This Mother‘s Day, I couldn’t have imagined a better way to explore the beautiful Val di Gresta than on a mountain bike ride with my family.

The scenery is so stunning that you’ll want to stop every turn to capture the majesty of the landscape. Plus, the lodge at the end offers delicious food and a chance for your little ones to get up close with animals. A ride to Malga Zanga is just the perfect family MTB excursion! For this ride we recommend a single wheel trailer, given some rocky and narrow sections of the trail.

Starting from Passo Bordala for the Malga Zanga Family MTB Ride

We parked at Passo Bordala. If you’re looking for a longer ride, you can start from Bolognano. However, the trail to Passo Santa Barbara from Bolognano is a bit boring – a long gravel road.

We highly recommend starting from a higher altitude and following this itinerary (see attached map). Passo Bordala has ample parking, and the scenery is already beautiful and characteristic of Val di Gresta, with large green fields and crops (including the famous Val di Gresta potatoes).

The first part of the ride is on trails through woods. Then, the landscape opens up to large expanses of vegetable gardens and green meadows, typical of this valley. Many vegetables are cultivated here and are renowned for their distinctive flavor, kissed by the mountain sun.

The trail goes up and down, with not many steep sections. It gets a bit steeper as you approach the top of Monte Creino, but don’t be discouraged – the view from the top is absolutely worth the climb! You’ll see Lake Garda and all the surrounding mountains – simply stunning!

From the top of Monte Creino, it takes about another hour to get to Malga Zanga. The trail is one of my favorites – quite narrow and rocky at some points, with some little jumps to keep your little one entertained! This section is the most challenging in terms of climbing and rocky terrain, so it might be time for Dad to take charge of the trailer!

About halfway to Malga Zanga, there’s also a private farm with cows, chickens, and horses, in case your little one needs another pit stop (animals are always a hit with kids).

Malga Zanga is a large mountain hut that also offers accommodation. There are large fields with animals, including llamas, donkeys, chickens, and dogs. You can even book a ride on a donkey (for children over 3 years old). Our 2-year-old Edo was amazed by the llamas and donkeys – he just wanted to stare at them and call out to them. It was too cute!

The staff is very friendly, and the food is delicious. We opted for tagliatelle al ragù and eggs and potatoes (Spiegeleier) for the three of us, and Edo loved them (we might consider ordering him his own meal next time – he eats almost like an adult when he likes the food!).

The first part of the trail back isn’t the easiest after lunch, as it’s a bit steep and rocky, especially when carrying a trailer. It then becomes more flowy. The landscape is beautiful, and the way back takes about 45 minutes to reach the parking lot at Passo Bordala.

If someone in your family is looking for a thrill, the famous Naranch enduro descent trail starts from Passo Santa Barbara. You could reunite in Nago – one parent can drive back with the little one, while the other enjoys the downhill ride. The trail is technical and fun, but be cautious as it may not always be perfectly maintained.

Why we loved Malga Zanga Family MTB ride

I loved the scenery and the fact that the trails are almost entirely on forest roads. Starting from a higher altitude also avoids long climbs. The stop at Malga Zanga will make everyone happy, especially your little ones.

If you’re looking for a fun and adventurous day trip with your family that offers stunning scenery, delicious food, and friendly animals, look no further than the Malga Zanga Family MTB route! Pack your bikes, your sense of adventure, and get ready to create lasting memories in the beautiful Val di Gresta.