Anyone who has ever travelled by bike on Lake Garda will have naturally counted the Ledro Valley as part of its mountain bike area. Historically, but above all geographically, we are dealing with a separate area here. Cut off from Riva del Garda by a rugged cliff, for centuries the small valley around the shimmering turquoise Lake Ledro could only be reached from Riva via huge detours or narrow mountain paths.
Due to this particular geographical location and the fact that the Ledro Valley belonged to the Republic of Venice, there was little economic exchange with the neighbouring Austro-Hungarian Empire for some time. This only changed in 1851 with the opening of the Ponale road, which crosses the steep cliff south of Riva del Garda with tunnels and wild hairpin bends. It is one of the most impressive stretches of road on Lake Garda in terms of landscape and road construction.
With all this, it is easy to overlook the fact that veritable bike classics are actually to be found in the Ledro Valley. First and foremost is the Passo Tremalzo. In the style of a classic military road, the Tremalzo road connects the southern part of Lake Garda with the former border mountain of Monte Tremalzo. Between the Bocca dei Fortini, the Passo Nota and the Tremalzo, the road marks the frontline positions of the Italian troops during the First World War.
If you want to pay a visit to the Austrian positions, you will find some very well-preserved installations on the second tour to Bocca di Dromaè. This tour is also generally regarded as a Lake Garda classic. However, if you set up your accommodation in the Ledro Valley, you can reduce the climbs to the tour destinations there by the sweat-inducing first 500 metres in altitude. This makes the Passo Tremalzo an easily doable day tour, even without a shuttle. Ultimately, there are many rewarding trails on both sides of the valley that you would hardly ever aim for from Lake Garda.
Top mountain bike tours in Valle di Ledro
Trentino Tour 11: Bocca di Dromaè
Tour data and tour rating
Starting point
Car park at the pile-dwelling museum in Molina di Ledro
Route
The tour begins at a leisurely pace with a loop around Lake Ledro. First at Lenzumo, a constant ascent of just under 800 metres awaits to Bocca di Trat. Then a technically easy descent down to Campi, where the second climb of the day awaits: on an old military track to Bocca Dromaè. Here we find ourselves in the centre of the Austrian front line during the First World War. Many trenches are still well preserved. The descent back into the Ledro Valley offers some exciting trail sections. Some sections on the Costa di Salò reach grade S2, but can be bypassed on the forest road. The rest of the descent is relatively constant at S1 level.
Highlights
Pile-dwelling museum, emplacements from the Great War, the final trail
Retreat
Rifugio Nino Pernici (near Bocca di Trat)
GPS download
You can download the GPS data for the 20 Trentino tours presented free of charge in the download area below this article.
Trentino Tour 12: Passo Tremalzo
Tour data and tour rating
Starting point
Tourist-Info car park in Pieve di Ledro
Route
Cycle along the valley cycle path through Valle di Ledro to the small Lago d'Ampola. This is where the tarmac ascent to Rifugio Garda begins. You will often be overtaken by shuttle buses on the road - you could also use them. From the Rifugio, the gravelled Tremalzo road begins up to the top of the pass. From there, the route descends on loose gravel down the hairpin bends to the counter-climb from Passo Nota to Bocca dei Fortini. This is where the best part of the tour starts: the trails at Passo Rocchetta and the views down to Lake Garda are simply breathtaking. From Pregasina to the old Ponale road and down to Riva.
Highlights
The Tremalzo road, trails and deep views around the Passo Rocchetta
Retreat
Rifugio Garda, Restaurant da Richetto.
GPS download
You can download the GPS data for the 20 Trentino tours presented free of charge in the download area below this article.
Info about the Valle di Ledro bike area
GPS tours
The Ledro Valley offers 200 signposted kilometres of tours. This also includes the well-developed network of cycle paths, which can be used to quickly cover the routes on the valley floor. And of course the best local MTB routes. Also available as a map. Info: www.vallediledro.com
Shuttle
A public shuttle service is available for those wishing to go on tours in the neighbouring areas. Info: www.vallediledro.com
General information
Accommodation and other enquiries: www.vallediledro.com
