Excursion to Mount Berlinghera

How to get there
To reach San Bartolomeo by car drive along the SS 340 Regina until you reach Gera Lario; then turn right (for those coming from Domaso turn left) following the indications for Bugiallo. After about 3 km of ascent, at a fork turn right and continue on the narrow but asphalted road until San Bartolomeo (12 km from Gera Lario), where there is the homonymous church with a panoramic view and where it is possible to park.

Route
Take the path behind the Church of San Bartolomeo, following the sign indicating Sasso Canale and the route of the Alta Via dei Monti Lariani. We enter a beautiful and shady forest of firs, beeches and oaks.
Initially the path has a low slope, after passing the last houses, the path turns left and starts to climb with higher slopes for about 10 minutes until you reach the dirt road that starts from San Bartolomeo.

Follow the road until the fork where you leave it to proceed on the left as indicated by the red and white markings. Here the path has a stony ground, so you have to be careful.

Coming out of the wood, you meet again the dirt road and you arrive in the proximity of the Alpe di Mezzo (1540 m), on the left, and of the Alpe Pescedo (1560 m), on the right.

Then proceed straight ahead in the direction of the high voltage pylon and then follow the path that leads on the right towards the second electricity pylon, that of the Bocchetta di Chiaro (1666 m).
From here turn right and take the path that leads with moderate slope in the middle of a forest of larch and fir trees. At the end of the path you reach the anticima, where the cross is placed. After about 10 minutes you reach the top of Mount Berlinghera where there is a small "mausoleum" dedicated to the alpine soldiers.
From here the view is beautiful and you can admire the Valchiavenna, the Lake Mezzola, the Pian di Spagna, the majestic Mount Legnone and the Lake Como with all the peaks that surround it.
For the return trip, we suggest to follow the same route of the outward journey.

From Gera Lario take the road to Montemezzo - Bugiallo then follow the signs to the church of San Bartolomeo (1204 m).