Lakeside Promenade of Porlezza – Lago di Piano Nature Reserve loop from Porlezza

Mountain biking trails

Lakeside Promenade of Porlezza – Lago di Piano Nature Reserve loop from Porlezza

Hard

4.4

(75)

391

riders

Lakeside Promenade of Porlezza – Lago di Piano Nature Reserve loop from Porlezza

01:56

27.6km

380m

Mountain biking

Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: October 1, 2026

Tips

Includes a segment in which cycling is not permitted

After 13.8 km for 261 m

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

201 m

Lakeside Promenade of Porlezza

Highlight • Lake

At the upper end of Lake Lugano there is a small town with a lake promenade and nice cafés as well as places to sit, linger, watch people or meditate.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

4.72 km

Lago di Piano Nature Reserve

Highlight • Lake

Beautifull sight over the lake Lago di Piano

Tip by

5.77 km

Lake Piano

Highlight • Lake

The small lake “Lago di Piano” is located in Val Menaggio in a nature reserve and offers an interesting opportunity to observe various water birds. The path begins in the picturesque village of Bene Lario and leads along the foot of Monte Galbiga through meadows and forests and past the lake. The “Castel San Pietro”, a medieval group of fortified houses, is very interesting.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

11.0 km

Menaggio–Porlezza Cycle Path Tunnel

Highlight • Cycleway

This itinerary follows the route of the old railway which from 1884 to 1939 connected Menaggio with Porlezza on Lake Lugano. The route develops in Val Menaggio, mostly on asphalted surfaces and touches the Lago di Piano nature reserve. Please note that some short sections take place along roads open to car traffic.

The railway line between Menaggio and Porlezza, inaugurated in 1884, was created with the aim of increasing northern European tourism towards the lake region. Arriving by train in Lugano, the passengers continued by steamer to Porlezza and from there by train to Menaggio. Between the two world wars, until 1939, the railway line was used as a local transport system, for the transport of wood from the forests of Monte Galbiga and the ice of Lake Piano, and then fell into abandonment at the end of the Second World War .

Translated by Google •

Tip by

11.4 km

Old Menaggio-Porlezza Railway Tunnel

Highlight • Structure

Illuminated and well-paved tunnel, along the old Menaggio-Porlezza railway, now a cycle/pedestrian path

Translated by Google •

Tip by

13.8 km

View of Menaggio and Lake Como

Highlight • Viewpoint

Menaggio on the Lago di Como
Very nice town on the lake

Translated by Google •

Tip by

16.8 km

Cycle path on former railway

Highlight (Segment) • Cycleway

Tip by

22.9 km

Lakeside Path Along Lago di Piano

Highlight (Segment) • Trail

Most of the hike goes through the forest. Good for warmer days.

Translated by Google •

Tip by

27.6 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

10.3 km

5.76 km

5.41 km

4.88 km

1.15 km

115 m

Surfaces

17.8 km

4.23 km

2.35 km

1.88 km

1.05 km

332 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (390 m)

Lowest point (200 m)

Weather

Wednesday 7 October

15°C

11°C

98 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 3.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

April 29, 2025,Vom Luganer See zum Comer See und zurück zum Campingplatz

Today we went from Lake Lugano to Lake Como.
That sounds worse than it is, because most of the route was along an old railway line. 🚂. The atmosphere at Lake Como was completely different from what we were used to. Very relaxed and wonderful.

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April 21, 2025,Von Porlezza nach Croce

Very nice tour.
Highlights include:
- Piano Porlezza
- Cycle path along the old railway line
- View of Lake Como

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July 26, 2023,MTB tra i 3 Laghi: Como, Lugano e del Piano - Giro ad anello

The way to the quercia rogolone was almost impassable. Barbed wire, blackberries and lots of loose debris on the route. But the view was almost priceless and the two lakes were just great. Overall a great experience!

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