One Mile Above Lake Como

Located on the west side of Lake Como, across from world-famous Bellagio, Monte Crocione arguably offers the most amazing view over the Lake Como area in return for a modest hiking effort.

In principle, one could drive all the way to the trailhead at Rifugio Venini, a mountain hut and restaurant with World War 1 cannons out the front porch.

The access road is very narrow and requires caution. The last segment from the hamlet of Boffalora is best avoided altogether by non-Italian drivers.

In fact, we parked in Boffalora and enjoyed an extra 2.5 mile walk (one way) to the trailhead.

From Rifugio Venini, the trail begins as a gravelly road and leads to the Cadorna Line fortifications built during World War 1 for fear that the Germans would invade northern Italy through neutral Switzerland.

Then, the trail becomes single-track and circles around Monte Tremezzo, offering incredible vistas of Lake Como that get better and better...

until you arrive at the tippy top, where you get to meet the friendly goats that call Monte Crocione home.

A seriously cute wirehair standard dachshund puppy by the name of Dexter joined me at the top with his family.

Being a puppy, Dexter was fascinated by the goats, and was getting a bit too close for his own good.

Suddenly, I had an idea...

and decided to teach him the facts of life.

After Biology class, Dexter calmed down and we could enjoy the view in silence...

and, of course, look for tidbits of food that our parents might have dropped one mile above Lake Como.

If you visit the Lake Como area and you only have time for one hike, pick this one. Just avoid Sundays, because the place turns into a zoo. We went on a Saturday at the end of November, and it was wotten waven!