Cannobina Valley Tour
Road Bike
· Ascona-Locarno

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Round trip between Switzerland and Italy. From the Mediterranea Lake Maggiore, through the adventurous Valle Cannobina, to the traditional Valle Vigezzo.
moderate
Distance 78.3 km
Duration4:00 h
Ascent1,044 m
Descent1,044 m
Highest point965 m
Lowest point195 m
The 78 kilometres round trip starts and ends in Locarno. Along Lake Maggiore it goes to Brissago and over the border into Italy. The road is very narrow in parts and there is a lot of oncoming traffic at rush hour. It is about 20 km to Cannobio, the pretty fishing village directly on the lake. Along the Cannobino River you turn into the Valle Cannobina. As you turn into the valley, the climb through dense forests and narrow bends also begins. The Valle Cannobina is a wild, very green and steep valley. From Malesco, the route heads back towards Switzerland through the Valley of Painters, the Valle Vigezzo. In Re, you ride around the imposing cathedral. From the Swiss border, the valley is called Centovalli and leads back to Locarno. Here, too, you should avoid the road during rush hour, as there is a lot of oncoming traffic. Lights are absolutely necessary on this tour, as there are some unlit tunnels.
Author’s recommendation
As the roads are busy with commuting traffic during rush hours, we advise you to avoid these times. In addition, we recommend to have lights on your bike and bring an ID with you, as part of the tour goes through Italy.

Author
Mariano Berri
Update: April 10, 2025
Difficulty
moderate
Overall difficulty
moderate
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Highest point
965 m
Lowest point
195 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt 0.63%Dirt road 0.48%Forested/wild trail 4.41%Path 0.03%Road 94.43%
Asphalt
497 m
Dirt road
380 m
Forested/wild trail
3.5 km
Path
25 m
Road
74 km
Coordinates
DD
46.171361, 8.801552
DMS
46°10'16.9"N 8°48'05.6"E
UTM
32T 484681 5113106
w3w
///blazed.twisty.doormat
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!
Equipment
- Road bike
- Bike helmet
- Cycling shoes
- Adequate clothing
- Bike googles
- Cycling gloves
- Bike pump
- Bicycle tools
- Sun and rain protection
- Snacks and drinking water
- Drink bottle and convenient fixture
- First aid kit
- Penknife
- Mobile phone
- Headlight and reflectors if necessary
- Maps
Difficulty
moderate
Overall difficulty
moderate
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Distance
78.3 km
Duration
4:00 h
Ascent
1,044 m
Descent
1,044 m
Highest point
965 m
Lowest point
195 m
Round trip
Scenic
Refreshment stops available
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
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Maps and trails
20 Waypoints
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kmm
Distance
Duration
Ascent
Descent
Elevation profile
Plan your stay
Sole
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