4.6
(243)
1,237
hikers
Cainallo to Rifugio Bietti-Buzzi
04:24
11.4km
560m
Hiking
The first good news is that this Tour is the simplest of the entire "Without ever arriving in Grigna" collection. The second is that this Tour is also one of the most interesting low-altitude routes in the Grigna from a historical, naturalistic and geomorphological point of view. Every time I decide to take this route I am struck by the simplicity of this route. A tour of approximately eleven kilometers round trip and 560 meters of altitude difference which tells a different story at every step. It all starts from Esino Lario: follow the signs for Cainallo and then, let yourself be guided by path number 24. If you listen, every tree and every rock has something to tell you.
A quiet path in the middle of the woods takes you to the Bocchetta di Prada. Here, during the War of Liberation, the partisans took refuge and fought. Nature and history intertwine, giving you breathtaking views overlooking Lake Como. But the point that will leave you speechless is the Prada Gate. This natural arch, sculpted by time and atmospheric agents, offers you a breathtaking view of Lake Como. Walking further, you will come across fossils and caves. With another hour of walking you arrive at the Bietti-Buzzi refuge. Here you will find: refreshment, good food, boundless views and a priceless view of the Grignone and its peaks. Bietti-Buzzi is an excellent starting point for other excursions. And if you love climbing, you will find something to test yourself - such as the famous routes of Sasso Cavallo and Sasso dei Carbonari.
This is definitely one of my favorite walking routes. All I can do is advise you on how to get to the starting point of the Tour. If you travel by car when you head towards the Cainallo refuge, stop to get a parking coupon which is also valid for parking higher up, at the end of the road. You will find the column at the entrance to the structure. Or, if you prefer a more eco-friendly trip, the train from Lecco to Varenna and then the bus to Esino Lario are the perfect solution.
Last updated: June 11, 2024
Tips
Your route passes through a protected area
Please check local regulations for:
Waypoints
Start point
Parking
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46 m
Rifugio Cainallo
Highlight • Mountain Hut
Translated by Google •
Tip by
3.69 km
Prada Gate
Highlight • Natural Monument
Translated by Google •
Tip by
5.67 km
Bietti-Buzzi Hut
Highlight • Mountain Hut
Translated by Google •
Tip by
11.4 km
End point
Parking
Way Types & Surfaces
Way Types
7.91 km
2.11 km
1.34 km
< 100 m
Surfaces
8.57 km
1.58 km
638 m
525 m
108 m
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Elevation
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Weather
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Thursday 28 May
28°C
14°C
74 %
Additional weather tips
Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h
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This route was planned by komoot.
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Trail Reviews
Many thanks 🙏 to @Federica for this tour suggestion in your Grigna Collection. We experienced a truly impressive hike here on this magical autumn day. Curious about more, I've already snagged another tour from you for later 🙃🤓🥰. A little tip for those with a sweet tooth...in Esino Lario there's a small supermarket with its own bakery...the pastries are incredibly delicious 😋😋😋😋.
It was not possible to loop with the Bogani refuge due to too much ice.
August 3, 2024 On the Grigne, in the province of Lecco, there is a curious limestone rock formation in the shape of an arch that takes the name of "Porta di Prada", formed through the erosion of karst processes over millions of years. The combined action of water and atmospheric agents has shaped the arch as we see it today, and it is nothing more than a remnant of an ancient cave system. Porta di Prada is located at the top of the valley of the same name, at about 1700 meters above sea level on the Grigna, and for its natural beauty and its panoramic position it is a very popular destination among hikers. We reached it starting from Alpe Cainallo, in the municipality of Esino Lario, and after the numerous ritual photos of the Porta we reached the Rifugio Bietti Buzzi for lunch, at an altitude of 1,719 m.a.s.l.
Today I started from the Cainallo paid car park. The parking meter near the Albergo Cainallo wasn't working and I was left wondering if I would get a fine for the whole walk. The route is very simple and almost always flat, there is a single point equipped with a chain but wide enough not to cause any worries. Leaving early I had the pleasure of meeting several chamois along the route that passes from Porta di Prada to the Bietti Buzzi Refuge. The temperature was decidedly cold +2° with gusts of wind. Super panoramas, recommended as a relaxing walk.
Ring route from Cainallo parking passing through: - Prada nozzle - Bietti Buzzi Refuge - Poletti Brigade votive chapel
End of July 2024. The sun shines on the rocky and unprotected sections of this challenging trail. A continuous up and down. Departure from a car park without a ticket machine (it is only a few kilometers below), the route winds through the woods and without great difficulty arrives at the beautiful Porta di Prada, a rock arch set in the Grigna. After many stretches in the sun and on steeply sloping rocky terrain you reach the Buzzi refuge. The return follows exactly the same route as the outward journey (unless the route is significantly lengthened and the level of difficulty is increased). 6.5
A nice ride but with a lot of frozen snow. Impossible to go without crampons. Especially the stretch that goes up to the Bogani and the stretch that from Bogani leads to the junction with the path that goes to Bietti.