Ponale path Riva del Garda – Val di Ledro

Suggestive walk of the Ponale on foot or by mountain bike

On the Garda Trentino side there is one of the most spectacular attractions in the area: it is the Strada del Ponale, which thanks to its transformation into a pedestrian and cycle path in 2004, is today one of the major panoramic and points of interest in the vicinity of Lake Garda, perfect for walks and excursions even out of season, as well as for admiring the lake from an elevated position.

The Ponale path, about twenty kilometers long round trip, connects Riva del Garda to the Ledro valley and is one of the most popular and famous itineraries in Europe, also thanks to its environmental and historical characteristics. The Ponale path is also ideal for walking with the little ones.

Furthermore, along the way, you can visit the Secret waterfalls: after passing the Ponale Alto and the bridge over the Ponale stream, a path to the left leads to these spectacular waterfalls set in a ravine between the rocks that plunge sheer into the lake.

ROUTE ON FOOT

Where to start for the Ponale promenade? After having parked the car in Riva del Garda, pass the port and continue towards Limone, pass the Riva hydroelectric plant to reach the Western Gardesana, and then take the unpaved road (path D01 towards Ledro). From here a beautiful panoramic route winds its way along the rock walls, through suggestive tunnels, and with enchanting glimpses of the Sarca plain, Monte Brione and Monte Baldo and, after a slight climb of two kilometers, the bay below and the beginning of Valle di Ledro. At this point the path forks between the itinerary for pedestrians and the one for cyclists. Continuing on foot, you cross a bridge and then some stairs that lead to a forest road. Continue along a short stretch of asphalt on the Pregasina road and pass the town of Biacesa. Once in Pré di Ledro, climb up to Molina di Ledro and from here to the lake of the same name, where there is also the Ledro pile-dwelling museum.

ROUTE BY BIKE

The Ponale cycle path is ideal for lovers of two wheels and can also be easily traveled by children. The itinerary winds along a dirt path with a slight gradient, for this reason the ideal equipment is a mountain bike or e-bike. Road bikes are not recommended.

Useful advice: in summer the normally mild temperatures of the lake tend to rise, but the Ponale path is completely in the shade in the afternoon: it is therefore recommended to walk it after lunch.

TAGLIATA DEL PONALE

The Tagliata del Ponale (or fort Teodosio) is one of the points of interest on Lake Garda along the Ponale path. This Austrian fortification completely dug out of the rock dates back to the Great War, when the Garda area was the stage for border battles between Italy and Austria. Indeed, Garda Trentino belonged to Austrian territory, although on the borderline between the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the Kingdom of Italy: foreseeing and wanting to avert a possible Italian attack, Vienna had this area fortified in advance. The Tagliata del Ponale belongs to a vast network of fortifications which also includes the Defensio Mauer, the Bellavista fort, the advanced Wachhaus fort and the Sperone aqueduct bunker. Among all these, it is the most accessible and easiest to visit, thanks to a system of tunnels, stairs, cableways, lookout points and emplacements that develop inside the mountain on five levels.