Path of the Piora Valley lakes
Path of the Piora Valley lakes

Bellinzona e Valli Turismo Verified partner
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Path of the Piora Valley lakesPhoto: Bellinzona e Valli Turismo
Explanation
Prepare to be immersed in one of the most beautiful and immaculate landscapes anywhere in Ticino. And you'll soon discover why they call it the paradise of alpine pools. The Val Piora lakes path always amazes its visitors and it is guaranteed to charm you, too. While on the walk, you'll discover the Piora alpage, an area which spoils you with the quality of its breath-taking panoramas.
The most impressive but also the most practical route to reach the Val Piora lakes is from Piotta, by taking the famous and stunningly picturesque Ritom funicular, both the start and finish point for this unmissable walking loop. The 87.8% maximum slope of the funicular puts it among the very steepest in the world. Once you reach Piora station, you are immediately catapulted into one of the most beautiful and pristine landscapes anywhere in Ticino, and where you get the chance to admire a true paradise of alpine lakes. Starting from the Piora station you climb upwards along a path taking you to the 2208m of Pizzo Föisc. There you can have a stop at the Föisc mountain hut. Then you continue downhill, after passing the Föisc cleft, reaching Lake Ritom, the largest mountain reservoir in the Canton, whose waters are used to produce hydro-electric power. Walking along the left side of the Lake (in the direction of travel) you carry on until the side-route to Lake Tom which, after a brief uphill section, reaches 2022m. The path continues towards Lake Cadagno, crossing the Piora alpage, the largest in Ticino and a protected natural reserve. Why not take advantage of the stunning Capanna Cadagno, it's nearby and has only just been renewed. A great stop to sample a wide range of local produce. After your rest, return to Piora using the path on the left bank; at the fork for Fontanella descend in the direction of Lake Ritom and continue on the educational path to the dam.
Author’s recommendation
To explore the route, we recommend buying the official maps of the Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo. In addition, the following website map.geo.admin.ch offers constantly updated data.

Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
B&B Gottardo (Bike friendly)Rifugio lago Ritom (Bike friendly)
Agriturismo Altanca (Bike friendly)
Tips and suggestions
Montagnepulite: This project was born to promote an effective management and sustainable use of mountain huts in Ticino, and in particular the litter management. The responsible management of litter in the mountains is a matter of common sense. We can all contribute: www.montagnepulite.ch
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Coordinates
Equipment
- Hiking boots
- Sun cap
- Water-bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sun cream
- Hiking map
- Camera
- Food
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
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