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Lecco Branch

One stage of the Sentiero del Viandante

Start at one station, walk above the lake, come back from another.

Duration
3 h – 5 h
Effort
Moderate
Access
Open to all
Car-free
Yes
With children
Not ideal
A walker on the Sentiero del Viandante among flowering broom.Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Emanuela Fisch · CC BY-SA 4.0
  • Renatoongania · CC BY-SA 4.0

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A walker on the Sentiero del Viandante among flowering broom.

Maurizio Moro5153 · CC BY-SA 4.0

How it works

The Sentiero del Viandante follows the eastern shore from Lecco to Sorico.

For a stage with outward and return journeys by train, choose the section between Lecco and Colico, where the railway links the towns below the path. Check ascent, access from the stations and the stops served by your chosen trains.

  1. The Varenna–Bellano stage is short, with a continuous view of the lake.
  2. Lierna–Varenna is longer; Abbadia–Lierna is the closest to Milan.
  3. On some stages the total ascent exceeds 500 metres.
  4. In summer start early: in the middle of the day the path is very hot.

WhereVarenna · Bellano · Lierna · Mandello del Lario · Lecco · Abbadia Lariana · Dervio

The trail in numbers

Length, climb, altitude and walking time calculated on the path's track. The track runs from Lecco to Colico (Posallo).

Length
44.3 km
Ascent
+2100 m
Descent
−1900 m
Lowest point
188 m
Highest point
771 m
Walking time
17 h 10

CAI gradeE · hiking: real path, steep stretches

  • With children
  • With a dog
  • With a pushchair
  • Shade in stretches

Stage 1Lecco → Abbadia LarianaClosed

7.1 km · +209 m · −186 m · 2 h 20

1502002503003500 km2 km4 km6 km

At Abbadia Lariana, where the stage ends, the sun goes behind the ridge today at 16:00.

Start0.3 km from Lecco stationEnd0.5 km from Abbadia Lariana station

Stage 2Abbadia Lariana → Lierna

7.8 km · +264 m · −232 m · 2 h 35

2002503003504004500 km2 km4 km6 km

At Lierna, where the stage ends, the sun goes behind the ridge today at 16:14.

Start0.6 km from Mandello del Lario stationEnd0.4 km from Lierna station

Stage 3Lierna → VezioClosed

10.8 km · +819 m · −693 m · 5 h 30

2004006008000 km2 km4 km6 km8 km10 km

At Vezio, where the stage ends, the sun goes behind the ridge today at 16:48.

Start0.4 km from Lierna stationEnd0.8 km from Varenna-Esino-Perledo station

Stage 4Perledo → Bellano

4.6 km · +60 m · −238 m · 1 h 30

2002503003504004500 km1 km2 km3 km4 km

At Bellano, where the stage ends, the sun goes behind the ridge today at 16:21.

Start0.8 km from Varenna-Esino-Perledo stationEnd0.4 km from Bellano-Tartavalle Terme station

Stage 5Bellano → Dervio

4.9 km · +226 m · −236 m · 1 h 50

2002503003504000 km1 km2 km3 km4 km

At Dervio, where the stage ends, the sun goes behind the ridge today at 16:28.

Start0.4 km from Bellano-Tartavalle Terme stationEnd0.3 km from Dervio station

Stage 6Dervio → Colico (Posallo)

9.1 km · +522 m · −315 m · 3 h 30

2004006008000 km2 km4 km6 km8 km

At Colico (Posallo), where the stage ends, the sun goes behind the ridge today at 14:19.

Start0.3 km from Dervio stationEnd1.9 km from Piona station

Trail status

  • ClosedSan Martino, on the Lecco–Abbadia Lariana stretch (municipality of Abbadia Lariana)

    Closed to walkers for ground instability, ordinance no. 11 of the Municipality of Abbadia Lariana of 4 February 2025. Since 4 February 2025, until revoked.

    Source: Le Vie del Viandante · checked on 1 October 2026

  • ClosedLower variant between Lierna and Varenna, the stretch between Pino and the Fiumelatte spring (municipality of Varenna)

    Anas work on the rockfall nets above the path, protecting the SS36. Notice of 10 March 2026, updated May 2026, with no end date given. Since 10 March 2026, until revoked.

    AlternativeFrom Lierna turn left down at the Anas cabin before the stretch on the main road, along via Roslina through Pino to Fiumelatte on the shore; from there along the lake to Varenna, or up to the Fiumelatte spring.

    Source: Le Vie del Viandante · checked on 1 October 2026

Notices from the managers: Le Vie del Viandante · news · Varenna Turismo

Track © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); heights from Terrain Tiles (SRTM/EU-DEM). Time follows the DIN 33466 rule (4 km/h, 300 m/h up, 500 m/h down), without stops. The profile is exaggerated vertically. Sources: OpenStreetMap · Terrain Tiles

On the map

Explore the lake
1234567Mandello del LarioBellanoLeccoAbbadia LarianaVarennaLiernaDervio

© OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL

Download the route (GPX)Stops and track for Komoot, OsmAnd, Organic Maps or a Garmin.
The page as a printable document, with the route drawn on it: useful where there is no phone signal.

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Sources and credits

Sources and credits