Veleso to Mount San Primo

Veleso to Mount San Primo Scenic Loop Hike

The ridges of the Lariano Triangle: Trailhead at Veleso

This panoramic hike starts from the mountain village of Veleso at 825 m (2,707 ft) and reaches the summit of Monte San Primo at 1,682 m (5,518 ft), the highest peak in the entire Triangolo Lariano. The excursion requires a good level of physical fitness and solid navigation skills to accurately follow the trail tracks along the rugged mountain ridges. Veleso is a characteristic mountain town easily reachable via the SP44 scenic road from Nesso or from the high plateau of Piano del Tivano. Because there are no fountains or natural water sources along this specific route, we highly recommend carrying a generous supply of food and water. Standard red and white trail arrows indicate directions and estimated travel times at the main intersections, with the most crucial waypoints being Monti di Erno at 1,060 m (3,478 ft), Forcoletta at 1,236 m (4,055 ft), the main summit, and Monti di Là at 1,047 m (3,435 ft). Keep in mind that the most difficult section to identify is the South Ridge (Cresta Sud) path leading from the summit down toward Monti di Là, as directional signs are completely lacking at the top.

Climbing past Monti di Erno to the Forcoletta Pass

After passing the Veleso municipal building, we turn right toward Monti di Erno, climbing for a long stretch along a paved mountain road to reach a scenic overlook near the Miralario cabin in Laorno di Sotto. The drivable lane officially ends at Monti di Erno, where we find a lovely traditional pond (La Bolla) and a major trail intersection. We follow the path to the right, entering the forest to climb toward the Forcoletta pass. Once you emerge onto this mountain clearing, a brief ten-minute detour to the left leads to the top of Monte Colmenacco at 1,265 m (4,150 ft); otherwise, follow the main ridge trail to the right heading toward Piz del Luser at 1,405 m (4,610 ft) along the spectacular northwestern ridge of Monte San Primo.

Conquering Mount San Primo and the Wild South Ridge Descent

The trail climbs very steeply, but past Piz del Luser, amazing 360-degree views open up in every direction: to the north, the central and upper lake areas dominate the horizon; to the west, the western branch of Lake Como glistens below; and to the south, the peaks of the Dorsale Lariana stretch into the distance. We continue marching east, taking care not to lose sight of the ridge track. After navigating across a couple of rolling hills, we catch our final glimpse of the mountain summit. With one last physical effort, we arrive at the top of Monte San Primo; we pass the trail arrows pointing toward the Martina Refuge, and near the security fence surrounding the summit antennas, we locate the unmarked track for the south ridge. We head down the steep descent, using the center of the ridge and a small group of isolated trees as natural landmarks before entering a shaded beech forest. A sharp right turn leads us directly onto the dirt road of Monti di Là, where we travel on a gentle decline to return comfortably to our starting point in Veleso.