Mottarone from Stresa on foot: 1,300 m of climbing to the seven-lake balcony

Everyone knows Mottarone from the summit, by car. Climbing it on foot from Stresa is another thing: 1,300 m of ascent from lake to summit, through hamlets, chestnut woods, beech woods and pastures, Lake Maggiore widening at every bend. On top, the seven-lake panorama and Monte Rosa.

The route

We start from the Stresa lakefront and climb to the hamlets of Levo and then Alpino, with the Alpinia botanical garden. From there the trail enters the woods and high pastures and reaches the Mottarone summit, 1,491 m.

Summit lunch with views over the lakes and the Alps. The descent is down the same side, legs having done a serious day's work.

Who it's for

• anyone who wants a real workout an hour from Milan
• anyone tired of driving up Mottarone
• anyone after 1,300 m of ascent without technical ground

Good to know

The Stresa–Mottarone cable car has been out of service since 2021: we walk down. Bars and restaurants on the summit open at weekends even in late November. Short days: early start.

Getting there

Stresa is an hour and five from Milan on the A26, Carpugnino exit, and an hour by train from Milano Centrale. Paid parking on the lakefront. Car pooling in the outing's Telegram group.