A guidebook describing 38 walks in Ticino, Switzerland. Exploring the lakes and mountains of this beautiful Italianate region, routes are graded by difficulty, from gentle strolls suitable for family outings to strenuous mountain routes sometimes involving scrambling.

The walks range from 4 to 19km (2–12 miles) and can be enjoyed in 1–8 hours. They are presented in four sections, covering Lugano, Locarno, Bellinzona/Biasca and Airolo.

• Clear route description illustrated with 1:50,000 maps
• GPX files available to download
• Information on refreshments given for each walk
• Local points of interest including St Gotthard Pass
• Easy access from Milan

CONTENTS

Overview map

Map key

Introduction

History

Ticino today

Geology and landscape

Plants and flowers

Wildlife

Getting there

Local transport and driving

Information and maps

Weather and when to visit

Accommodation

Food and drink

What to take

Walking practicalities

Safety in the mountains

Using this guide

General information

Walks from Lugano

Walk 1 Lake Lugano shoreline from Paradiso to Gandria

Walk 2 Campione d’Italia to Cantine di Gandria

Walk 3 San Salvatore to Morcote

Walk 4 Monte Caslano

Walk 5 Monte San Giorgio

Walk 6 Monte Tamaro to Monte Lema

Walk 7 Monte Boglia and the Denti della Vecchia

Walk 8 Monte Bar and the Capriasca Valley

Walk 9 Cima di Medeglia and the old Military Road

Walks from Locarno

Walk 10 Along the shore of Lake Maggiore

Walk 11 Sentiero Collina Alta and Sentiero Collina Bassa

Walk 12 Cimetta to Mergoscia via Capanna dei Monti di Lego

Walk 13 The Centovalli from Camedo to Intragna

Walk 14 The Valle del Salto

Walk 15 Along the Val Lavizzara from Fusio to Bignasco

Walk 16 Capanna Cristallina from Robiei

Walk 17 Bosco Gurin to Cimalmotto

Walk 18 Sentiero per l’Arte

Walk 19 Revöira and Ca d Dént

Walk 20 Lavertezzo to the Verzasca Dam

Walks from Bellinzona and Biasca

Walk 21 Monte Carasso, Sementina and the Ponte Tibetano

Walk 22 Capanna Genzianella and Motto della Croce

Walk 23 The ‘Iron Route’ from Carena

Walk 24 Mornera and the Capanna Albagno

Walk 25 Camorino and the Hunger Towers

Walk 26 Capanna Brogoldone and the Santa Maria Monastery

Walk 27 Val Blenio Sentiero Storico

Walk 28 Val Blenio Strada Alta

Walk 29 Lukmanier Pass to Olivone via Passo di Gana Negra

Walks from Airolo

Walk 30 Sentiero Alta Val Bedretto

Walk 31 Circuit of lakes at the summit of the St Gotthard Pass

Walk 32 Sentiero Bassa Val Bedretto

Walk 33 Along the Val Torta to Capanna Cristallina

Walk 34 Nufenenpass and the Upper Val Bedretto

Walk 35 Strada Alta Valle Leventina (north side)

Walk 36 Sentiero Alta Valle Leventina (south side)

Walk 37 Circuit of Lago Ritom

Walk 38 Lago Tremorgio and Capanna Leit

Appendix A Route summary table

Appendix B Useful contacts

Appendix C Glossary of Italian words

Seasons

Late summer/early autumn is the best time to walk in Ticino, with the heat and crowds from high summer gone and the weather often fine and clear.

Centres

Ticino features the five main areas of lakeside resorts Lugano and Locarno; the Cantonal capital Bellinzona, and its neighbour Biasca; and Airolo, at the foot of the St Gotthard Pass.

Difficulty

Routes are graded to cover a wide range of difficulties, from level lakeshore strolls to trails that cross more challenging terrain up to an altitude of 2600m (the snowline). Apart from walking poles and a pair of stout boots, no specialist equipment is required.

Must See

Ticino's most iconic places are the two lakeside resorts of Lugano and Locarno, with their Italianate piazzas and handsome architecture, and the wilder mountain areas to the north, especially around the high passes that link the Canton with the rest of Switzerland - most notably, the St Gotthard.

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