Maggia Valley Cycle Route: Cevio–Bellinzona

A relaxed, mostly downhill ride from Cevio through Vallemaggia to Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino. Expect long stretches of smooth tarmac and signed cycleways, with a few short bits of gravel, cobbles, and wooden bridges. It’s overwhelmingly paved (90%+), so touring bikes and road bikes with slightly wider tires are fine. You’ll roll past clear river pools, stone villages, and chestnut woods, then finish under Bellinzona’s three medieval castles (UNESCO). Riding Cevio → Bellinzona is the easy direction, with roughly 280 m of climbing and about 500 m of descent over around 50–55 km. Most of the route uses quiet roads and bike paths; there are a few brief busy sections—take care through towns. Look out for classic swim spots on the Maggia in summer and plenty of cafés and fountains in the villages. Getting back is easy: trains from Bellinzona go in all directions, and PostBus services run up the valley (check bike spaces). A scenic day out with a castle finish.