Arco

In addition to the aforementioned climb to Arco Castle, among all the hikes that can be made in the municipal area there are two that have a somewhat special flavor. They are in fact linked to the figures of two artists, who lived here and immortalized the landscape of Arco in their works. We are talking about the Rilke Promenade, a "literary" walk in the footsteps of Rainer Maria Rilke, the great poet of Austrian origin, which touches several places that inspired him or that are mentioned in his correspondence, and the Dürer Promenade, which instead retraces the steps of painter Albrecht Dürer, who painted the castle and village of Arco at the end of the 15th century, on his return from a trip to Italy to discover the novelties of the Renaissance.

Another walk that is easy and suitable for the whole family but, above all, very scenic is the Coste di Baone, on Mt. Baone.

Other hikes in the area, however, focus on the Mount Stivo area, a mountain that touches two thousand meters and offers beautiful views of Lake Garda. The mountain can be traversed, starting from Malga Zanga to reach the summit, then descending from Passo Bordala and Ronzo-Chienis, or one can climb to Malga Zanga, on the western slope of Mount Stivo, passing through the Calchera, or ancient lime kilns.

Finally, a treat: the Olive Trail, a tribute to the millennia-old tradition of olive cultivation and oil production. Along this loop trail through the olive grove of Arco, there are fourteen installations that allow you to learn about the landscape, the characteristics of the plant, and the uses of the ancient craft of olive growing.

There are also a number of fascinating stage trails in this area that allow you to discover the northern part of Lake Garda in all its splendor. Such as, for example, the Garda Trek - Top Loop, a challenging seven-stage walk that explores the crown of Garda Trentino: from the shores of the lake, it reaches up to two thousand meters in altitude, touching all the peaks that surround the northern part of Lake Garda.

Another fascinating path is the Sentiero Frassati, which has seven stages and leads from the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie, right in Arco, to the Sanctuary of San Romedio. In addition to the start, the second stage also involves the municipal territory, in the area of Mount Biaina.

But climbing is one of the main reasons why so many people flock to Arco. In fact, there are several places where this sport can be practiced. Here are some of the main ones:

• the Dro slabs, which are located on a steep scrub at the foot of the western slope of Dosso Grande;
• the south ridge of Mount Baone, an easy ridge route on rock, however with few equipped belays;
• the difficult Diedro Martini route to the Cima alle Coste face in the Sarca Valley;
• the challenging Speranza route, on the left side of Mt. Brento.

Finally, we would like to point out a non-demanding via ferrata, ideal for beginners or as a first seasonal outing: the Ferrata dei Colodri, a loop that allows you to climb up the east face of Mount Colodri, admire a unique panorama from Mount Baldo to Lake Garda, and even make a stop at Arco Castle.

Arco is an excellent starting or transition point for bicycle routes that allow you to explore the wide and varied territory of Garda Trentino, from the shores of the lake to the Sarca valley and mountain peaks. Among the easiest routes that are also suitable for families with children are:

• the Busa tour;
• the Sarca bike path to Fies;
• the San Martino Family Tour, discovering San Martino, a hamlet of Arco;
• the Kids Tour, a 15-kilometer but completely flat loop that connects Arco to Riva del Garda.

For mountain bikers, the hinterland and peaks of Garda Trentino offer many routes of varying difficulty and length but always very scenic. Some examples?

• the Garda Dolomiti Tour
• the Carobbi Tour
• the Bocca di Tovo Trail-Tour (or one of its four variations)
• the Passo della Morte Trail-Tour (less fearsome than the name suggests)
• the Malga Campo Trail-Tour
• the Monte Corno Trail-Tour

For gravel bike enthusiasts, we recommend the Cavedine Gravel Experience, which leads from Lake Garda through the Basso Sarca Comano valley to the authentically flavored Comano valley and back via Lake Tenno.

Alternatively, you can test yourself by riding the routes - 65 and 100 kilometers long - of the Maxxis Gravel Garda Trentino race at the Bike Festival in Riva del Garda.

Daredevil road cyclists, on the other hand, will love Monte Velo, included in the "Great Ascents of Trentino." There are several variations to lengthen the route and tackle some other memorable climbs.