The southern approach starts in Arsiero (308m) (or just above (361m) if coming from Passo Xomo (1059m)) and goes via Tonezza (and Sella (1110m)) and a tunnel pass (Bocchetta degli Alpini (1566m)) to the top. For a more consistently steep climb you could take the small road from Barcarola (303m), which seems like an obvious choice (that I was not aware of when visiting in 2006).

From the west there are many alternative appoaches and some could be combined. The longest climb is from Rovereto (200m) and Volano (189m), or one could take the normal road from Calliano (189m). One would go via Serrada (1254m) on the first two climbs, and via Folgaria (1165m) or Guardia when climbing from Calliano. On all these climbs one has to pass over Passo Coe/Coepaß (1614m) (the road only descends to 1533m before the final climb to Valbona 6.1 km after Passo Coe). One could also start in Folgaria if coming from Passo del Sommo (1341m), or from Terragnolo (782m) if coming from an alternative southern approach via Passo della Borcola (1219m).

Passo di Vena di Sopra (1545m) and Passo di Vena di Sotto (1496m) are on an alternative road from above Tonezza to just before the tunnel to Valbona (this road was closed from the south in 2006). You can also continue 2 km to the top of Monte Toraro (1890m), which would be a 1621m (23.4 km) climb from Barcarola via the Passo Vena road or 1844m (35.6 km) total climb from Volano!