Lake Garda is one of the best addresses in Europe for bicycle and mountain bike enthusiasts. Lots of trails with breath-taking panoramas are the destination of those travelling to Lake Garda. It is an excellent area for these sports.
At Lake Garda, nothing is impossible for cycling enthusiasts. There are more than 1000 km of biking trails that are signposted and rated for all levels of difficulty. You may be a beginner trying your first easy trips to become familiar with the sport, or you are already an expert and wish to test your abilities on difficult (and dangerous) trails.
The Residence La Berna in Vesio is located most conveniently at the entrance to the Bondo Valley on the “ring path” up to Passo Nota and Monte Tremalzo and then down into the San Michele Valley on the way back to Vesio. This is one of the most spectacular trails you can find in the mountains around Lake Garda.
We would like to list some of the beautiful tours that can be started at our residence.
Vesio and a circle through some of the small villages belonging to Tremosine
Starting point: Residence La Berna
Length: 10 km
Altitude difference: 400 m
Ride time: 2 hours
Difficulty: minor
Level of loveliness (1 – 5*): ****Description: This bicycle tour is easy and gives you a chance to become familiar with the small villages around the Tremosine valley. The tour can be taken in different ways. We recommend that you ride from Vesio (620m) in the direction of Monte Nevese (800m) and then to down via Volpera to Pieve (414 m). Pieve is one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, which will invite you to take a coffee break. One good spot is the ice cream parlour “Tremosine”, from which you have a spectacular view over Lake Garda, 400 m below. To return to Vesio there are several possibilities. The shortest and simplest is to ride on the asphalt road that passes through the small villages of Priezzo und Villa. A slightly longer alternative is to take the asphalt road that passes through Arias, Pregasio and Sermerio. If you choose this one, you can take a break at Alpe del Garda, our well-known cheese dairy and restaurant, before turning back to Vesio.
Vesio – Campione – Strada della Forra – Pieve – Vesio
Starting point: Residence La Berna
Length: 22 km
Altitude difference: 600 m
Ride time: 2.5 hours
Difficulty: minor to medium
Level of loveliness (1 – 5*): *****Description: Theentire tour has minor to medium difficulties, uses only asphalt roads and offers attractive views. You will be dazzled and entranced when you bike up the Strada della Forra, which wasconstructed in a gorge leading from Lake Garda up to Pieve. It is absolutely necessary to have your bike equipped with a headlight and tail light because the tour passes through tunnels and there is public car traffic. FromVesio (620 m) you ride down to Limone (66 m). There you meet the Gardesana, which is a port on the western side of the lake. Turn right to the south and follow the road for 10 km to Campione sul Garda. There you can bathe in the lake or spend some time at the beach. To continue the tour, you need to ride back some 100 m in the direction of Limone until you arrive at the marked junction from which you start the ascent via the Forra. This is the road that brings you up to Pieve. It was built in the gorge so that it is one of the most beautiful and spectacular in the world. In the lower section you will pass some spots that offers outstanding views of the lake. Pedalling further upwards, the road leads you deeper and deeper into the gorge so that you may feel bewitched by its natural and geological peculiarity. Leaving some drops of sweat behind, you will arrive at Pieve, where you can enjoy a coffee at the highly recommended Terrasse del Brivido (terrace of the thrill) before you finally ride up the final stretch to Vesio.
Vesio – Tremalzo Rifugio Garda – Passo Nota – Vesio
Starting point: Residence La Berna
Length: 40 km
Altidude difference: ca. 1,300 m
Highest point: 1,694 m
Ride time: 6 to 7 hours
Difficulty: very demanding
Level of loveliness (1 – 5*): *****Intermediate stations: Malga Ciapa, Rifugio Garda, Rifugio A.N.A at Passo Nota
Description: Tourwith great difference in altitude, mostly following gravel roads and paths. Recommended only for well-trained cyclists, who are rewarded with grandiose panoramic views.
From Vesio (620 m) you ride in the direction of Polzone. Turn right onto the gravel road leading into the San Michele Valley. You cannot miss it; on the junction before the cheese dairy a road sign indicates the path to Monte Tremalzo. You pass grasslands and grain fields. The path becomes gradually steeper. At the MalgaCa dall’Era (ca. 1,300 m) you leave the forest behind and are amidst alpine pastures. The path now has an incline of 10%, which is a good check of your fitness. When you pass by Passo della Cocca (1,461 m), the steepest part is behind you. Carry on riding along the gravel path, where the grade will not exceed 6%. When you arrive at the Malga Ciapa (1,615 m), we recommend that you have lunch there. After another 600 m, you will arrive at the Rifugio Garda (1,686 m). This house was built directly below the summit of Monte Tremalzo (1,973 m). To conquer the highest point of the tour you have to pass another 1.8 km until you reach the entrance of the tunnel (1,694 m). At this point you have had three hours of riding over a distance of 22 km. Because of the height and maybe because of the weather, you might want to change clothes and put on an anorak. After passing through the tunnel you will ride downhill on an impressive series of winding roads. But please take care: this section is full of rubble, holes and gaps. After 7 km of enchanting downhill riding you will arrive at the beech grove of Passo Nota (1,206 m) with the Rifugio A.N.A at Passo Nota (also 1206 m). For the ride down to Vesio via the Bondo Valley you have two choices. You can take the direct asphalt road. But take care because there is public car traffic. The nicer but slightly longer alternative is to take the dirt road No. 121, which passes through several tunnels built in World War I. These have not been completely cleared of boulders.
Vesio – Passo Nota – Vesio
Starting point: Residence La Berna
Length: 22 km
Altitude difference: about 700 m
Highest point: 1,206 m
Ride time: 3 hours
Difficulty: medium
Level of loveliness (1 – 5*): ****Description: This tour of medium difficulty includes two variations for the downhill ride. We recommend that you ride up the asphalt road through the Bondo Valley until the asphalt ends at Passo Nota (1,260 m). Characteristic of this route are the 16 switchbacks leading up to Passo Nota and the Rifugio A.N.A, where you can compensate for your effort with a plate well-cooked spaghetti. To return to Vesio you can take the same road you came up. The more charming variation is to take gravel road No. 121, which is somewhat longer (13 km). This leads through a couple of short tunnels built in World War I, which have not been cleared completely of boulders. (Attention: At some points it is better to get off your bike!). This tour offers wonderful views of Monte Tremalzo and across and beyond the Bondo Valley. The downhill trip is varied and a real mountain bike trip. You can also do this tour in the reverse direction.
Giro di Fobia
Starting point: Residence La Berna
Length: 22 km
Altitude difference: ca. 860 m
Highest point: 1,348 m
Riding time: 3 hours
Difficulty: very difficult
Level of loveliness (1 – 5*): ****Description: This fantastic trip certainly belongs among the most beautiful and exciting ones around Lake Garda. It follows an old military road from World War I, leading into the San Michele Valley on route No. 218b and then passing to the left below Monte Zenone. From there the tour continues on No. 218 to the Bocca di Fobia (1,286 m). There you will cross a lonesome hollow. Then there is a steep downhill ride leading into the Bondo Valley, where you will finally meet the asphalt road. To undertake this tour, you need to be absolutely fit and experienced in riding a mountain bike! This is because there are passages high above the San Michele Valley where sections are very exposed, passing gaping abysses on the left side.
