Over Monte Baldo

In three day stages from Nago to Castelletto di Brenzone

Monte Baldo is the most massive mountain ridge of the Garda mountains and simultaneously forms the eastern boundary of the lake. This nearly 40-kilometer-long massif separates Lake Garda from the Adige Valley and is a hiking world of its own; it is accessible from all sides, with the altitude difference between Lake Garda and the ridge summit being enormous – over 2000 meters. On its eastern side, a panoramic road – the Monte Baldo high road – runs from Mori in the north close to the summit at over 1400 meters and ends in Caprino Veronese in the south of the massif. Countless marked trails and a panoramic cable car (from Malcesine) open up this mountain range, which is often called the “Flower Garden of Europe” due to its numerous endemic flowers and plants.
The most beautiful but also most strenuous route is certainly the crossing from north to south, touching the highest point with the Cima Valdritta. From a Mediterranean-influenced cultural landscape, we ascend through all vegetation zones to the high alpine rock landscape, covering an altitude difference of 2000 meters on the way up and then letting the route gently descend on the south side. Since the settlement boundary extends far up there, after the pasture area of “Costabella,” we turn right and descend back to the lake, strolling the last meters through olive groves down to the lake. Our route largely coincides with the markings of the “Alta Via del Monte Baldo.”
Although the Monte Baldo massif with the Cima di Valdritta does not have the highest peak of the entire mountain group (this distinction belongs to Monte Cadria in the western Garda mountains), it still has the second highest. On this three-day crossing, we move almost exclusively on its ridge height. Magnificent panoramic views are thus almost guaranteed. The distribution of accommodation huts in this mountain massif is also ideal for our purposes. Moreover, at various points along the route, there are opportunities to descend back to the valley or to the lake. At Bocca di Tratto Spino, it is even possible to glide down by gondola. The entire crossing requires sure-footedness and no fear of heights but is objectively not difficult. Nevertheless, the weather conditions should be checked before departure, especially as we move above 2000 meters on two longer sections. Up there, exposed not only to the sun but also to the wind, good mountaineering equipment is strongly recommended, even in midsummer.