The Sellaronda MTB Loop is a 36-mile Dolomites highlight reel with an emphasis on iconic descents rather than lung-busting climbs—chairlifts do most of the work. This epic loop connects many of the region's best trails, from mellow flow trails to raw, root-strewn tracks that put Enduro World Series competitors to the test. Infinity, a three-mile, 2,300-foot descent from Passo Pordoi, alternates fast alpine chunder with steep banking turns before the trail enters a dense canopy of pines with suspension-sapping roots. On the east side of the loop, Flè (which means "flow" in the local Ladin language) traces long, loping curves through alpine meadows. Meanwhile, the Paravis and Easy Jump Trail at Selva di Val Gardena unspool like typical bermed bike park trails, only with the distraction of the Dolomites towering in every direction.
Riders can start the Sellaronda from any of the four valleys that surround the Sella Massif—Alta Badia, Arabba, Val di Fassa, or Val Gardena—all of which are part of the Dolomiti SuperSummer network, which grants access to all lifts with a single ticket. You can tackle the loop in either direction, but the clockwise route maximizes the descents. For most riders, a guide is essential for navigating both the numerous gondolas and the Italian-only signage.
The scenery alone makes this one of the world's most beautiful mountain bike loops. A different serrated skyline unfurls in every direction. Below unfold green ski slopes where cattle graze—here, where farming still dominates, cows mow the many groomed runs of the ski areas. Cafes and yard games dot the broad, flat grassy summits, where groms and their grandparents sip espresso together.
-Aaron Theisen
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