Monte Stivo Nord

Monte Stivo

Monte Stivo is rightly considered one of the great classics of Lake Garda. With a grueling climb of over 2,000 meters in elevation and an equally long descent, the tour demands both physical fitness and riding technique in equal measure. The reward for this epic undertaking is an extremely varied route via the northern variant, as well as breathtaking panoramic views that are second to none.

Description

The tour starts in Bolognano, just east of Arco. From here, the route leads either by shuttle or under your own power along the paved road toward Santa Barbara. Where the shuttle route—or the easily ridden section—ends, you continue winding uphill on a side road toward Monte Stivo. The gradient increases steadily here and the terrain becomes rougher, making the climb to the alpine pastures below the summit a real challenge. While riders on a classic mountain bike will reach their physical limits here, e-mountain bikers have a clear advantage.

At the alpine pastures, switch to the cross-country trail heading east toward the ridge and push your mountain bike uphill to the Rifugio Stivo Prospero Marchetti, enjoying fantastic panoramic views over Trentino and Lake Garda. After the refuge, it’s just a few more meters over gentle hilltops to the summit cross at 2,059 meters above sea level. This highest point of the tour marks the ultimate vantage point: on a clear day, the view stretches north to the main Alpine ridge, south far into Veneto, and of course over the sparkling blue of Lake Garda.

Then the descent begins. At first, the route flows smoothly along an old military road on Sentiero 617 heading north. However, the technical difficulty increases rapidly: the trail transitions from an S1 section to a challenging S3 path, continuing in this manner to La Bassa Madonnina. After that, Sentiero 623 takes you steadily downhill at a somewhat more moderate pace to the crossroads above Malga Pedrini. You cross this forest road heading west before the next trail descent begins on Sentiero 668. This trail rides downhill in typical Lake Garda style over loose stones and through beech forests. The difficulty here can be rated S2.

The route back to Arco finally leads across the entire western slopes of Monte Stivo, with difficulty varying between S2 and S3. Loose gravel typical of Lake Garda, combined with deep leaf litter, demands one’s last reserves of strength here. Finally, you reach the valley floor again, completing one of the most impressive loops in the region.

Note: Due to regulations in the Province of Trentino, hiking trails may be subject to a temporary ban on mountain bikes, or such bans may be lifted again. It is therefore essential to check the current regulations before starting the tour.

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