Garfagnana EPIC

An epic adventure in the Garfagnana mountains

Garfagnana EPIC is much more than a sporting event: it is a true ecosystem of outdoor experiences that, every year between late May and early June, brings the town of Gallicano, in the province of Lucca, to life in the heart of Garfagnana. Founded in 2015 by enthusiast Daniele Saisi and now organized by the Garfagnana EPIC A.S.D. association, the event is considered one of the most original and evocative mountain bike gatherings in all of Tuscany.

The common thread is not competition, but adventure: here, you don't chase the clock, but rather the pleasure of traversing an authentic landscape by bike (or on foot), consisting of single tracks, mule tracks, ridges, and historic paths. The headquarters remain the same: the Gallicano Sports Facilities, the symbolic start and finish point for every route.

Three formats for every type of adventurer

The modern edition of Garfagnana EPIC offers three formats, designed to welcome athletes of all levels and disciplines:

• Garfagnana EPIC: the classic format, a two-day mountain bike endurance challenge covering approximately 160 km with 6,000 meters of positive elevation gain, including an overnight stay at altitude.
• EPIC Day: the one-day version, covering about 65 km with 2,200 meters of elevation gain, more accessible and dynamic, and ideal for those riding e-MTBs.
• EPIC Trail: the big news for 2026, a trail running race of about 22 km with 1,100 meters of elevation gain, created to meet the demand of runners.

A journey between the Apuan Alps and the Apennines

The Garfagnana EPIC routes are a concentration of landscapes: you ride between the imposing Apuan Alps and the ridges of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, passing through villages like Verni and Trassilico, along panoramic paths and tracks that recall the passage of the historic Gothic Line. The climb to Palodina (1,171 m), with its technical descent along the 19th-century Zappello Trail, is one of the most beloved sections of the EPIC Trail.

It is no coincidence that the event has been included in the Sport & Biosphere program, promoted by the MAB UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and the Tuscan-Emilian Apennine National Park: a recognition of the deep bond between the event, sustainable tourism, and the identity of this corner of northern Tuscany.

A meeting point for the entire valley

With hundreds of participants from all over Italy and Europe, Garfagnana EPIC is now a permanent fixture on the Tuscan outdoor calendar and an opportunity to discover Garfagnana outside the most beaten tourist circuits. For one weekend, Gallicano and its villages become the reference point for a community of enthusiasts united by a desire for adventure, nature, and respect for the mountains.