Onno to Mount Megna Loop

Onno to Mount Megna and Lake Crezzo

The Valbrona Slopes: Trailhead at Onno Harbor

This wonderful loop hike stretches from the shores of Onno to the panoramic summit of Mount Megna, passing through the historic pastures of Alpe di Prezza Pino at 647 m (2,123 ft), Alpe di Monte at 700 m (2,297 ft), and Alpe di Piano at 940 m (3,084 ft). The route then descends to the scenic Crezzo Lake before returning to the starting point along the historic ‘Via Darniga’ trail (Path 1). Except for the final technical descent from Crezzo back down to Onno, the trail presents no major difficulties. Signs can be few and far between during the initial leg, but after reaching the Alpe di Monte, the paths become excellently marked. We highly recommend wearing sturdy mountain shoes, carrying an ample supply of water, and postponing the trip in the event of bad weather. The excursion officially departs from the Onno harbor, which is accessible by boat via Navigazione Laghi from April to October, or by the regional LineeLecco bus service all year round.

Climbing the Chestnut Forests to the Alpe di Monte Crossroads

We begin our journey by climbing upward and meandering between the traditional houses of Onno village. After navigating the initial maze of narrow stone alleyways, a helpful trail map is located directly under the road overpass. From here, we turn left onto the scenic road of ‘San Giorgio’ which ascends gently halfway up the hillside. After crossing a couple of small mountain streams, the path enters a dense forest, skirting an open alpine pasture and following wide, comfortable switchbacks accompanied by magnificent views of the lake. The trail soon emerges onto a beautiful high plateau nestled within a forest of chestnut and birch trees. After a short, mostly flat stretch, follow the trail sign on your left pointing toward Valbrona; upon arriving at the Alpe di Prezza Pino pasture, clear indicators will direct you toward the beautiful clearing of Alpe di Monte. This enchanting location serves as a major alpine crossroads connecting paths to Maisano, Valbrona, and the rocky peaks of the Corni di Canzo; however, we continue our journey straight ahead in the direction of Mount Megna.

Conquering Mount Megna and Descending past Lake Crezzo

Upon reaching the rustic stone huts of Alpe di Piano, we turn left to follow the steep ‘DIRETTISSIMA’ summit route. The trail climbs sharply through a wooded larch forest; after topping out on the ridge, we turn left and navigate a couple of rolling bumps as the large summit cross of Mount Megna slowly comes into view, offering a magnificent 360-degree panorama of the surrounding valleys. After a well-deserved break at the top, we retrace our steps to the fork and turn left to descend along a historical Via Crucis path toward the beautiful Crezzo basin. Emerging from the woods, we walk through the peaceful meadows of Crezzo to reach its small, historic lake. From the shoreline, we follow the paved lane toward Barni (Via della Madonnina) to reach the moving Mausoleum, built in memory of the victims of the tragic 1987 plane crash. Finally, we follow the signs for Onno along the historic Via Darniga (Path 1) to begin our final descent. We advise maximum caution throughout this last leg of the journey, as the trail is always clearly visible but features steep slopes and a few narrow, exposed sections that should not be underestimated.