Sentiero Attrezzato delle Laste

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato delle Laste is the most direct link between the village of Biacesa, in the Valle di Ledro, and the Bivacco Arcioni, with access to the panoramic little church of San Giovanni on the slopes of Cima Rocca and Cima Capi. This is a versatile route, doable either uphill or downhill, characterized by modest exposure and a straightforward progression, making it suitable for a wide range of hikers.

Approach

The route begins in Biacesa, a village reachable from Riva del Garda by driving about 4 kilometers toward the Val di Ledro through the tunnels. After exiting the second tunnel, you quickly enter the village. Here, take via dei Dazi on the right, then turn right again at the end of the street to reach a equipped area with a playground and parking lot-the actual starting point of the hike. From here, follow the CAI 470 trail marker (Sentiero dei Bech) eastward, toward Cima Capi and the Val de Gac. After about 15 minutes of walking, you come to a junction: leave trail 470 and take the CAI 471 route to the left, which leads in a few minutes to the start of the Sentiero Attrezzato delle Laste (reachable in a total of 15 minutes from the parking lot).

Via Ferrata

The equipped route begins with an easy dihedral about six meters high, featuring good natural holds on the right, while the safety cable runs on the left side. After overcoming this first obstacle, the path develops along a grassy ledge through the woods, quite wide and comfortable, leading to a subsequent diagonal ramp with well-stepped terrain and easy progression. The route continues to a short natural tunnel, where you can sign the summit register. Resuming the walk, you tackle a short equipped rock face with comfortably sized metal steps, followed by a second similar section but set diagonally. The fixed equipment ends along a final ledge. From this point, a well-marked but continuously ascending trail leads in about 45 minutes to the Bivacco Arcioni.

Descent

From the Church of San Giovanni, to complete the loop and return to Biacesa, take the CAI 460 trail westward. This descends until it intersects the CAI 417 route; at the junction, keep left to head directly toward the village. This descent section takes about 45 minutes from the end of the equipped trail, for a total loop time of about one hour and three-quarters.

Useful Notes

The Sentiero Attrezzato delle Laste is an ideal choice for a first approach to via ferratas, thanks to its modest technical difficulty, its generally horizontal progression along ledges, and the absence of exposed or airy sections. It is therefore particularly suitable for hikers with little experience on equipped trails. Its primary function is to quickly reach the Bivacco Arcioni and the San Giovanni area, and it can also serve as an access route for other challenging ferratas in the Alto Garda, such as the Ferrata di Cima Rocca or the Sentiero Attrezzato Foletti toward Cima Capi. For planning, it is advisable to consult a detailed map of the Alto Garda and Valle di Ledro area.