Cinque laghi - five lakes tour 112 km

This cycling trip takes you along 5 lakes and includes a 4.6 km ferry trip. Highlights are the Orta San Giulio and Lago d’Orta, the view from the Ticino bridge, the cycling path around Lago di Varese, the cycling path between Cittiglio and Laveno, and the ferry across Lago Maggiore. The trip is suited for a road bike, except for 700 m of course gravel on the cycling path between Gavirate and Cocquio (see waypoint, also on how to avoid this stretch). In the cycling path between Cittiglio and Laveno a few small stretches are semi-paved, but these are no problem on a road bike. This trip includes some moderate climbs, but is relatively flat. Some of the roads along the lakes were quite busy, but they do offer great views.
I started the trip in Orta San Giulio where I was staying. The track starts on a paid parking lot for the touristic village. You then directly go down to the central square in the village on cobblestone roads with stone slabs for cars and bicycles. You continue along the shore of the peninsula on a similar road, which later turns into asphalt. Past Villa Crespi you turn onto the main road along the lake (SP229), which can be busy. You follow the lake and at the end you climb to a graveyard close by Bolzano Novarese. You continue through Invorio and Paruzzaro to Oleggio Castello. Here you cycle on a quieter road past the nature park Lagondi di Mercurago. Shortly after, you get your first glimpse of Lago Maggiore. You continue to the bridge across the Ticino river. Although this bridge is very busy, the views of the river, the lake and the snowcapped Monta Rosa mountains in the background are great. You follow the main road along the lake for a short while, and then turn away in the direction of Lago di Monate. Via San Giorgio and Lentate Verbano you ride through nice countryside to the lake. You cycle around the west side of the lake with only occasional glimpses of the lake. You then descend towards Lago Varese. You take the cycling path along the west side of the lake to Gavirate, with great views of the lake. In Gavirate you turn away from the lake and continue to Cocquio. The cycling path between the villages is nicely asphalted apart from 700 m of course gravel which are not really suited for a racing bike. If you want to avoid this, you have to take an alternative route in Gavirate (see waypoint). You continue to Gemonio and on to Cittiglio, avoiding the main road as much as possible. In Cittiglio you enter another cycling path taking you through the valley to Laveno. Here, you take the ferry across the lake to Intra. In Intra, you follow the coast to Verbania. After Verbania, you have to follow the main road long the lake for a while, which can be very busy. In Fondotoce, you leave this road and continue along the fifth lake, the Lago di Mergozzo. Past Mergozzo you follow the Toce valley to the bridge and then into Gravellona Toce. Here, you take a small but steep road away from the main road to Granerolo. In Granerolo you descend to Omegna, and then ride on the center of the town on the shore of Lago d’Orta. Here, you follow the lake out of town and then choose the climb to Agrano. This is a scenic and relatively quiet stretch with the Mottarone mountain to the north. In Pratolungo, you descend back to the lake and then follow the main road along the lake back to Orta San Giulio.
You can find something to eat and drink in multiple locations, e.g. Orta San Giulio, Cadrezzate, Laveno, Intra, Verbania, Mergozzo and Omegna.