Monte Pizzoccolo, from Cascina Ortello di Sotto

Access

Brescia Ovest exit of the motorway. Continue east along the Tangenziale Sud/SS11 and then onto the SS45 bis/Gardesana Occidentale. Leave the turnoff for Salò on the right, and along the coast of Lake Garda, pass through Gardone Riviera, Fasano and Maderno. Shortly before the bridge over the Toscolano stream, take the left road to Montemaderno. After passing the hamlets of Maclino and Vigole, you reach the village of Sanico. Now take the steep asphalted road on the left that climbs towards the Croce di Ortello. Shortly before the cross, the road becomes alternately paved and dirt. Continue, turning over somewhat uneven stretches, and once you have passed the Croce di Ortello, continue until the widening near the road above Cascina Ortello di Sotto (682 m).

Introduction

Mount Pizzocolo, together with the Monte Baldo chain on the Veronese shore, is certainly the mountain that most characterises the hinterland of Lake Garda. Giosuè Carducci himself wrote in his "Odi Barbare" (Barbaric Odes), referring to the Monte Baldo chain and Monte Gu, the name once used in the Veronese dialect to indicate Monte Pizzocolo (probably as a shortening of the French adjective 'aigu' meaning acute): ... 11 Baldo, paternal mountain, protects the beauty from above 12 with its cloudy brow: 13 Gu seems a titan to her fallen in battle, 14 supine and threatening. ... (Odi Barbare - Sirmione, book 1, chapter 15) The name 'pizzocolo' (in the local dialect 'pishocòl') probably derives from 'pizzo' and 'zoccolo', perhaps because of its hoof-like shape (although in some places around Verona it is said to resemble Napoleon's profile) or from 'pinzocol', which in Val di Ledro and Alto Garda means 'protruding rock'. Near the summit there are some military ruins from the First World War 1915-18, although this area was not directly the scene of battle. The panorama from Monte Pizzocolo is, despite the modest altitude, simply incredible: it goes from the Adamello group, to Monte Rosa, to the Apennines, to the lower and middle Lake Garda, to the Monte Baldo chain, to Montegargnano, to Lake Valvestino, etc. Some even claim that, in particular climatic conditions and air clarity, the Venice lagoon can be observed. The proposed itinerary initially takes place on a dirt road, continues along the south ridge of Monte Pizzocolo to the summit, and concludes with a wide loop, at times very scenic, through meadows and woods.

Description

From the widening (682 m), take the dirt road on the right (marker ) that leads into the Oppolo forest. At the second hairpin bend, proceed straight ahead until the next one. Shortly after the right turn, climb up to a hunting lodge, follow a small track through the grass, descend a few steps and reach the little bridge of the Valle della Prera. The trail passes under a large vertical limestone wall (at the end of which the climbing route known locally as "I tre porcellini" (The Three Little Pigs) is indicated), continues on a ledge to a viewpoint over "Monte Castello di Gaino" and proceeds to reach the diversions to the left for Pizzocolo - Cresta Sud, signposted route no. 27 (0h40'). 

Take the left and climb up the first grassy and wooded stretch of the south ridge, pass over a first rocky passage until you come to the "Via di emergenza" on the left, signposted route no. 27A (1h15'). 

Following this are other short, easy rocky passages (one equipped with a safety chain), alternating with stretches of grass and low beech woods. One last rocky passage to the left and, on the ridge that is now grassy but dotted with a few rocky outcrops, you reach the "Solar Wind Lighthouse", a wind detector located south of the summit. A few more minutes and you are at the cross on the summit of Monte Pizzocolo (1581 m, 3h00'). 

To the side is an observation point with a few pieces of pipe oriented to the main observable peaks. A few metres further down, built on old military ruins, is the Church to the Fallen of All Wars and Mountains. It is advisable to return with a wide panoramic view of Lake Garda along the mule track (signpost No. 5) that descends to Bivacco Due Aceri, also built on the remains of former military ruins. The track leads to an area of "campi solcati" (macro-forms of epigean karst related to the dissolving action of water), passes a rocky ravine where the Madonna del Pizzocolo is located and descends to the "Sguàs dele pìle" (1440 m), a modest waterhole, near which the path (signposts Segnavia n° 11 and Segnavia n° 6) "Via di Valle", coming from Malga Valle, arrives. Above, to the right, other areas of "ploughed fields" are clearly visible, while a little further on is a casemate (or reserve) from the First World War 1915-18 (for use by the Royal Italian Army). Having reached the "Sguàs de cimènto", another puddle of water fenced off on one side by a low wall, the path leads slightly uphill around the Ciprelli, two grassy knolls that make up the highest part of the Dosso delle Prade, along a stretch of mule track known as "la Stangàa" (perhaps derived from the Germanic word "stanga" to indicate a protective fence). A steep little path on the left cuts across two hairpin bends of the main mule track, passing a few ruins from the First World War 1915-18 and, amidst splendid raspberry bushes, arriving at the Passo delle Merle (1352 m, 0h50'), locally indicated as "Località le Merle - Dos delle Prade". Neglecting the path to the right, continue along the wide mule track, signpost No. 23 for Pirello and S. Urbano, to descend "le Prade". The road passes among a few fir trees, crosses trail marker No. 8 for Pirello and San Michele, and descends to the left, re-entering the woods, to the "Rifugio Cà da Prada - alpino Angelo Usardi" (1117 m) and the church of S. Urbano (872 m, 1h 40'). On the dirt track, continue the descent and, after crossing to the left the turning for Malga Valle - Pizzocolo and to the right that for Vesegna - Pradafa, you will reach the starting point (682 m, 2h10').