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However, when I tried to find exact directions I drew a blank. Even in Italian I just couldn't find definitive directions on the Internet. A search on Google Earth showed the approximate location, and that it's near a village called Esino Lario, but in reality we had to do quite a bit of scouting when we went there on a glorious sunny day at the beginning of August 2008. This prompted me to write this short report and hopefully spare other hikers the uncertainty we encountered.
From Lecco you need to take the road along the eastern shore of Lake Como to the beautiful village of Varenna. Driving through Varenna you'll find the turn off to Esino Lario on the other side of Varenna. The road is narrow, steep, and busy with numerous hairpin turns where you better sound your horn to warn oncoming traffic that you are there too! You drive through Esino Lario and watch for the signs to Cainallo. Rather confusing because not even the excellent ViaMichelin website knows about Cainallo and the signs change from the standard blue background signs to yellow background signs! I did not measure the distance, but it must be several kilometers before you get to Cainallo.
At Alpe Cainallo there is a ski lift, but that's not where you want to be! Fifty meters after you passed the Rifugio Cainallo on your left you'll see a narrow road climbing further. The trail signpost number 21 points towards the direction of the ski-lift and another sign points up towards Vo' di Moncodeno. That's the one to follow. When the tar road turns into a dirt road it's another 100 meters before you get to a large parking area.
The hike goes up the clearing due East where you'll find several trail signposts, but never ever a mention of La Porta di Prada! The route to take is number 24 or to Rifugio Bietti. The sentiero is rough, rocky and steep. Halfway up the first long climb, route number 23 turns off to the right but you carry straight on. The route goes through classic pre-alpine vegetation with stunning views of the amphitheater formed by peaks known as Le Grigne (Settentrionale and Merindionale). After about forty minutes walk, route 24 turns off to the right and a very steep climb follows to take you over the ridge to the other side. Here the route turns off to the left and after a total of sixty or seventy minutes walking you should see the arch of La Porta di Prada on your right. At the fork near a little chapel you take the right hand route and ten minutes later you will be at La Porta di Prada. Tremendous views. On a clear day you should be able to see Milan.
From here the route carries on to Rifugio Bietti where, it is reported, you could have lunch. When we did the walk notices were posted at every signpost to warn that Rifugio Bietti was closed. We should have packed a picnic.
The walk is classified as 'easy'! For us it was quite challenging. Maybe because of the uncertainty, or maybe because our legs don't handle long steep climbs so well anymore. The return walk was also challenging because of the loose gravel and slippery limestone on the route down. The round trip took about two and a half hours of walking.
To the top of La Porta di Prada
Return to Travel Experiences from La Porta di Prada
