Monte Caplone

Monte Caplone (Lado d'Idro)

In the shadow of the almighty Tremalzo: you probably won't meet a soul on Monte Caplone. Yet the highest mountain in Alta Garda is considered by insiders to be the uncrowned king of Lake Garda - and far more exciting than its famous neighbor in terms of riding technique and scenery.

Description

Thirty years ago, the bible of all bikers came onto the market: the "Moser Guide". With his ring binder about Lake Garda, the Munich journalist Elmar Moser ensured its rise to biking spot numero uno. Anyone who talks about Lake Garda in the year 30 after Moser primarily means Tremalzo. Not a soul talks about Monte Caplone. At 1976 meters high, this mighty bulwark south of the world-famous gravel band is not only two meters higher than Monte Tremalzo, but also the secret ruler of the Alta Garda. The Caplone escapes the attacks of bikers thanks to its very remote location far inland between Lago di Garda in the east and Lago d'Idro in the west - and its almost impregnable rock faces. However, artfully laid out serpentine paths ride from both sides to the summit forts, almost 2000 meters above the lake level. If you want to conquer Monte Caplone from Lake Garda, you have to have World Cup ambitions. Healthier, but still a tough day tour with a good 1700 meters in altitude, is the storm from Lago d'Idro over countless hairpin bends to the five-kilometre-long summit ridge. From the starting point in Storo (389 m), you warm up on the cycle path to Lago d'Idro before winding your way up on asphalt to the former Rifugio Alpo and onwards on a wide military road to Bocca di Caplone (1755 m). This is where the fascinating ridge path opens up over the backbone of the Alta Garda. If you have enough power, climb up to Cima Tombea (1850 m) and from Bocca di Campei (1822 m) to Monte Caplone (1976 m). From the eastern exit gate of the ridge trail, a century-old, partly dilapidated Dynamite Trail rides through many tunnels to the Bocca di Lorina (1431 m). Fascinating, but not difficult. Through the lonely Valle di Lorina, a forest track finally leads to the main road at the ex Forte Ampola and back to Storo. Let's hear what Master Moser wrote about Monte Caplone back in '91: "Together with its no less high twin, Cima Tombea, a massif of austere beauty, one of the most charming, but also most difficult bike destinations in the entire Lago region." Amen.

To view the detailed tour description, the topo map, the altitude profile and to download the GPX track, you need a user account on Ride-mtb.com with a subscription. Log in now or become a subscriber.