Val Piora lakes route
Val Piora lakes route
Bellinzona e Valli Turismo Verified partner
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Path of the Lakes of the Piora ValleyPhoto: Bellinzona e Valli Turismo
You will find yourself immersed in one of the most enchanting and pristine landscapes in all of Ticino. And you will discover why they call it the paradise of alpine water mirrors. The Val Piora lakes route knows how to surprise the visitor. It will have the same effect on you. While walking, you will discover the Alpe di Piora, an area that offers breathtaking landscapes.
The most fascinating and at the same time practical way to reach the Val Piora lakes is to start from Piotta using the famous and characteristic red Ritom funicular, the starting and finishing point of this unmissable circular path. Its maximum slope of 87.8% makes it one of the steepest in the world. Upon reaching the Piora station, you immediately immerse yourself in one of the most enchanting and pristine landscapes of Ticino, where you can admire the paradise of alpine lakes. Starting from the Piora station, you immediately climb a path that leads up to 2208 m at Pizzo Föisc. There, a well-deserved break awaits you at the Föisc refuge. Then you continue downhill and after passing the Föisc saddle, you arrive at Lake Ritom: the largest mountain reservoir in the Canton. Its waters are used to produce hydroelectric energy. Following the left shore of the lake, in the direction of travel, you advance to the turnoff for Lake Tom, which after a short uphill stretch, is reached at 2022 m. You continue towards Lake Cadagno and cross the Alpe di Piora: the largest alpine pasture in Ticino, as well as a landscape protection area. So why not take advantage, a short distance away, of a break at the renovated Cadagno Hut where you can enjoy a wide selection of local products? After the well-deserved rest, you return towards Piora using the left shore path; at the fork to Fontanella descend towards Lake Ritom and continue along the educational path to the dam.
Author’s recommendation
To enjoy the route, we recommend purchasing the official maps from the Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo. Furthermore, the site map.geo.admin.ch offers constantly updated data.
Bellinzona e Valli Turismo Verified partner
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 created to promote the effective and sustainable management of alpine huts in the Ticino territory, particularly waste management. Responsible waste management in the mountains is a matter of common sense. We can all contribute: www.montagnepulite.ch
B&B Gottardo (Bike friendly)
Lake Tom
Lago Cadagno
Centro biologia alpina, Piora
Lago Ritom
Laghetti Audan
E-Bike charging point - Laghetti Audan
Rifugio lago Ritom (Bike friendly)
Agriturismo Altanca (Bike friendly)
Lago Tremorgio
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Coordinates
Equipment
- Hiking boots
- Cap
- Water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Hiking map
- Camera
- Food
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Weather at the starting point
Statistics
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