Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride — MTB Tour around Lake Garda

Lake Ledro, Bocca dei Fortini and Punta Larici in one day — Tremalzo-class views for noticeably less effort

Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride at a glance

• Difficulty: Advanced
• Duration: 6 hours
• Total distance: 35 km
• Elevation gain: 1530 m
• Price: €150 per tour — one flat price for 1 to 6 riders sharing the same guide.
• E-bike rental: €45 hardtail / around €65 full-suspension per person. Helmet €4.
• Start in Riva del Garda, Torbole or Arco — at a partner bike shop near you

Hardtail or Full-Suspension E-Bike on Lake Garda: How to Choose · What to Check on a Rental Bike Before You Ride into the Mountains

The feeling of Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride

Empty forest roads, old military roads and wide views over Lake Garda — a real Alpine day

About the Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride tour

Tremalzo is the famous big ride from Riva. This tour is its real rival: views in the same league, for noticeably less effort. That makes a real Alpine day possible for many more riders.

It is also three tours in one day. Lake Ledro and Punta Larici each have their own tour with us; on this ride you see both, plus the old military roads of Bocca dei Fortini.

We start in Riva and ride up the Ponale road to Lake Ledro. On hot summer days we can jump into the lake for a swim before the climb. Then the long climb begins, on quiet forest roads: empty, with no traffic, and very beautiful. Mostly up, sometimes a little down.

By Bocca dei Fortini most of the climbing is done. Here we join an old military road from the First World War: a real Alpine setting, with wide views over Lake Garda and lots of places to stop for photos. In places the road has been reinforced with concrete where there used to be loose gravel.

If batteries allow, we make a short detour to Rifugio Passo Nota — the natural place for a break: water, cola or coffee, tasty food and a moment to catch your breath. There's a cabinet of First World War artifacts, old cannons, a mortar and shells, and in spring and autumn they light a beautiful fireplace. If you bring your charger, you can top up your battery there. Then we ride back the same way to Bocca dei Fortini.

The military road takes us on to Passo Rocchetta. From there a narrow path leads down towards Bocca Larici. It is the most demanding part of the day and still S1: predictable and extremely scenic.

At Bocca Larici we stop at Punta Larici to take in the view and take photos. Then we ride down to Pregasina and along the old Ponale road back to Riva.

Already done this loop? From Passo Nota there is also an option to ride on along another stretch of military road, descend to Limone and take the ferry back to Riva. The ferry runs only in Navigarda's navigation season, and the ticket is not included in the tour price.

The standard loop is 35 km with 1,530 m of climbing and takes about 6 hours. It is rated Advanced for the distance and the climbing, not for difficult riding: basic MTB experience is enough. We recommend an e-bike with a large battery — fit riders can do it with 625 Wh, but it will be very demanding.

Why this ride is special — Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride

It's a real rival to the famous Tremalzo. Tremalzo from Riva is 67 km with 2,200 m of climbing — even with a big battery, that means a lot of pedaling in Eco mode to keep enough charge.

Passo Nota gives you views in the same league with 35 km and 1,530 m. That puts a real Alpine day within reach of many more riders.

Three tours in one day: Lake Ledro and Punta Larici, which each have their own tour with us, plus the military roads of Bocca dei Fortini.

And it's quiet up there: empty forest roads, old military roads from the First World War and wide views over Lake Garda.

Who this ride is for

For riders with basic MTB experience and the stamina for a long day in the mountains

Route highlights on Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride

• Three tours in one day: Lake Ledro, Bocca dei Fortini and Punta Larici
• Tremalzo-class views for noticeably less effort
• On hot days, a swim in Lake Ledro before the climb
• Riding the old WWI military road
• Quiet forest roads and wide views over Lake Garda

What's included

• A private certified guide — only your group, 1 to 6 riders
• A route planned for your level and adapted on the day
• Photos during the ride — I send them to you after the tour
• Repair kit and first-aid kit, carried by the guide
• The guide's professional liability insurance (RC Professionale)

Not included

• Bike rental: e-bike hardtail €45, full-suspension about €65, helmet €4 — paid at the partner shop
• Food and drinks — we plan the stops; outside summer some mountain huts are closed
• Ferry or cable-car tickets on the routes that use them
• Personal accident or travel insurance — recommended, daily policies from €3.50

Good to know before you ride Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride

• A long, demanding climb — stamina matters more than skill here; the riding itself stays at S0–S1
• E-bike strongly recommended for a more enjoyable ride

What to bring

• Helmet (mandatory)
• Sturdy shoes — rocky terrain ahead
• Water bottle (2L minimum — full day ride)
• Light windbreaker — ridge is exposed
• Small backpack for essentials
• Sunscreen & sunglasses
• Energy bars or snacks
• Gloves — basic protection for your hands
• Swimwear — for a swim in Lake Ledro on hot days
• Small towel
• Fully charged phone — you'll want photos!
• Good mood 😊

Tour reel — Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride

Watch on Instagram →

Frequently asked about Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride

Do I need strong riding skills for the Passo Nota tour?

No. The riding stays at S0–S1, the two easiest levels. The most demanding part is the narrow path down from Passo Rocchetta, and it is S1 too: beautiful and predictable. Basic MTB experience is enough. The tour is rated Advanced because of the distance and the climbing, not the riding.

How does Passo Nota compare with Tremalzo?

Tremalzo from Riva is 67 km with 2,200 m of climbing. Even with a big battery, that means a lot of pedaling in Eco mode to keep enough charge. Passo Nota is 35 km with 1,530 m: views in the same league, for noticeably less effort.

Does the tour include Lake Ledro and Punta Larici?

Yes. Both have their own tours with us, and this route takes in both in one day, plus the old military roads of Bocca dei Fortini. On hot summer days we can stop for a swim in Lake Ledro before the climb.

What e-bike do I need?

We recommend an e-bike with a large battery. Fit riders can do the loop with 625 Wh, but it will be very demanding. A hardtail works too: there are no real jumps. A full-suspension is simply more fun on the narrow path down to Bocca Larici, and full-suspension e-bikes usually come with a bigger battery. You can rent either from our partner shops and pay the rental directly at the shop.

Is there a food stop?

If batteries allow, we make a short detour to Rifugio Passo Nota: water, cola or coffee, tasty food and a cabinet of First World War artifacts. If you bring your charger, you can top up your battery there. If batteries are low, we skip it and ride straight on to Passo Rocchetta.

Can we finish in Limone instead?

Yes, as an option for riders who have already done this loop. From Passo Nota we follow another stretch of old military road towards Vesio, descend to Limone and take the ferry back to Riva. The ferry runs only in Navigarda's navigation season, and you buy the ticket yourself: it is not included in the tour price.

What riders say about Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride

Verified on Google Business Profile.

Translated from Dutch

A fantastic tour with Lex. An enthusiastic guide with a wealth of knowledge and experience of the area. He speaks good English and takes you past the hidden gems of the north side of Lake Garda. In my case he saw I had a bit more experience and suggested making the route a little more challenging. That was exactly what I was after: a guide who pays attention to who he's riding with and doesn't just ride the standard loop. Highly recommended — I'll be heading out with him again next year!

Translated from Russian

My friends and I decided to go mountain biking. We wanted to find a beautiful route, so we turned to MTB Tour Garda. We rode to Lake Ledro and up to the old military road above Lake Garda. It turned out to be a great long day in the mountains, with beautiful views and loads of positive emotions. Special thanks to Lex, who helped us choose and rent the bikes and picked a route that was simply wonderful.

Translated from Russian

It's not my first time at Lake Garda, but only this time did I discover mountain biking. I decided not to experiment on my own and to take a guide. That's how I met Alex, and together we rode up to Passo Nota. It turned out to be an excellent day: sunshine, beautiful views and a few hours on the bike. It was great!

Book Passo Nota — Bocca dei Fortini Panoramic Ride: WhatsApp +39 388 571 8535 · info@mtb-tour.it · Tour page: https://mtb-tour.it/tours/passo-nota.html

Your guide: Aleksei (Lex) Shatilov — meet the guide and see credentials →

Also bookable on GetYourGuide — or book directly here for the best rate.