Description of the route

Drive through Toscolano heading north turn left to Maclino just before the bridge. Drive through Maclino and head for Sanico. Once at Sanico look for the sign for Rifugio Monte Spino/Vesegna/Monte Pizzocolo, you can park your car here if you want to extend this walk by 3 miles. Either way, on foot or by car follow the red and white marker up to the the start point.

You need to drive carefully as the road can be qite bumpy. After approx 1.5 miles you will arrive at the marker for Sentiero 27. The first part of this walk up to Pizzocolo is very steep (where the max 58 degree ascent was recorded).

My guidebook classes this as a medium difficulty level. I found it more difficult than I expected and wouldn’t advise beginners to do this walk, and would suggest that only experienced walkers do it alone. The hard climb was definitely worth it as the views from Pizzocolo and on the return route are stunning.

Although this is a circular route I would only recommend attempting it in an anticlockwise direction, unless you are very experienced. However the walk clockwise up to Pizzocolo is fairly easy and very beautiful, so you could go and return by the same route.

Follow the routes as follow: 27 up Pizzocolo, when you arrive at the summit you will want to take a well earned

Map of the route


View Sentieri 27, 5, 8, 6 in a larger map

rest and probably lots of photos as the views are some of the best on the lake. Unless you go back down the way you came up there is only one path down off the summit, follow this until you see the marker for route 5 to Passo Spino, then 8 to Rifugio Spino. From Rifugio Spino follow the route back the way you came until you see the marker 6 for Sanico, this will take you back to your car. This route crosses many other paths so there are many opportunities to diversify.

Details of the route

  • Route: Sentieri 27, 5, 8, 6
  • Distance: 9.3 mile (circular route)
  • Time: 5.5 hours (including stops)
  • Ascent: max 58 degrees:Descent max 48 degrees
  • Altitude: Min 2175ft, Max 2415ft
  • Terrain/Vista:Mountain view, spectacular lake view, woodland, mountain track
  • Underfoot:Gravel/stoney path, mud path, tarmac road,
  • Refreshments: Rifugio Giorgio Pirlo al Monte Spino (Open weekends and everyday from mid June to September
  • Places of interest:

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