Exploring Historic and Natural Trails in Northern Garda Area
If there is a place where opportunities for excursions are truly abundant, this is the northern part of Garda. The options are numerous, with routes focused on naturalistic themes (botanical or faunal). There is also the chance to retrace trails and mule tracks that have significant historical importance. An example? The road that, starting from the Valle di Bondo, ascends to Passo Nota.
You can leave your car in Vesio di Tremosine, or you can venture a few hundred meters into the natural bed of the Valle di Bondo. Then, you continue on foot (we are at 650 meters altitude) until the road begins to climb, but without requiring great effort. After about two hours of ascent, you reach Passo Nota, where there is the possibility of using two shelters: one managed by the Gruppo alpini di Vesio, the other by the Penne Nere della Pieve.
Places of historical and natural interest
We are around 1,200 meters above sea level, and in less than half an hour’s distance are the trenches of Passo Nota (from World War I) and the small military cemetery. The remains of soldiers have now been transported to the cemetery in Vesio, but the site, surrounded by resinous trees, still invites reflection.
The return can be made via another route leading back into the Valle di Bondo, in just over two hours, through the Coma Vecchia. These are sites of considerable historical importance, subject to research by local historians and schools. Of interest in this regard is a publication by a class from the middle school in Pieve di Tremosine (guided by Professor Domenico Fava, a researcher), which shed some light on local events, involving the students in the analysis.
Territory and historic trails
The entire area flanking Passo Nota is steeped in history. Continuing westward, you arrive at Passo Tremalzo (1,665 meters), from where you can descend to Lorina and – via the old military road from World War I – reach the peak of Caplone (1,976 meters, the highest summit in the northern Garda) and Tombea.
From there, other paths allow you to descend into Val Vestine. There is also the option (popular among mountain biking enthusiasts) to head toward Trentino, northbound. Both trail 421 and 457 B lead to Lake Ledro.
To the east, instead, you reach Passo Bestana (1,274 meters), from where you can continue towards the Fortini. From the bocchetta dei Fortini (1,243 meters), you can descend toward Singo) and Limone, or (on the Trentino side) again toward Lake Ledro.