By bike on the upper lake

At the northern end of the lake, around Colico, you ride almost on the level along cycle and foot paths.

Along the rest of the lake the shore roads, such as the Regina, are narrow and run through tunnels; here, though, the valley opens into the Pian di Spagna plain, where the Adda flows into the lake. Colico station is on the line to Sondrio and Tirano and on the line to Chiavenna. Two routes meet in the Pian di Spagna reserve. The Sentiero Valtellina starts on the lakeshore at Colico and follows the Adda for 114 kilometres to Bormio. The Ciclabile della Valchiavenna runs for 42 kilometres to the Swiss border beyond Chiavenna. The loop of the reserve from Colico is about 23 kilometres, among fields, channels and reed beds. On the edge of the plain stand the Forte di Fuentes, of 1603, and the Forte Montecchio Nord, built on the eve of the First World War. On the western shore two lakeside cycle paths link Dongo with Gravedona and Domaso with Sorico. You ride for half a day or a whole day, and along the two valley routes you come back by train.

1. 01From Colico you ride to the Pian di Spagna reserve. From the Trivio di Fuentes, near the SS36 bridge over the Adda, a level dirt road follows the north bank of the river to its mouth, among beaches and reed beds.
2. 02The Sentiero Valtellina follows the Adda towards Morbegno, Sondrio and Tirano, largely on a dedicated path and with equipped rest areas. Ride out and take the train back to Colico from one of the stations on the line.
3. 03The Ciclabile della Valchiavenna crosses the Pian di Spagna, passes Dubino and reaches Lake Mezzola at Verceia and Novate Mezzola. All three villages have a station on the Colico–Chiavenna railway, from which you can come back by train.
4. 04On the western shore the cycle paths from Dongo to Gravedona and from Domaso to Gera Lario and Sorico run along the lakeside. Between Gravedona and Domaso, though, you ride for a stretch on the SS340 main road, in traffic: with children the two lakeside sections are better suited.
5. 05On the Trenord trains marked in the timetable a bike travels free, if the journey starts and ends in Lombardy; you load and unload it yourself. ASF buses take only folding bikes.
6. 06Bikes, e-bikes included, can be hired at Colico. The Sentiero Valtellina hire service also has points at Morbegno, Sondrio, Tirano, Bormio and Chiavenna: a bike taken at one can be returned at another.

WhereColico · Domaso · Dongo · Musso