Cascata Varone: the waterfall in the gorge near Riva del Garda

Tenno – Behind a simple ticket booth on the country road, a crevice in the rock opens up, into which the water disappears vertically. The Varone Waterfall There, it plunges 98 meters in two stages into a limestone gorge, which the Magnone Creek – the torrent from the hinterland above the lake – has been carving its way through the Jura limestone for about 20,000 years. Admission costs €7.00; the park is located three kilometers north of Riva del Garda and is open every day except December 25.

What makes this place special is that you don't see the waterfall from the outside, but from the inside. Two accessible caves lead you into the mountain until the spray lands on your jacket. Anyone who Lake Garda Anyone who has a mental image of a waterfront promenade and a sailboat will see something different here.

What Awaits You in the Canyon

The trail begins innocently enough, surrounded by greenery, with a view of benches and tables. Then it disappears into the rock. A continuously paved walkway leads you upward between the two viewing grottoes via about 70 steps and a spiral staircase: at the bottom, the Lower Grotto, at the top the Grotta Superiore, with a 40-meter elevation gain in between.

It’s cool and damp in the caves, even in August. A fine mist hangs in the air, the walls glisten, and anyone with a camera has to wipe the lens regularly. That’s why a light jacket is just as essential as sturdy shoes—rain capes are available at the souvenir stand at the entrance if needed.

The operator says the minimum duration is 20 minutes. Realistically, including photo stops, the tour takes just under an hour. Afterward, there’s a picnic area at the entrance that can accommodate up to 150 people, along with a bar serving drinks and ice cream.

How much is admission to Cascata Varone?

Adults pay €7.00. Families get a much better deal: Two adults with one child pay €19.00, with two children €24.00, and with three children €28.00. Groups of 20 or more pay €5.00 per person, and school groups with valid proof of enrollment pay €4.00 per student.

The operator doesn't specify anywhere up to what age a child is considered a child—you'll have to clarify that at the ticket counter. And a Guest Card won't help here: The waterfall isn't included as a benefit on either the park's or the tourism region's cards, so you'll have to pay the regular price.

When is the Waterfall Park open?

The park is open year-round, except on December 25. Hours vary by season: From May through August, it’s open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; in the middle of winter, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. During peak season, last admission is at 6:15 p.m.—so don’t wait until the last minute.

The operator does not specify when the water flow is at its strongest. Experience shows that the snowmelt in late spring brings the greatest volume of water, though this cannot be proven. Visitors coming in midsummer should plan to arrive early in the morning: Starting at noon, tour buses start to pile up, and the park strongly advises groups against visiting in July and August, as well as on weekends from April through September.

How do you get to Parco Grotta Cascata Varone?

By car, starting from Riva del Garda, follow the SS 421, on the country road toward Ponte Arche. Follow the signs for Tenno and turn off toward Varone just before you reach the town. The park doesn't say how many parking spaces there are at the entrance or whether there's a fee—one more reason to choose the more relaxed option.

You can get there even without the shuttle. From Riva del Garda and Arco, a public bus runs to the park every hour—the operator doesn’t specify a route number, but the bus stop is located at the entrance. If you’re traveling from farther away, you can find an overview of the routes to the lake at Journey to Lake Garda.

How the Canyon Was Formed

About 20,000 years ago, the glaciers retreated from the Sarca Valley, and the Magnone began to carve its way into the Jura limestone. It continues to do so to this day: the river’s edge moves upstream by about two millimeters per year—a good 20 centimeters per century. The smoothly polished walls inside the cave are nothing more than the result of this process.

The moist, sheltered air in the crevice creates its own microclimate, and the park has established a small botanical garden along the path. It does not specify exactly which species grow there—what is particularly striking is the juxtaposition of lush greenery and bare rock within just a few meters.

Who Made the Waterfall Famous

On June 20, 1874, the footbridge over the gorge was inaugurated with great fanfare. Among the guests of honor was Nikola of Montenegro, then prince of the small Balkan state; Italian accounts also mention King John of Saxony. Emperor Franz Joseph awarded the then-owner, Piero Bozzoni, a certificate of honor, and in the summer of 1924, the twenty-year-old Crown Prince Umberto stood at the railing—the same Umberto II who would not become King of Italy until 1946, reigning for only a few weeks.

Gabriele D’Annunzio, the poet, whose estate Vittoriale degli Italiani who can be seen today on the West Bank, stopped by; the park describes him as the „Man of the Whirlpool and the Water.“.

Good to know: This guest list comes from the operator himself. When it comes to Thomas Mann and Franz Kafka, the list is sparse. There is no independent evidence of a visit by either of them, and the oft-repeated claim that Mann incorporated Varone into *The Magic Mountain* or that Kafka featured the gorge in his writings does not hold up to scrutiny—Kafka does not mention the waterfall in a single work. The only thing that is documented is that both authors were in Riva del Garda for a health cure.

Good to Know Before Your Visit

The visit is short. Twenty minutes is the minimum time required, realistically speaking, and even if you take your time, you’ll be back outside after an hour. This isn’t a day trip, but rather a morning outing—it can easily be combined with a visit to the artists’ village of Canale di Tenno or the Lake Tenno, the turquoise mountain lake above the park, which is accessible via a marked hiking trail.

The second point is the ticket office. There are no online tickets, no time slots, and no reservations—which means that in the summer, you'll have to wait in line. On the other hand, you're not tied to any specific time and can come on a whim if the beach is crowded or the Weather at Lake Garda It's pouring right now. When it rains, the waterfall is the better choice anyway.

And the third: You'll get wet and cold. Inside the caves, the temperatures are noticeably lower than those at the lake—the “mist” isn't just a figure of speech. With a jacket, sturdy shoes, and a well-protected camera, this isn't a problem—it's half the fun.

Is it worth the detour?

Yes—if you know what you're getting yourself into. The Cascata Varone isn’t a half-day attraction with an adventure trail, but rather a narrow, loud, wet crevice that you can see in an hour. That’s exactly what makes it so great: seven euros, three kilometers from the shore, and Lake Garda suddenly looks like a gorge in the Alps.

It's best to leave early, take the free shuttle from Riva, and add Lago di Tenno to your itinerary. You can find more ideas for the northern tip in the Trentino Travel Guide, for the opposite bank in our portrait of the Riviera degli Ulivi.

Prices, hours of operation, and schedules are subject to change—check the official websites for the latest information before you travel.