Where does "north" begin on Lake Garda
 

After reading posts and guidebooks, seeing some photos, I've decided that I'd like to stay in the "north" part of the lake but I am having a hard time picturing where that begins. I would really like a place with gorgeous mountain views and can't tell if for example, Salo and Gardone Riveria on the east and Garda on the west are "north" enough to have the views I am looking for.

I don't think those qualify as "north". We had gorgeous views from our balcony in Malcesine.

No i wouldn't think they are - Garda's views, besides not being far north enough, are hemmed in by its bay - Gardone riviera also seems not well situated for views northward along this fjord-like lake, Italy's largest (32 miles long), stretching up to high mountains on each side of a river valley at the lake'north end (where Riva stands).
I would think you'd have to go a bit farther north than Gardone - Malcesine, a popular lake resort would certainly be far enough north. speaking of north the lake is not so far north that there aren't lemon and fig groves at Limone - Limone's figs and honey are lake delicacies.
Anyway in Gardine Riviera, actually above it is Vittorale, one of the weirdes sights in Europe. The estate of Gabriele d'Annunzio, who after dying in 1938 was buried here in a grandiose tomb that takes the form of the bow of a large boat heading out to the lake! Annunzio is very famous in Italy - he was a hero of WWI, a poet, an author, a collector of fancy cars, and legendary Casanova, he's kind of the Italian Howard Hughes, ending up holed up much of the time in his elegant estate - overlooking the lake - in the end suffering from an extreme aversion to light - on the tour you'll see things in the house as they were left when he died - an eclectic mix of intriguing stuff and the windows in his rooms all blacked out to keep out any light. All in all a most unusual place.
The lake's view are the best no doubt from the boats that constantly ply it, from tip to tip. Buy a day boat pass and make a tour of the lake going all the way up to Riva, via Limone and Malcesine. As you're heading up the fjord there are great views from the boat.
In my opinion Lake Garda is the prettiest of all northern Italian Lakes!

DC - 'I would really like a place with gorgeous mountain views'

You want Riva :)

Or Limone or Malcesine ...

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Thank you all for the advice! I will narrow my search to those towns and would welcome hotel suggestions (high end with blacony overlooking lake).