Punta Corrasi by mountain bike in Sardinia

I had wanted to reach the top of this extraordinary limestone massif by mountain bike for a long time. I had already walked it and realised that, demanding though it would be, it was possible with a bike if we accepted the technical compromises.

The plan took shape when a close friend showed real enthusiasm. After yet another pizza and beer at the end of a typical Valtellina winter, we decided that our short MTB holiday had to include an attempt on the summit of the Supramonte di Oliena.

Preparing to leave Oliena

There we were in Oliena, during a reluctant spring of rain and wind, once again over pizza and beer, looking towards the next day and the white walls of Corrasi. We chose a window of good weather — an almost mountaineering expression, as though we were attempting K2! Really, we just wanted a clear day to enjoy the summit views, avoiding my previous experience of arriving inside a cloud and seeing nothing.

The climb starts at the Monte Maccione restaurant, a peaceful place halfway up the mountain in a beautiful holm oak wood. We set off steadily in the morning along a gravel road towards the plateau, also accessible to more adventurous jeeps. The last two bends below the ridge pass directly beneath the towering vertical walls.

Climbing Punta Corrasi

After about an hour we reached the parking area on a saddle with views in every direction: west over Barbagia, east into the Supramonte di Oliena and north towards its beautiful peaks. My hope of seeing mouflon had not yet been rewarded.

The proper trail starts here. It took around forty-five minutes to reach the junction pointing to the summit, only a few hundred metres away. We rode some stretches, pushed others and carried our Commencal Meta TR bikes on our shoulders.

The weather was good and the air clear. From the summit we could see Nuoro, Mamoiada, Orgosolo and distant Orune, with Oliena directly below. After a quiet pause to take it all in, we were ready to descend.

The descent and final trail

The first section retraces the climb, so we knew what was coming. I knew I would dismount in places. Mauro rode from the summit to the car park, confidently tackling technical passages and successive rock steps that left no room for error.

From the plateau parking area, we followed the gravel road downhill for a few hundred metres without losing too much height, then turned onto a beautiful trail. Its mix of enduro terrain and flowing sections took us back to Monte Maccione and a well-earned beer.

Thoughts on the ride

Map and GPS track (in Italian)

This outing was absolutely worthwhile. The views were magnificent. I dismounted on the hardest sections; anyone considering the route should account for both the carrying and the technical terrain. The final section from the parking area to the restaurant was enjoyable and more accessible to riders with good technical skills.

Punta Corrasi MTB map

Punta Corrasi and Supramonte di Oliena photographs