This wonderful route in Golden Sands Nature Park is suitable for any mountain biking enthusiast who already has some experience in cross-country riding and is looking for trails that are not very difficult, but offer some challenges. The ride is mostly in the shade, ie. it is also suitable boht in summer and spring while in autumn it is really perfect. You can enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the sea, there are many ascents and descents, which accumulate altitude, but in terms of physical activity the route is not difficult and allows good average speed to be maintained.
Practically, this is a shorter version of the routes from Varna to Kranevo and back. Unlike them, however, the starting point of this route is outside the city, at the parking lot and the drinking fountain below Aladzha Monastery. In this way, riding becomes more convenient for people who rest in the resorts north of Varna and want to add a little mountain biking for variety from the beach. Of course, you can also come by car from Varna to the parking lot under the monastery. And you can start from Kranevo, if it is more convenient for you.
Starting outside the city, the route is easier from navigational point of view, although in the forest there are many forks and alternatives which you need to watch carelfully.
The route includes many trails that are varied and interesting. Some are wider and smoother, in other places there are some stony sections. Generally speaking, from Aladzha Monastery we ride the bikes on the main path through the Golden Sands National Park, which ends at the main road from Varna to the resorts on the north, right at the beginning of the village of Kranevo. From this point the route goes back to Aladzha Monastery, with a very pleasant and smooth ascent, and then in some places we ride on the same paths, and in other places along alternatives routes. If you want to go down to the center of Kranevo or to the beach, this will add a few more kilometers of asphalt road and another hundred meters of ascent.
The ride can be combined with a sightseeing of the monastery. For this purpose, however, you must either have someone to guard the bikes, or ask to tie them somewhere at the security booth.
Starting point: The fountain at the parking lot under Aladzha Monastery in Golden Sands National Park; https://goo.gl/maps/WuKeeFoaJdjY6ZJo7
Length: 19 km
Ascent: 500 m
Level of technical difficulty: medium (R1, R2, T1, T2, T3)
Physical activity factor: medium (PAF = 4.5)
Duration: 2-4 hours (depending on the speed, breaks, etc.)
Water: 1-1.5 l (there are no fountains in the second half of the route)
Food: for half a day
Terrain:
- asphalt road – 2.0 km
- country roads – 5.6 km
- paths - 11.4 km
Description:
Facing the fountain (point 01), we take a narrow asphalt road to the right (north direction) and after 50 m we turn to the right again (point 02). At point 03 (0.24 km) we reach a private property and continue along a paved pedestrian alley slightly to the right. After 50-60 m (point 04) we leave the alley and continue on the path to the left - it is wide, with a variable slope and with green and yellow tourist markings. At point 05 (1.5 km) the trail splits - we drive to the right along the yellow markings, preparing for slightly steeper and stony sections.
At point 06 (1.9 km) we reach a fountain, from which starts a path with red markings. We continue straight with a slight ascent and after a hundred meters (point 07) we miss another path on the right (with yellow markings).
At point 08 (2.4 km) the trail gathers again with green markings and we continue to the right. After 400 m (point 09) the path widens to a country road, and in point 10 there is a fork where we take the right. It used to be a country road once, but now it's a great trail - relatively smooth and fast. In point 11 we are on the left and shortly after that we come out on a narrow asphalt road (point 12, 4.4 km), along which we take the left and upwards.
After 2-3 turns in point 13 (5.1 km) we reach again the main path with red and green markings. We take it to the right and follow it without deviating anywhere. The path goes now slightly up, now slightly down - at first it is wide, then it becomes narrower, passing over a rock wreath, where in several places majestic views of the sea are revealed. You can also enjoy such a view in point 14 - it is mentione it because from here the path descends steeply. Ride your bikes with caution!
At the end of the descent (point 15, 9.6 km) we go out on the main road from Varna to the north, on the outskirts of the village of Kranevo. To the left there is a narrow asphalt road that climbs to an old military unit - we take it up. After 1 km in point 16 we leave the asphalt road and continue on a country road to the right, which goes on climbing with a smooth slope. Further on the road narrows and begins to look more like a wide path. We ride only on it - it climbs to the ridge and continues to follow this road in a south-westerly direction. In several places on the left and right there are clearer or more neglected counytry roads (there are some in points 17-22) - skip them and follow the main road. At one time the slope turns down and in point 23 (14.7 km) we come out on a narrow asphalt road.
We turn left on this road and after 20-30 meters (point 24) we take a country road to the right, along which is the main tourist marking (red and green). Here you can expect mud after heavy rain, there are tracks and in several places and the road is divided into different branches - choose your line according to your preferences. At point 25 (15.8 km) we turn left on a country road and immediately afterwards turn right again (point 10) - here we are in this part of the path, which we have already passed when we rode the bikes towards Kranevo. In point 08, however, we keep to the right aisle with green markings. We keep on riding our bikes southwards to Aladzha Monastery on the already known wide path, and in point 03 we turn left to the pedestrian alley. Along it we go out again to the parking lot and the fountain at Aladzha Monastery.
