Climbing in Arco, Italy

Text and pictures © 2010-2024 Guillaume Dargaud
Last updated on 2021/11/05

"The bizarre trend in mountaineers is not the risk they take, but the large degree to which they value life. They are not crazy because they don't dare, they're crazy because they do. These people tend to enjoy life to the fullest, laugh the hardest, travel the most, and work the least."    — Lisa Morgan.

Sport climbing

Left: First route at Arco, with lake Garda visible in the background.

I've had those pictures for over a year and I just forgot about them. So here they are, but the comments are a bit scares since I've forgotten the names of the routes since then.

Right: Christine on a horribly polished route.

Left: Very technical slab above the lake's waters.

Right: Jenny and Christine looking for holds on the slab.

Arco has been popular for a long time, and it's partly its downfall: the most popular sectors, those close to the road, are horribly polished. But fear not: as soon as you move away from those few spots, there are plenty of excellent climbs to be had. There are tens of different sectors covering just about every style within a few km: sport routes, beginners topropes, moderate long routes, old alpine classics, batshit crazy multiday aid routes...

Left: The slab seen from the road.

Right: Belaying turns impossible if it's windy.

Left: Some windsurfers come close for a look.

Longer routes

Right: Higher up the valley, on a longer route.

Left: Jenny on a pillar.

Right: End of the route, with Jenny's rope tied off to the belay while I walk around to take a picture.

Left: Dominating forest and vineyards.

Right: The cathedral and perched castle of Arco.

Left: Lago di guarda in the evening.

Higher up

Right: Higher up the valley, bigger routes with a more alpine feel.

Right:

Right: Slab with very carved surface.

Left: Strenuous overhanging chimney.

Right: Above the valley.

Left: Higher routes still.

Right: Sunny climb above the vineyards before we head back.