• Active & Green

Woods ablaze with autumn colours

Five walks between Lecco and Como to soak up the autumn colours, taking in footpaths, mountain pastures and views of the lake.

from IN-LOMBARDIA.IT

In the Pre-Alps, autumn reveals its most spectacular side in the woods, where beech, larch, birch and ash trees line the paths as they wind through grassy hollows, mountain pastures and slopes overlooking Lake Como. 

 

Five walking routes across the provinces of Lecco and Como, offering varying levels of difficulty, allow you to observe the seasonal changes in the woodland at close quarters, taking you from more secluded stretches to wide, panoramic clearings. For those looking to immerse themselves among the tall trees, these trails combine seasonal colour with the unique features of the local area. 

 

 

 

The Artesso Woods
From Laghetto di Artesso, a small lake in Valvarrone, a path winds its way up through the larch trees to a summit overlooking Lake Como. In autumn, the trees change colour, and the path alternates between secluded stretches in the woods and spots where views open up over the Valtellina and the Alps. Laghetto di Artesso is a small lake set in a green basin among the woods above Sueglio. On the banks there is a fountain, as well as tables and benches where you can take a break. This pleasant, peaceful spot is where the footpath begins.


Read more
The great beech trees of Morterone
Near Lecco (only on the map, not in terms of travel time), hidden behind the famous Mount Resegone, lies an unexpected and unique place: the lush green valley of Morterone. This municipality has been among the least populous in Italy for years, with fewer than 40 inhabitants. From Ballabio, in Valsassina, a winding road stretches for about fifteen kilometres, intrepidly clinging to the rugged, rocky slopes. Once you reach the top of the pass (Forcella di Olino, altitude: 1,183 metres), you will be greeted by an enchanting place that truly seems to exist outside of time, where historic clusters of houses are dotted over a wide valley surrounded by tall, wooded mountains.


Read more
Parco Valentino
On the Piani Resinelli plateau, at the foot of Mount Grignetta, Parco Valentino combines the tranquillity of the woods with sweeping views of one of the most photographed landscapes in the Lecco area. Established in 1961, following a donation to the Touring Club Italiano, the park is home to the Villa Gerosa House Museum and extends as far as the Belvedere, where a suspended walkway overlooks Lecco and Lake Como. In autumn Valentino Park is even more picturesque, thanks to the warm hues of its trees. By following a circular route, which starts from Via degli Escursionisti in Abbadia Lariana and takes about an hour, with a modest elevation gain of 171 metres, you can uncover the full beauty of this landscape.


Read more
Monte Generoso
On the Italian side of Mount Generoso, the mountain on the border between Lombardy and the Canton of Ticino, Alpe d’Orimento is one of the starting points for the ascent to the summit. At an altitude of 1,275 metres, among scattered houses and pastures, the waters of the Breggia stream have their source. This is the gateway to a landscape of woods and ancient mountain pastures. From here, two paths branch off: one high and one low. The lower path is the quietest: it starts from the car park at the Baita di Orimento, is suitable for everyone, and takes about an hour and a half to walk.


Read more
Colma di Sormano
Situated at the heart of the Triangolo Lariano, Colma di Sormano is a pre-Alpine pass at an altitude of 1,122 metres. This marks the end of the famous Muro di Sormano – the cycling climb renowned for its extreme gradients. Next to the road there is a bar-restaurant, the domes of the Astronomical Observatory and open meadows looking out over the surrounding mountains. From here, a scenic route leads towards Mount San Primo, winding through woods, mountain pastures and views that gradually open out over Lake Como.


Read more

On the same topic

Show all

A green week in Valtellina

Escape to the mountains just a two-hour drive from Milan for a rural retreat with trekking, typical pizzoccheri pasta and towns that are absolute hidden gems
A green week in Valtellina
  • Active & Green

Bergamo Valle di Scalve, nature, peace and quiet

Bergamo Valle di Scalve, tra natura e tranquillità
  • Active & Green

Fontanili park

Parco dei Fontanili: the ideal place to live in the green and spend your free time.
Fontanili Park
  • Active & Green

Gardens in Lombardy

The botanical gardens of Lombardy are real jewels to visit, so come on, what are you waiting for?
Gardens in Lombardy, discover what to see
  • Active & Green

Valtellina Nascosta: third installment

Continuing our journey to discover the Hidden Valtellina, we present five more must-see destinations.
  • Active & Green

Four Panoramic Walks by Lake Como

Triangolo lariano
  • Active & Green

Fly Fishing in Lombardy

Fly Fishing in Lombardy
  • Active & Green

The 10 Most Beautiful Trees in Varese, The Garden Province

Between scenic historic gardens, large forests and lakeside villages, the province of Varese is a treasure trove of arboreal jewels.
  • Active & Green

Concarena, Gavia and Mortirolo: adventures on foot and by bike

The wildest side of Valle Camonica: from gorges for experts to the uphill hairpin bends that have written the history of the Giro d’Italia
Concarena, Gavia e Mortirolo: avventure a piedi e in bici
  • Active & Green

Iron bridges, man-made constructions

Iron bridges, bold testimonies to the early 20th century
Ponti di ferro, opere dell’uomo - in Lombardia
  • Active & Green

Le bine

You want to see the Lataste frog, one of the rarest amphibians in Europe, then come to the Le Bine nature reserve.
Le Bine
  • Active & Green

Valsassina and the Grigne

From one-day trips that anyone can enjoy, to climbing on the vertical walls of the Grigne, through to splendid hikes leading up to the mountain refuges
Valsassina and the Grigne
  • Active & Green

Nature in Lombardy: five landscapes to die for

Bellagio (CO) - Villa Melzi d’Eril
  • Active & Green

The ReGiS: Network of Historic Gardens.

A Network for the enhancement and proper management of historic gardens and parks open to the public in Lombardy
  • Active & Green

The joy of running

Enjoy your training in Cremona
  • Active & Green

Shades of fall - excursions to discover the foliage

  • Active & Green

Sustainable tourism in lombardy

There is a way of sustainable travel capable of establishing a deep connection with the places that are visited.
Sustainable tourism in Lombardy
  • Active & Green

Brescia Nature, taste and traditions: Val Sabbia

From multiple-day treks with night-breaks at mountain huts, to shorter walks open to all: a charming valley for all tastes set against the background of the little lake Idro
  • Active & Green

The Rusca trail

Sondrio, Ponchiera, Arquino, Valdone, Il Prato, Tornadù, Torre Santa Maria, S.Anna, Basci, Vassalini a Chiesa Valmalenco - ritorno a Sondrio
  • Active & Green

Where to do Horseback Riding in Lombardy

Where to do horseback riding in Lombardy, route suggestions
  • Active & Green