grade steepens somewhat, averaging 7.5% from 700-1160 meters, finishing with an awesome stack of long tornanti scaling the walls of the gorge.  Finally the road emerges at Sella Nevea, a ski resort that's mostly deserted this time of year.  You turn left at the sign for Montasio, while the main road continues to Passo del Predel on the Slovenian border.

The first 400 meters of the climb to Altopiano del Montasio average over 14%, which I rode standing.  I stopped at the next flat spot (end of a switchback) and hyperventilated awhile.  Then I continued and surmounted the following 18% stretch, finally emerging from the fir trees and entering the altopiano.  This is one of the prettiest places I've ever been- it's surrounded on all sides by mountains.   I explored the paved lanes and dirt roads criss-crossing the rolling meadows for awhile, listening to the birds and marmots.  What a wonderful place!

The descent was a very fast 22 km plummet, arriving back at Chiusaforte in less than an hour.  This is a wonderful climb and I'll definitely do it again.  I may try skipping Montasio next time and riding from Sella Nevea to Passo del Predel, then Tarvisio, and down the main highway back to Chiusaforte.   

Note: The Garmin starting elevation was around 330 meters, but should have been about 50 meters higher.  This seems to have carried over all the way to the top and back, so I've substituted the altitude values from the Ediciclo guide.

Monte Canin (2587 m) to the south

Panorama of Monte Canin

Jof di Montasio (2753 m)

Monte Sart (2324 m)

Panorama of ridge east of Monte Canin

The mountains southeast of Altopiano del Montasio

Close up looking south

Ridge east of Monte Canin

Trench from World War I atop Altopiano del Montasio

View down Val Raccolana toward Chiusaforte

Waterfall near Piani

Steep stretches climbing from Sella Nevea to Altopiano del Montasio

Switchbacks climbing to Sella Nevea

Final stretch up to Altopiano del Montasio