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Hiking Trail recommended route

Bignasco-San Carlo

Hiking Trail · Ascona-Locarno
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  • Fontana, Valle Bavona
    Fontana, Valle Bavona
    Photo: Alessio Pizzicannella, Ascona-Locarno Tourism

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    Following the traces of transhumance through Val Bavona. The 12 villages bear witness to a simple lifestyle that still endures here as in the past.

    moderate
    Distance 12.8 km
    4:20 h
    789 m
    147 m
    939 m
    438 m

    Along the entire route, there are many points of interest: villages with overlapping centers, votive chapels, splüi (shelters integrated into rock formations), suspended pastures (pastures located on fallen boulders), traditional cottages, and grottos for a break. Although produced in Val Bavona, these areas are without electricity except for San Carlo; which well explains why the valley is inhabited only during the summer period.

    From Bignasco (reachable by bus) the white-red trail leads to Fontana, where a short stretch must be covered on the road. Further downstream you can already glimpse from a distance the La Froda waterfall of Foroglio, which plunges down with a drop of over 100 meters from Val Calnègia.

    Through the forest up to Roseto, there are sections among flower meadows. The route to Sonlerto is almost always flat, before ascending again before reaching the destination, San Carlo.

    Check the bus schedule for the return. At San Carlo, the cable car takes you to Robièi.

    Logo Ascona-Locarno Tourism
    Responsible for this content
    Ascona-Locarno Tourism  Verified partner 
    Difficulty
    T1 moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Highest point
    939 m
    Lowest point
    438 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Show elevation profile

    Public transport

    Outbound from Locarno, Station: take bus NFB 315 towards Cavergno, Village. Get off at Bignasco, Posta stop.

    Return from San Carlo: take bus 333 at Bignasco, Posta. Change to bus number 315 towards Locarno, Station. For further information: www.sbb.ch   

    Coordinates

    SwissGrid
    2'689'992E 1'132'664N
    DD
    46.339338, 8.607517
    DMS
    46°20'21.6"N 8°36'27.1"E
    UTM
    32T 469795 5131826
    w3w 
    ///basher.cork.trending
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    • Hiking backpack (approx. 20 liters) with rain cover
    • Sturdy and comfortable shoes
    • Clothing suitable for weather conditions and durable, layering principle, and possibly trekking poles
    • Sun and rain protection
    • Provisions and drinking water
    • First aid kit
    • Pocket knife
    • Mobile phone, possibly headlamp
    • Cartographic material

    Localization

    Parts of this content were machine translated using Italian as the source language

    Similar routes nearby

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    • Foroglio-Calnègia-Foroglio
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    • Bosco Gurin-Lago Melo-Lago Pero-Bosco Gurin
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    T1 moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    12.8 km
    Duration
    4:20 h
    Ascent
    789 m
    Descent
    147 m
    Highest point
    939 m
    Lowest point
    438 m
    Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Family-friendly Geological highlights Flora Fauna Linear route

    Weather at the starting point

    10-day forecast

    Statistics

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