Karma Trail, Discover the Alpine Side of the Finale Outdoor Region

Finale Ligure Finale Ligure and the Finale Outdoor Region are among bikers' and sports enthusiasts' most beloved Italian destinations. With over 250 trails offering a vast variety of terrains and panoramas, a climate enabling outdoor activities year-round, shuttle services, riders from all over the world, and world-class sporting events, the vibes in Finale are something unique that passionate mountain bikers find hard to resist. But if you think that the biking experience in Finale is solely about shuttle tours to tackle the most classic and well-known descents, you are mistaken. Exploring Finale certainly includes this, but it's not the whole picture. Thanks to single-lift services, riders can ascend to higher altitudes and, reaching 1000 meters, embark on a series of trails spanning a vast territory, exploring the inland before returning to the sea. Alternatively, one can entirely forgo the shuttle and, with skill and stamina (or an e-mtb!), explore the fascinating and technical trails of the lower plateaus: Caprazoppa, San Bernardino, le Manie, and Monte Grosso are all dependable options, always! And if you know the routes around Finale like the back of your hand, you can always venture east toward Vado and Spotorno or explore the trails of Pietra Ligure and Val Maremola, one of the areas that has seen significant development in recent years or venture into the hinterland of Bardineto and Val Neva. However, novelties in the Finale Outdoor Region are never lacking, and thanks to a recent collaboration between the City of Loano and the Finale Outdoor Region Consortium, the Loano and Monte Carmo area is now ready to be discovered. Or rather, rediscovered!

Four trails have been refurbished to explore a lesser-known part of the Finale Outdoor Region

Thanks to this collaboration, four trails have been restored: Castagna Trail, la Cava, Criceto, and Karma Trail, the latter already a special stage - the longest ever in the history of Finale events - of the Enduro World Series 2017. These very different trails, each with varying difficulty levels, lead riders to discover a new and less-known area of the Region in the Loano territory. The Karma Trail, in particular, offers a truly epic experience with its nearly 7 km length, a descent of over 1000 meters, and an alpine environment that leaves you breathless.

Diverse experiences in a single territory

The variety of environments, terrains, and panoramas is undoubtedly a distinctive feature of this stretch of the Ligurian Riviera, and the Monte Carmo area adds yet another dimension. Monte Carmo is the highest peak in the Finale Outdoor Region and the first peak of the Alpine chain: the environment is unique and offers a privileged view to those patient enough to reach its summit. From here, the view spans 360 degrees from Corsica to the peaks of the Alps. Just below the summit of Monte Carmo, near the Rifugio Amici del Carmo, the Karma Trail begins, an ancient path used by walkers, travellers, and shepherds, recently restored by the trail builders of the Finale Outdoor Region and funded by the Municipality of Loano. An intervention made possible with the support of the Amici del Carmo Association, who hosted the trail builders in the refuge for the necessary restoration work that made this trail accessible to bicycles again (remember that here the users are mixed), but without altering its characteristics. These days of work, effort, and friendship in the mountains have been captured in the beautiful video by Gabriele Canu with the friendly participation of Harald Philipp.

An invitation to respect and caution

Access to Monte Carmo and the Karma Trail is a unique opportunity to discover the Finale Outdoor Region's wildest and most alpine side. Every meter of the Karma Trail must be conquered and enjoyed without haste, with respect for a communication route that, before us, was travelled by shepherds and travellers. Respect for this trail and this place is mandatory, and this is the philosophy with which the trail was arranged by the trail builders, making it accessible even for mountain bikes (remaining for experienced bikers) while at the same time preserving its mountain trail characteristics. Priority is given to pedestrians, but it's an adventure that will excite those who tackle it for the first time.

Enrico Guala, marketing director of Finale Outdoor Region: “The climb to Monte Carmo and the Karma Trail are the perfect way to discover the region's wilder and more alpine side. We invite anyone who tries this adventure to do so with the utmost respect for the trail, the place, and the people encountered along the descent. Forget about competition for 30/40 minutes and savour each passage, each turn, playing with the trail's naturally flowing and extremely technical flow.”

Luca Lettieri, Mayor of Loano, and Gianluigi Bocchio, Deputy Mayor with responsibility for sports and tourism: “Exploring the Karma Trail not only allows you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of our Monte Carmo but also enables you to take a real journey through time into the history and traditions of this territory. Its recovery was made possible thanks to the commitment of Finale Outdoor Region and the Amici del Carmo Association, which are always ready to work to revive the typical traditions of the mountain and preserve and enhance its natural environment. Our heartfelt thanks go to them. To mountain biking enthusiasts, we invite you to come and discover 'with your wheels' how beautiful our inland is.”

As with all mountain trails, maximum attention and preparation are required. While at sea level, we may experience spring or summer conditions; at an altitude of 1,400 meters, we may encounter rain, snow, and fog, conditions that can endanger unprepared tourists and make rescue interventions difficult. Relying on the guides of the Region is always the best way to explore the territory safely. To book an experience with a guide or for more information about the area, visit our booking section on  www.finaleoutdoor.com or ask for more information at contact@finaleoutdoor.com

Photo Credits: Ardita Ferrari