The Nota Pass is a mountain pass around Lake Garda, offering numerous hiking and mountain bike trails. In this article, we'll describe the hike from the Nota pass to the summit of Mount Carone.

Trekking: Mount Carone from Nota Pass, Lake Garda

There's never enough to discover.... I truly had no idea that above Tremosine lay such a beautiful valley as the Bondo Valley, and that, even higher up, there was an area like the one around Nota Pass, with its pleasant views, suitable for numerous activities, from simple picnics to truly rewarding bike or hiking excursions with stunning views of Lake Garda. Yet, the trips into the nearby Ledro Valley should have given me a clue.

Anyway, coming to the excursion proposed here, to reach the Nota Pass, you must pass Tremosine, reach the hamlet of Vesio, drive along the entire beautiful Bondo Valley, and then, with a series of hairpin bends, climb to the pass. Up to the end of the Bondo Valley, the road is quite easy. After that, although it remains paved almost up to the pass, the road becomes suitable for one vehicle at a time, albeit with several widenings for intersections, and is characterized by the presence of some very tight hairpin bends. The last stretch (just under 1 km) is paved with stones, then it's a dirt road. However, I drove to the pass in a van...

At the pass, you'll find the Rifugio degli Alpini (Hut), which in itself can be a pleasant destination for a day's lunch with friends, or a refreshment stop after your hike.

Near the pass, there's a grassy clearing where you can park your car (about ten places). Then, take the dirt road that continues northeast, and at the fork, shortly thereafter, ignore the left turn that descends into the Ledro Valley, and continue walking right onto the road (traffic permitted only to authorized vehicles). The road soon turns East, and after a few ups and downs, after passing the Bocca dei Fortini (another left turn for the Ledro Valley), it reaches a panoramic viewpoint where Casa Carlotta is located. Here, the trail that climbs to the summit of Mount Carone branches off to the left (signposted: Agostino Tosi trail). Before taking it, it's worth looking out from the panoramic point and starting to admire the view of Garda (although the higher up, the view is even better). Mountain bikers, however, continue straight ahead to reach Passo Rocchetta or Punta Larici, peaks overlooking the lake, with magnificent views of Lake Garda.

Click here, for the slide gallery of the excursion

After the turn, the gradient changes dramatically. At first, you ascend steeply through the woods, with a series of clever switchbacks. Then, after a short, flat stretch, you reach the famous chimney, where the concrete steps built by the Alpini troops in 2016 are located; the front of the First World War ran through here (now, this is the border between Lombardy and Trentino). This stretch of trail is the reason why the signage below says "for experienced hikers."

Honestly, if equipped with appropriate footwear, this section is accessible to anyone accustomed to hiking in the mountains and reasonably fit (the section is steep). A metal cable runs along the entire length of the steps, but it's more for hauling up than for safety. There aren't many exposed sections, and the trail isn't comparable to a via ferrata.

After leaving the chimney, and after a final stretch on a short ledge, you reach the summit of Mount Carone, marked by a cross placed in memory of the dead Italian and Austrian soldiers. The summit is partially covered by forest, and the view is open only to the south, where Lake Garda reveals its blue expanse, visible all the way to Sirmione, if visibility is good. On its sides are the peaks of Mount Baldo and those of the Lombardy Prealps of the lake (Monte Denervo).

To admire the view to the north, it's best to descend about fifty meters below the summit and take the trail on the right, immediately after the path we ascended. The trail leads to a grassy knoll, with an artillery position, from which the mountains of the Ledro Valley appear, and further north, the unmistakable pyramid of Mount Carè Alto.

To descend, following a circular route, return to the fork below the summit, where there are signs for Passo Guil. Follow the trail downhill until you reach Bocchetta di Mois, where you'll find signs for Baita Segala (another Hut). You'll then reach the road that takes you back to Passo Nota, which we also partially followed on the way up.

Enjoy your hike. Fabio

Click here, for the slide gallery of the excursion