Lake Como Weekend Hike

will be retracing one of the oldest Alpine trade routes, from the Walser village of Splügen in Switzerland over the Splügen Pass and down through the dramatic Cardinello gorge to Isola, with an overnight stay on the shores of the Montespluga lake. A beautiful jorney between Italian and Swiss Alps. If you are in Milan and you want to spend a weekend in the Alps this is the perfect opportunity even if you are not an athlete or an avid hiker. The Lake como weekend hike is meant for people to enjoying the beautiful mountains without stress. The mountains above the Como lakes are very nice and you will experience two beautiful days crossing the border between Switzerland and Italy. The meeting point for this Lake Como Weekend Hike will be in Colico which is easily reachable by train from Milano Centrale. You do not have excuse: come enjoying a beautiful 2 days hike in the Alps near Milan. Here you find a description day by day of your adventure in the Alps.

Como Lake weekend hike description

Day 1 — Splügen to Montespluga over the Splügen PassDistance: approx. 9–9.5 km
Ascent: approx. +680 m · Descent: approx. −230 m
Walking time: 3.5 to 4 hours
Highest point: Splügen Pass, 2,115 m (Switzerland–Italy border)

After a look around Splügen (1,457 m), a beautifully preserved Walser village that grew up on cross-pass trade and earned the Swiss Wakker Prize for the conservation of its historic core, the trail climbs the north side of the pass. It crosses high-altitude meadows, avalanche galleries and well-kept stone-paved mule tracks, with wide views over the Rheinwald. At 2,115 m we reach the Splügen Pass and the Italy–Switzerland border (bring ID, as it is an international frontier). From here a steady descent leads to the Montespluga lake at around 1,900 m and on to the village of Montespluga, where we spend the night. Worth knowing: the village is home to one of the highest wine bars in Europe.Day 2 — Montespluga to Isola via the Cardinello Gorge

Distance: approx. 10–11 km
Ascent: minimal · Descent: approx. −650 m
Walking time: 3 to 3.5 hours
Finish: village of Isola, a hamlet of Madesimo, with its traditional Walser timber houses (càrden)

From Montespluga the trail follows the right shore of the reservoir to the dam, where the Cardinello gorge opens up, the historic and most dramatic stretch of the whole route, a paved mule track carved into the rock face with the ravine dropping away to one side. The descent calls for care and unhurried footing, with some exposed passages where trekking poles help, but it is otherwise manageable. Below the gorge the path passes the huts of Sosta and the elegant timber chalets of Mottaletta before reaching Isola, with fine views over the village and its lake along the way.

This Lake Como weekend hikes is not meant for avid hikers but for those who are curious to explore the Italian and Swiss Alps being in this beautiful area. Enjoy a trip with Trekking Alps! And consider that all the trip offered are cutomizable, so if you want to make an hike in the same area but harder or different, just contact us. You will be in touch with a local. AMM Uimla guide that will organize for you the best experience given what you need! You might want something deeper in the Alps, or maybe a more wild and rustic weekend deep into the wilderness of the Alps? Don't worry. Just ask us and we will tailor made a Weekend from Lake como or from Milan!