Directions
The trail starts out on the lake front in Riva del Garda, in front of the Garda Trentino tourist information office. Take the cycle path which leads along Viale della Liberazione towards the centre of Riva. Pass the imposing structure of the Rocca and Piazza III Novembre, coming to the main road Gardesana Occidentale at the harbour. From here, follow the main road to the south for a few hundred metres. Before you reach the first tunnel on the Gardesana, keep to the right, and take a steep cobbled ramp which leads to the start of the famous Ponale Trail. This stretch of the route, on a dirt road, has an incomparable panorama.
Without any alternative trail suitable for a bike we come to the end of the dirt road at the Ponale Alto Belvedere snack bar. At the nearby junction, keep right in the direction of Lake Ledro. Before the tunnel, turn left to cross the valley and the torrent avoiding the main road. Once on the road leading to Pregasina, go to the right and then, before the bridge, take the little road on your left. The trail to follow to get to Lake Ledro is clear. Cycle through Pre and Molina as far as the lake.
From the Pile-Dwelling Museum, continue for about 200 m and turn left into Via di Pastei until you reach the meadows above Legos. Continue until the ends of the meadows and then take, on the right, the dirt road to Bocca dei Fortini. Once there, the steepest part is over and you proceed on the left towards Baita Segala and Passo Guil, from where you continue to Passo Rocchetta.
Once you have passed the bar, there are two possible ways down to Malga Palaer. Follow directions and take the trail on the left, the other one is exclusively for hikers. This section is the most technical part of the trail, you will come across lots of roots, steps, rocks, and some narrow bends. When you get to the forest road, keep to the right until you come to Malga Palaer. Signposting on this trail sends you downward on the forest road as far as Bocca Larici. Here you are in one of the loveliest panoramic spots in all of Lake Garda: Punta Larici.
The trail is still following the forest road, downhill as far as the town of Pregasina. Cross the centre where there are other places to stop off for refreshments, and then continue downhill along the main road. On this downhill stretch of paved road there are several blind bends, the road is rather narrow, and apart from pedestrians and bikes, you might also come across some cars.
Shortly after you pass the panoramic viewing point with the big statue of Regina Mundi near the start of the tunnel to Val di ledro, turn right and take the old road, now closed to traffic. This takes you straight back to the junction you came to at the start of the ascent near the snack bar. Follow your tracks back along the spectacular Vecchia Ponale trail to Riva and the point where you started from.
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