Punta Larici is one of the most rewarding short hikes on Lake Garda, a rocky lookout high above Riva del Garda in Trentino with one of the best-known views on the lake. This guide covers how to reach the trailhead now that cars are restricted, which trail to pick and how hard it is, where the best viewpoints are, what to bring and when to go.
How to Get to the Punta Larici Trailhead
The Punta Larici trailhead is at the Church of San Giorgio in Pregasina, a small village at around 535 metres above Riva, but for much of the year you can’t drive right up to it. From Riva del Garda, follow the SS240 towards Valle di Ledro, go through the tunnel and turn left for Pregasina.
That’s the easy bit. So many visitors started driving up that Riva del Garda introduced a ZTL (zona a traffico limitato) to stop cars parking on verges and private land. It begins just above the Regina Mundi statue, below the village. It runs every day from 1 April to 30 September and on weekends and public holidays for the rest of the year. Only residents and guests of local hotels and restaurants can drive in. Everyone else parks below the barrier or leaves the car in Riva. The municipality renewed the ZTL in April 2026, so check the current rules on the Comune di Riva del Garda website before you set off.
In summer, a free shuttle runs on weekends and public holidays from Riva’s bus station on Viale Trento to the Regina Mundi stop. Otherwise, bus line 214 (Riva to Valle di Ledro) stops at Pregasina, though not often.
If you’d rather earn the view, walk up the Ponale path from Riva, an old road cut into the cliffs which takes about an hour and a half on the way up.
Punta Larici Hike Route Details and Difficulty
The Punta Larici hike takes about an hour up from Pregasina on the standard route, SAT trail 422B. It’s a mule track built by Italian soldiers during the First World War, signposted from the church towards Malga Palaer. It climbs steadily through beech woods to Bocca Larici, a saddle at around 880 metres, in 30 to 40 minutes. Keep left there for the final 5 to 10 minutes to the summit.
Return the same way or make a loop via Malga Palaer, a disused mountain hut, dropping back to Pregasina on trail 422. Expect 6 to 8 km in total with roughly 400 to 480 metres of climbing, and allow two and a half to three and a half hours with stops. Route apps vary a fair bit on these figures.
Punta Larici is a moderate hike on 422B, a proper climb rather than a stroll. The path is wide and well marked, but it’s uphill almost all the way and the last few minutes cross open rock above a very long drop.
Trail 422A, the Senter de la Costa, is a different animal. It follows the ridge along the cliff face and is graded EE (for experienced hikers), with exposed stretches secured by metal ropes. Only take it if you’re sure-footed and fine with heights.
For a longer day, continue past Malga Palaer to Passo Rocchetta at 1,159 metres, which stretches the loop to roughly 10 km. Our guide to hiking on Lake Garda covers more routes on both shores.
Best Viewpoints Along the Punta Larici Trail
The best viewpoint on the Punta Larici trail is the summit, with two decent stops on the way. The Regina Mundi statue, on the road just below Pregasina, looks out over the northern shore before you’ve even started.
On the trail, the woods hide the views for most of the climb. Bocca Larici is where they open up, though mostly onto the surrounding mountains.
Then the summit, a rocky spur at 907 metres whose south face drops almost sheer to the water. From the edge you look straight down the cliffs, with Riva del Garda and Torbole at the head of the lake and Monte Baldo filling the opposite shore. On summer weekends you may have to wait your turn at the best rocks. Go easy near the edge. The rock is uneven and the drop is immediate.
Just over the border into Lombardy, the Terrazza del Brivido in Tremosine delivers a similar jolt of vertigo with far less walking.
Essential Gear and Tips for Hiking Punta Larici
Walking shoes or light boots with decent grip are all you need for Punta Larici on 422B. Trainers with worn soles are a bad idea, as the path has roots and loose stone and the summit rocks get slippery after rain. For 422A, proper hiking boots are non-negotiable.
The final stretch is exposed to sun and wind even when the woods feel sheltered. Pack a layer and plenty of water, because there’s nowhere to buy anything once you leave Pregasina.
- Start early. Mornings are quieter and cooler.
- Keep children and dogs close at the summit. Our guides to Lake Garda with kids and holidays at Lake Garda with a dog have gentler alternatives.
- Staying for sunset? Carry a head torch for the descent through the woods.
- The restaurant at Hotel Panorama sits right by the start of the trail.
Best Time of Year to Hike Punta Larici
The best time to hike Punta Larici is spring or autumn, within a main season that runs from April to November. Spring brings fresh beech woods and kind temperatures for the climb, while October has clearer air and far fewer people.
Summer works if you go early, since July and August afternoons get hot on the exposed top and weekends are busiest.
Winter hikes are possible on dry, settled days, but the rock can ice over and daylight is short. Our Lake Garda weather guide has a month-by-month picture.
Plan Your Visit to Punta Larici
Punta Larici rewards a small effort with one of the biggest views on Lake Garda. Work out how you’re getting past the ZTL before you go, and pick the trail that suits your nerves rather than your Instagram.
If you’re looking for a base for days like this, Domus has holiday apartments and villas around Lake Garda. You can browse them at domusrental.com.
