On Foot From Montino
1. Montino to Alpe Casola
This quick and easy 1 hr forest walk, ends in a tiny village with a few houses and a marvelous panoramic view of the lake.
How to get there?
Walk 50m up the road behind Montino, then cross Manegra town square (a fountain and a small chapel) to go up the stairs to the trailhead. Walk straight on the dirt road for about 20 minutes.
2. Montino Forest Walk + Down to the lake
Just below Montino, within 2 minute's walk there is a spot to get a nice view of the lake. You can also take a walk in the forest nearby that's no more than 10 minutes long
How to get there?
Walk 50m down the road turning left coming out of Montino. Take a left turn and walk to the big rock ahead. The lake view is there, and the forest is to the right.
Bonus
There is a trail starting from there and will take you all the way down to Oggebbio where you can dip in the lake.
3. Forest walks and Nordic Trails
Around Montino there are plenty of short and long forest trails, simply by walking down the road out of the house, you will find marked and unmarked trails. You can even take a hike to Pian di Sole, where you can find an excellent restaurant with great pizza
Hiking
1. Piancavallo - Monte Morissolo
Ridge walk with lake views, and a nice peak that's not difficult to hike up. You can continue to Il Colle, or backtrack to Piancavallo
How to get there?
Just a 10-minute drive from Montino, there is a big parking lot opposite the Piancavallo clinic. There are clearly marked paths on the road behind it.
2. Monte Spalavera
A medium level hike of around 3-4 hours, and easily navigable. You can extend it by going deeper into the Val Grande National Park trails.
How to get there?
Park at Il Colle and follow the signs to Monte Spalavera
Bonus
At Il Colle there's a nice library that serves drinks and some snacks
3. Val Grande National Park
Montino borders with Val-Grande National Park, that has many trails - starting from mountain peaks (Baro, Zeda, Pian Cavallone to name a few), valleys and ridge walks. We will happily provide more information about hiking in the area when you arrive.
Lake Activities
1. Visit a Beach on the Lake (Spiaggia)
There are plenty of beautiful beaches on the lakes of Lago Maggiore. Some of them have grass, some stones and even some sandy beaches. All of them within a quick drive from Montino.
In Verbania you can find the lovely Suna Beach, that's very accessible and has some sand and some grass. Cannero Riviera has a more relaxed atmosphere and is a nice town to take a stroll in. If you want a sandy beach you will have to drive a bit further to Feriolo
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2. Rent a boat on the lake
One of the more relaxed activities is hiring a boat on the lake. Some boats are for up to 7 people and cost around 150EUR for 4 hours + fuel.
The Borromeen Islands are a great way to spend a day at the lake. A quick ferry from Verbania Pallanza (the end of the bus coming from Montino), will get you to Isola Madre with it's beautiful Botanical Gardens. From there you can explore the museum and more gardens at Isola Bella. Finish the day at the Angera fortress, and head back to the mainland for some ice cream and a good meal.