The old Strada del Ponale offers great views of Lake Garda - it is reserved to hikers and cyclists and one of the biggest attractions of the upper Lake Garda
Image gallery: Hike on the old Ponale Road
The Strada del Ponale connects Riva del Garda and the Valle di Ledro. Originally built in the second half of the 19th century, it was replaced by a modern tunnel only 20 years ago. Since 2004 it has been closed to traffic and limited to cyclists and hikers. Thanks to its position and architecture, the old Strada del Ponale is one of the most beautiful historical panoramic roads in Europe.
We start our hiking tour in the centre of the village Riva del Garda and hike along the shores of the lake, passing the old hydropower station. After about 1 km we cross the Gardesana road and follow the signpost D01 towards Ledro. Soon we reach the wonderful panoramic trail carved into the rocks and leading through small tunnels.
After further two km of steady and gentle gradient the trail turns right and we look down to the beautiful bay at the entrance of the Valle di Ledro. Here, the road divides into a bicycle track and a hiking trail. We cross a bridge before we hike up some steps to reach a forest road. From here, we continue our tour into the Valle di Ledro. After a short asphalted section (Pregasina road) we pass the village Biacesa. Crossing the village Pre di Ledro we hike upwards towards Molina di Ledro and finally reach Lake Ledro with its very interesting pile-dwelling museum.
Please note: We recommend to do this hiking tour in spring or autumn, not on hot summer days.
Author: AT
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- Starting point:
- Riva del Garda (centre)
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- Time required:
- 04:00 h
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- Track length:
- 10,3 km
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- Altitude:
- from 67 m to 683 m
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- Altitude difference:
- +780 m | -170 m
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- Signposts:
- D 01, Via del Ponale, Ledro
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- Destination:
- Molina di Ledro, Lago di Ledro lake. Back to Riva by bus.
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- Resting points:
- Ponale Alto Belvedere, Ristorante Pizzeria al Lago
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike on the old Ponale Road
If you want to do this hike, we suggest you to check the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before setting out.
