Monte Biaina

Overview

Monte Biaina 1413 m

Monte Biaina 1413 m is an interesting elevation located to the South of Passo di San Giovanni, a pass that allows the connection between the Sarca Valley and the Giudicarie. It is a mountain made up of a long wooded ridge supported by high and steep rocky walls facing East that dominate the road leading from Arco to San Giovanni al Monte. 

This ridge is oriented in a North-South direction and is the continuation towards the South of the Monte Brento summit ridge. Covered by a dense forest, at first of lush beech trees and then of firs, it's crossed by the Normal route of ascent to the summit. On the described rock walls facing East there are some difficult climbing routes.

Getting There

The starting point of the Normal route is the nice village of S. Giovanni al Monte 1058 m

Road to San Giovanni al Monte

From Varignano, a hamlet of Arco, take the road to San Giovanni al Monte and follow it until you reach the small parking lot just before the Refuge San Giovanni and the church. Following the road you arrive in Marcarie.

Route from S. Giovanni al Monte

Monte Biaina from San Giovanni al Monte

Difficulty: E Difference in level: 300 m.

Monte Biaina is a fine destination to be climbed along an easy and pleasant itinerary, developing partly on a forest road surrounded by a beautiful beech forest and partly on a path that continuing in the upper fir forest leads to the summit of M. Biaina. From here you can enjoy a superb view of the Garda Lake and the surrounding mountains Recommended and easy to climb even in half a day.

Route description - The starting point is the Rifugio Malga San Giovanni. Alternatively it's possible to start the climb further on in Marcarie, but here it is difficult to park the car. In Marcarie ignore the road to the right to the Rifugio Calino and, along the dirt road on the left, go on the side of Val Lomasone reaching the fine and broad grassy clearing named Prai da Gom m. 1135.

Leave the road and take a large forest trail to the left (signposts "Monte Biaina", path n. 407), which leads into the lush beech woods. The path climbs with a series of hairpins, passes on the Eastern side (towards Arco), continues roughly on the ridge, alternately on the East and West side, getting a wooded saddle where the trail becomes narrow. Where the forest is clear, the view of the Sarca Valley to the East is dominated by Monte Stivo.

The trail now crosses the steep West side of the mountain, gets to the base of a rocky wall, continues traversing in the woods and, after some rocky outcrops, reachs another broad saddle. A gentle lawn where you notice a wooden observatory descends to the left.

Once you reach the SW part of the saddle, take up the ridge offering several beautiful views of Monte Misone and the deep ravine of Valle del Tovo. You overcome a series of humps and climb with a last effort to the summit of Mount Biaina to enjoy the view.

Descent: reversing the same itinerary

Red Tape

No fees, no permits required

When to Climb

All year round. Winter ascents - in presence of snow - are advisable only with well settled snow.

Where to stay

In the vicinity there is the Rifugio Malga San Giovanni. Otherwise Arco and the close Valle del Sarca offer different kinds of accomodation.

Hiking grades of difficulty

E - Escursionisti (Hikers): Itineraries on marked trails, even narrow and with possible steep and impervious sections. They are never exposed and don't give any orientation problems. They can tread different kinds of ground, such as forests, gravel, meadows, pastures, easy rocks, etc.). They form the majority of the trails that wind up in the mountains and require a certain habit to walk; you need equipment suitable for the altitude and resistant footwear with soles suitable for rough terrain EE - Escursionisti Esperti (Experienced Hikers): Itineraries for hikers with experience and good knowledge of the mountain. Some of these paths may have exposed sections, however brief, which require firm foot and no dizziness. They require the ability to adapt to particular terrain, such as steep grassy slopes or stretches of rocks with difficulties that can reach the 1st degree of the UIAA scale. They can also reach high altitudes (3000 m or more). Sometimes they may include unmarked sections, requiring a good sense of orientation. Snow slopes are possible, however which can be overcome without specific mountaineering gear (rope, harness, crampons, ice-axe)

EEA - - Escursionisti Esperti con Attrezzatura (Experienced Hikers with equipment - The same as EE, in addition these itineraries have short sections equipped with metal cables, stairs or pegs. Short stretches exposed require no dizziness, but not the use of specific technical material

Bibliography

 

Map: Kompass 690

Meteo Forecast

Meteotrentino