Hiking to Rifugio Menaggio & Monte Grona
Directly above the town, the rocky pyramid of Monte Grona (1,736 m) offers one of the most dramatic bird's-eye perspectives on Lake Como's Y-shaped basin — and the trail starts practically from Menaggio's back streets. This is proper Alpine hiking, not a gentle stroll, but the payoff is extraordinary.
The Trail Up
The classic route departs from the hamlet of Breglia, a 10-minute drive or a steep 90-minute walk above Menaggio. From Breglia, a well-marked CAI trail (No. 91) winds through chestnut and beech forest before emerging onto open limestone ridges scattered with wild orchids in May and June.
After roughly two hours of steady climbing you reach Rifugio Menaggio (1,383 m), a staffed mountain hut run by the local CAI section. The terrace here already delivers jaw-dropping views over both arms of the lake, with Switzerland's Lugano basin visible on clear days.
Summit & Descent
A further 45-minute scramble on marked trail reaches the Monte Grona summit cross, where the panorama expands to include the Grigna massif, Lake Lugano and, on exceptional days, a sliver of Monte Rosa. The exposure is real — stick to the path and wear proper footwear.
Descend via the same route or loop through the alp of Croce di Nava for variety. The full circuit from Breglia takes five to six hours; factor in a long lunch at the rifugio on the way down.
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