We have now reached the fourth and final stage of the Wayfarer’s Path (Sentiero del Viandante), which runs from Dervio to Colico. It is not a particularly exciting hike; indeed, in some sections it is quite monotonous and boring, but overall it is easy and still offers very beautiful views of the upper lake. Most of the walk is in the woods , and water sources are scarce. The stage, at 13.7 km long, feels quite long but in reality the physical effort is modest.
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Stage 4 of The Wayfarer’s Path (Dervio-Colico)
The fourth stage of the Wayfarer’s Path, in brief:
- Departure: Dervio station (270m asl)
- Arrival: Colico Station (260m asl)
- Length: 13.7 km
- Positive elevation gain: 530m
- Total duration: about 4 hours
- Difficulty: Medium
See the interactive map:
The Wayfarer’s Path from Dervio to Corenno Plinio
We start again from the Dervio station. We cross the village in the direction of the Castle: Via Roma, Via Martiri della Liberazione and then a stretch of SP 67 – Via Valvarrone, slightly uphill. Here, past a large curve, on the right we find the start of a cobblestone staircase that in a short time takes us to the Tower of Orezia, or the Castle of Dervio (10 minutes). The 11th-century tower, owned by the municipality of Dervio, can be visited.
Following the usual orange signs, we descend a few meters until we meet again, but further upstream, Via Valvarrone. We turn left, descend for a little while and arrive at the mouth of the SS 36 junction tunnel. We continue left into Via Monastero. We are still on the road, but not many cars pass by. The houses thin out and the view opens up to the lake. We continue to the end of the paved road (30 minutes from the start) and take a wide flat path.
The path then narrows and the bottom becomes cobblestone. We walk slightly downhill for a few minutes, then in the distance we begin to glimpse the castle of the beautiful village of Corenno Plinio, where we arrive in about ten minutes. We are about level withthe lake like altitude. We pass a group of houses keeping the orange signs as a reference and take a small path that flanks SP 72 upstream. The lake is very close and clearly visible, however the proximity to the provincial road and the presence of power lines spoil the atmosphere a bit.
After passing the small cemetery of Corenno Plinio, we soon come to a fork in the road. Here we have to turn right, face a short climb and then walk down some steps. At the top of the stairs, we turn left and after a few meters of flat walking we arrive near some houses. We have arrived in Dorio.
From Dorio to the Church of San Rocco
We continue on the flat dirt road until we cross the paved road (Via Panico). We keep to the right and climb. After about a hundred meters we come to a clearing (1 hour from the start). A new flat dirt road starts on the left, which we take. We soon begin to enter the woods, slightly downhill. We come to a stone house, cross a small bridge over a stream and begin to climb until we reach the small church of San Giorgio in Mandonico (15th century). We turn right behind the church (on the other side, there is a nice view of the lake) and in a few minutes we reach Mandonico, a quaint little nucleus of stone houses.
We re-enter the forest, with a flat course. We pass a crotto and some other huts, then the slopes begin to steepen slightly on some long cobblestone steps. We are at the beginning of a steep climb that advances through the forest, without stopping, for about half an hour. In this section we begin to gain altitude rapidly and the view opens up more and more to the lake.
It is probably the most scenically beautiful segment of the entire Dervio-Colico leg of the Sentiero del Viandante. We finally arrive at the Church of San Rocco (1 hour 40 minutes from the start), located in a beautiful panoramic position. Here there are also some picnic tables and a water source.
After catching our breath, we continue our walk, re-entering the woods (which we will not leave for quite a while). However, there is still a few more meters of ascent to go, then, near a viewpoint where there is another small picnic area, the ascent ends and we begin a long up-and-down stretch that passes through the woods behind the small lake of Piona, which appears occasionally among the leaves.
From the Church of San Rocco in Villatico
This section is entirely in the woods. After an hour of walking like this (2 hours 30 minutes from the start) we finally arrive near a group of houses: this is the hamlet of Perdonasco.
We continue further, still remaining level, and after about ten minutes we arrive in the larger hamlet Sparesee (we are still in the municipal territory of Dorio).
After passing through the group of houses, we come to a parking lot, where a dirt road comes in. A little further on, near a junction, we find theasphalt road again. Now begins a long, very long and decidedly boring descent that, still remaining in the woods but on asphalt road, takes us in the direction of Colico.
In some places it is possible to take side trails that cut some curves in the road. After three quarters of an hour (3 hours and 20 minutes from the start) we finally arrive at the hamlet of Posallo, in Colico, where we come out of the woods and the Sentiero del Viandante, here, overlaps for the last stretch with the Dorsale Orobica Lecchese.
Just below a trattoria, we turn right and cross the Perlino stream, then take a wide dirt road downhill (Via Legnoncino). After about 20 minutes of descent through meadows, we arrive at the hamlet of Villatico.
The arrival in Colico
Here, using the usual orange signs, together with the blue stickers of Le vie del Viandante, to orient ourselves, we cross the nucleus of houses (Via San Rocco – Via Asilo – Via Fontanedo – Via Villatico – Vicolo Madonnina) towards the center of Colico. Leaving Vicolo Madonnina, we return to the main paved road, but a few meters below we turn right into Via Sacro Cuore. We walk along it all, on the level, flanking theIstituto Comprensivo Galileo Galilei. At the end of the street, we turn left (Via al Bacco) and then left again (Via Sigismondo Vitali). We continue on this road for a while, downhill, until we join Via Legnone, at the end of which we intersect the provincial road, Via Nazionale.
We cross, then take Via Luigi Sacco, which descends to Colico’s beautiful lakefront. We do not get there, however: just before, in fact, we turn right onto Viale Padania. Continuing on the flat for a few hundred meters, we finally arrive at Colico Station, where our walk ends and where we can take the train back to Dervio (4 hours from the start).
About the Wayfarer’s Path
To learn more, read the general information about the Wayfarer’s Trail.
Description of stages:
- First leg: Lecco – Lierna
- Second leg: Lierna – Varenna
- Stage 3: Varenna – Dervio
- Stage 4: Dervio – Colico
Your Guide for the Wayfarer’s Trail
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Contact us now at info@trekkinglecco.com to arrange in detail an experience tailored to you.
Photos and text by Michele Castelnovo
Restricted Reproduction – Trekking Lecco
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