FROM LAKE TO SKY: A MARVELLOUS EXPERIENCE AT WALKING PACE

To move in total harmony with your natural surroundings in Garda Trentino, you can always opt for hiking, the simplest activity of all, which brings you into direct contact with the area. Garda Trentino has countless scenic routes winding between the water and the mountains which enable you to discover the beauty of a unique area at the slow pace of walking. You can reach natural terraces perched above the lake or venture deep into the woods or else discover the historical and artistic heritage of the area through a series of themed itineraries. You can take it at your own pace, enjoying the magnificent scenery, walking from one mountain hut to the next, experiencing the warmth of local hospitality and the taste of traditional cuisine. Along these trails you will enjoy breathtaking scenery and exhilarating outdoor experiences.

OUTDOOR PARK GARDA TRENTINO, AN ENERGY BOOST

Everything is regulated by the project Open Park Garda Trentino, designed to protect the unique environment of Alto Garda while at the same time facilitating the outdoor experience in a large space dedicated to outdoor sports. How? By creating infrastructure, maintenance, construction and placement of billboards. Project guidelines include a commitment to respectful and sustainable land use, a strategic alliance between the Municipal Administrations, Garda Trentino S.p.A., Comunità di Valle, local police, local SAT clubs, the State Forestry Corp and the Autonomous Province of Trento. The goal is the implementation of ideas and initiatives and a strategy of shared rules for living together responsibly, as well as an ongoing multi-year commitment to be always operative and on-time

600 KILOMETRES OF NATURE, HISTORY AND CULTURE TRAILS

In Garda Trentino you can choose from over 600 kilometres of hiking trails to satisfy the widest range of requirements of all kinds of visitors: from kids to the most experienced hikers. And then there is a series of themed walks based on itineraries of particular historical, cultural, natural or geological interest or particular landscapes or panoramas. And naturally, the level of difficulty changes too, ranging from easy tourist trails, well marked on good terrain even if they are off-road, to hiking trails which require proper boots and the ability to walk on rough terrain; from hiking trails for the experienced to challenging multi-stage treks, and via ferratas which require specific equipment, technical skills and training.

THE TOP ITINERARIES, A CONCENTRATION OF BEAUTY

Our selection of proposals includes a special Top category, which highlights the 5 most spectacular trails in the area, a handy guide to places you cannot afford to miss if you are visiting Garda Trentino for the first time. There’s a mix of beauty, excitement and fun to be had on these trails: Sentiero della Ponale (one of the most famous and popular in all Trentino), Sentiero Busatte-Tempesta, Marocche, Rifugio San Pietro-Monte Calino, I Forti del Monte Brione.

There is such a vast network of trails in Garda Trentino thanks to the tireless work of SAT (Tridentine Mountaineering Association) whose members help with maintenance of trails, provide information and invaluable advice to institutional bodies. The most recent example is the Sentiero del Berghem, which links Riva del Garda (from the old district of Foci) with the mountain hamlet Campi, by means of a stunning bolted trail in the ravine of the Gamella stream. Pure Lake Garda charm with stunning scenery at the Ert waterfall and the San Martino archaeology site.

There are also fascinating themed itineraries. For example, the trails of the Great War, a series of itineraries which retrace all the key locations on the Garda Trentino front: a journey back in time to the early twentieth century (with historical artefacts, barracks, and trenches along the way) to keep alive the memory of an event which has left a profound mark on modern day Europe. The lake and mountains of the Alto Garda were of strategic importance on the southern Trento front and here, like in the area of Monte Baldo, there are still visible traces of defence outposts. For years now, local associations have been working to restore and promote access to artefacts in the area. These places of memory should be hiked in the spirit of the slogan “From war to peace”. A slogan which perfectly suits another famous trail, the Sentiero della Pace, or Peace Trail, which connects the locations of the Great War from the Tonale Pass to Marmolada and runs in part through the Garda Trentino area above Riva del Garda and Nago.

GARDA TREK: CONQUER THE CROWN

Ongoing expansion work has led to the creation of Garda Trek – The Crown of Garda Trentino. It is an ambitious project composed of three circuits which can be hiked in stages along the slopes and ridges which form the crown above the largest lake in Italy. The level of difficulty increases from trail to the next with one at high altitude, one mid-mountain and the last running along the bottom of the valley. The two lower ones are called Corona Bassa (2 stages, 33.5 km, 1,045 metres elevation gain) and Corona Media (4 stages, 73.2 km, 3,275 metres elevation gain). The two lower circuits can be hiked year round due to the particular Mediterranean climate on the lake and so hikers can enjoy the changing landscape in different seasons, even on clear winter days, walking through holly oak and olive groves in the shadow of the castles.  The higher trail is called the Corona Alta (7 stages, 90 km, 6,990 metres elevation gain) and is a wild ride between the earth and the sky. It runs along all the watershed ridges surrounding the upper end of Lake Garda, from the rocky cliffs at lake level to the high mountain pastures of Monte Stivo and Altissimo. It is an exceptional hike from every point of view, winding up and down to an altitude of 2000 metres and involving several overnight stays in the magical atmosphere of mountain huts. The hike ends on a high note with the descent by cable car to Malcesine and the return to the starting point by ferry.

On the subject of mountain huts, hikers in Garda Trentino can stay overnight in a number of huts located in strategic positions along the network of trails. These offer hospitality and a range of facilities both at high altitude and lower down on the mountainside near the lake. They are handy places to stay over or stop off on the way, always in spectacular locations,  and are ideal destinations for easy walks or more challenging hikes in summer or winter. All are renowned for their hospitality and the unique flavours of typical regional dishes prepared according to traditional recipes.

TRAIL RUNNING: PLEASURE OF RUNNING IN HARMONY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

The trails of Garda Trentino are increasingly popular with trail running enthusiasts, an activity which combines the pleasure of running and the attractions of nature and stunning scenery. Alto Garda is ideally suited to this kind of practice in harmony with the environment. This is borne out by the variety of trails, the backup services available, international events which are growing in terms of reputation, participation and popularity (above all the Garda Trentino Trail and the Garda Trentino XMas Trail), as well as the commitment of associations like Garda Trentino Trail which combines organizational activities with services. They recently came out with the map of the Dro area which was drawn up in collaboration with local runners, but there are new itineraries in the pipeline, inspired by the success of the Garda Trentino Trail which on 18th May celebrates its fourth edition.

 THE VIA FERRATAS: VERTICAL HIKING

In Garda Trentino there is an even more vertical trails for hikers: it is the range of via ferratas which are a singular resource for the entire area. What we are dealing with here are trails which go up rock faces and require specific equipment (helmet, harness, ferrata kit) as well as basic technical know-how and fitness levels according to the difficulty of the trail chosen. The best known of them all is the Ferrata Via dell’Amicizia-Cima Sat, one of the most famous and popular in all Trentino, which winds up the side of Rocchetta sheer above the lake. Physically it is tough, but the breathtaking views more than make up for the effort. Equally spectacular ferratas are the Fausto Susatti to Cima Capi which is also in Riva del Garda, the Colodri-Colt in Arco, and the bolted Scaloni trail in Dro, the difficult and challenging Che Guevara in Dro, the Rio Sallagoni in Drena, and a panoramic family-friendly ferrata for medium-level hikers through the Rio Sallagoni canyon.

OUTDOOR FRIENDLY HOSPITALITY, GPS TRACKS, MAPS: TAILORED SERVICES

All the itineraries, from the easy hikes to the most demanding excursions and the stages of Garda Trek can be found online and downloaded for free with gps tracks and detailed technical chart.

To get the full picture of all that is on offer for hiking, there is nothing more useful than the extremely detailed hiking maps of Garda Trentino and Valle di Ledro, on sale in all the Garda Trentino and Ledro tourist information offices.

Naturally, hiking enthusiasts can always avail of the services of professional guides, specialist retail outlets and Outdoor Friendly accommodation, a guarantee of hospitality tailored to the needs of lovers of the outdoors, based on the quality and uniformity of the services. To find the ideal solution for you, simply click on:

www.gardatrentino.it/outdoorfriendly