Sasso di Musso

Dongo to Sasso di Musso Loop Hike

The Sasso di Musso Loop: Trailhead at Dongo Harbor

This panoramic excursion starts from the historic harbor of Dongo and reaches the dramatic summit of Sasso di Musso, winding through characteristic mountain hamlets, ancient churches, and breathtaking overlooks. While the route presents no major technical difficulties, it does require a good level of physical fitness and an excellent sense of navigation to correctly follow the trail tracks. In addition to the standard red and white markers, the orange arrows of the Bregagno Skyrace are very useful and will accompany you for nearly the entire journey. We highly recommend maximum caution along the challenging stretch leading from Monte Corna (760 m / 2,493 ft) to the top of Sasso di Musso at 1,140 m (3,740 ft); here, the mule track climbs steeply between rugged crags, requiring you to use your hands for balance in a few places, so pay close attention to the exposed sections. Dongo is easily accessible via public boat and hydrofoil services or by taking the convenient ASF Line C110 bus to the stop located right next to the town hall at Palazzo Manzi.

Climbing past Mountain Hamlets to the Corna Clearing

From the harbor, we follow the lakeside road to the town hall and head up toward the historical church of Santa Maria Martinico, which offers a beautiful, must-see view if you are lucky enough to find it open. We proceed to the church of San Gottardo at 390 m (1,280 ft) by ascending through the woods along a brief forest path. After taking in the panoramic vista, we head down the steps and veer left to continue our steady ascent along a dirt road with wide, comfortable switchbacks. Upon reaching the rustic stone barns of Vigero (520 m / 1,706 ft), we turn right, taking care to stay on track as the trail emerges from the woods onto the open clearing of Monte Corna. From here, we continue climbing toward Monte Crocetta (950 m / 3,117 ft) along a beautiful rocky ridge accompanied by spectacular views of the lake.

The San Bernardo Overlook and the Giardino del Merlo Descent

Once you conquer the top of Sasso di Musso (1,140 m / 3,740 ft), the beautiful church of San Bernardo comes into view directly below at 1,095 m (3,593 ft). We head down a steep mule track to reach the chapel's rest area, where a fresh water fountain provides the perfect spot to refresh. From the small church, we begin our main descent toward Musso, initially following a dirt path and then a gravel track. Red and white trail markers indicate convenient shortcuts that cut through the woods to bypass the road's switchbacks. Be careful not to miss the left turn that descends through open meadows, passing through the quiet hamlet of Genico to reach the historical church of Sant'Eufemia. This hilltop also hosts the entrance gate to the famous Giardino del Merlo botanical gardens; after a brief stop at the church fountain, we follow the signs for Martinico to return directly to the Dongo harbor.