The Via dei Monti Lariani is the long mid-slope trail that runs for 125 kilometres, in four stages, along the western side of Lake Como. The third stage connects Val Menaggio to Val Albano, crossing the San Bernardo pass: a demanding stage, 24-25 kilometres for about 9 hours of walking, built for a full day at altitude away from the lake, with a stopping point midway at Rifugio Menaggio.
The starting point is Grandola ed Uniti, a municipality near Menaggio, reached by the C12 Menaggio–Lugano bus line; the finish is at Garzeno, in Val Albano, served by the C17 Dongo–Garzeno line. The route follows CAI Como waymarking (red-white-red flags, number 3) and briefly crosses the Sentiero delle 4 Valli in its central section.
From Grandola ed Uniti to Breglia
The path climbs from Grandola ed Uniti (385 m) towards Codogna (479 m) and Barna (563 m), then rises along a mule track to La Piazza (747 m) and Breglia (749 m), a hamlet of the municipality of Plesio, also reachable by bus from Menaggio on the C13 line. It is the first real rest point of the stage, with inns and farmhouses along the way.
Rifugio Menaggio and the San Bernardo pass
A short detour from Monti di Bracco leads to Rifugio Menaggio, at about 1,380 metres on the slopes of Monte Grona: an ideal stop before resuming the climb towards Monti di Naro (1,190 m) and the San Bernardo pass (1,105 m), the highest point of the stage together with the 1,250-metre stretch reached shortly before. Hikers with time and experience can extend the stop at the hut with a climb of Monte Grona or Monte Bregagno, both reachable via dedicated routes. Another detour, further along the route, leads to Rifugio la Canua, run by Operazione Mato Grosso volunteers and linked to Rifugio Menaggio by a classic traverse trail.
From the San Bernardo pass to Garzeno
Past the pass, the trail descends into Val Albano through Piazze (800 m) and Catasco (620 m), before reaching Garzeno (662 m), the finish point of the stage.
Practical information
- Length and duration: official sources give slightly different figures depending on the page — 24-25 km, about 9 hours of walking.
- Elevation gain: the official source (menaggio.com) states about 800 m of ascent; other sources (trail aggregators) report much higher figures, up to about 1,700 m — check an up-to-date map or GPS app before setting out, given the discrepancy.
- Highest point: 1,250 m.
- Difficulty: intermediate (E), hiking boots recommended.
- Waymarking: CAI Como, red-white-red flags, number 3.
- Stopping points: inns and farmhouses at Grandola ed Uniti and Breglia; Rifugio Menaggio midway and Rifugio la Canua further along (both via short detours).
- Bus access: C12 line (Menaggio–Lugano) for Grandola ed Uniti; C13 (Menaggio–Plesio) for Breglia; C17 (Dongo–Garzeno) for Garzeno.
- Connections: briefly crosses the Sentiero delle 4 Valli; from Rifugio Menaggio the Via dei Monti Lariani continues towards Rifugio Sommafiume.