Nature Trail recommended route Multi-stage route

Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake

Nature Trail
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  • Photo: Mariano Berri, Ascona-Locarno Tourism

The Between the Mountains and the Lake educational trail links Dirinella, also the starting point for the mountain trail of the same name, to the railway station in Cadenazzo. The itinerary passes through woods, meadows and villages with enchanting views and panoramas, as well as industrial and agricultural areas and roads, offering an exhaustive insight into Gambarogno and the Magadino plain.

moderate
Distance 23.5 km
7:20 h
1,085 m
1,085 m
392 m
194 m

The forty or so themed panels, produced with the help of schools in Gambarogno, tell evocative tales of times past as well as fascinating modern stories. They provide walkers with facts and historical, geographical and scientific information, about long-standing professions and new settlements, as well as parks and natural areas. They also highlight the major local and socio-economic changes of the last 200 years, from the advent of the railway to the canalisation of the Ticino river and the subsequent reclamation of the Magadino plain.

The educational trail, created thanks to an Interreg initiative in 2004 with the first section from Dirinella to San Nazzaro, was extended to Contone in 2017 and as far as the railway station in Cadenazzo in 2019. This extension came about thanks to the Le Terre del Ceneri and La Via del Ceneri, projects envisaged to showcase the historical, cultural and landscape features of the Cadenazzo, Gambarogno and Monteceneri regions, located on the slopes of Monte Ceneri, and to highlight the operation of the rail tunnel at the base of the Ceneri, opened in 2020.

The educational trail is aimed at a broad public: school children, families, people of all ages, and can be undertaken without difficulty in both directions.

Given its length, approx. 23 km, we suggest tackling the educational trail in three stages.

Profile picture of Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia
Author
Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia
Update: May 05, 2023
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
392 m
Lowest point
194 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Track types

Asphalt 45.86%Dirt road 2.10%Forested/wild trail 2.36%Path 32.34%Road 17.14%Unknown 0.17%
Asphalt
10.8 km
Dirt road
0.5 km
Forested/wild trail
0.6 km
Path
7.6 km
Road
4 km
Unknown
0 km
Show elevation profile

Start

Dirinella
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'702'069E 1'106'742N
DD
46.104456, 8.758689
DMS
46°06'16.0"N 8°45'31.3"E
UTM
32T 481349 5105681
w3w 
///asterisk.repeat.extremely

Destination

Cadenazzo

Turn-by-turn directions

Dirinella-Caviano-Calgiano-Torcetto-Gerra Gambarogno)-Lubie-S.Nazzaro-Vairano-Piazzogna-Fosano-Vira (Gambarogno)-Magadino-Vira-Lido Magadino-Orgnana-Cavriana-Motto Rabello-Quartino-Contone-Cadenazzo, Stazione

Public transport

Public-transport-friendly

From Locarno: take the boat in the direction of Ascona. Get off at San Nazzaro. Or take the train in the direction of Castione-Arbedo. Get off at Cadenazzo, then take the B 350 bus in the direction of Dirinella to San Nazzaro.

Return from Magadino: take the boat to Locarno. Or take the B 350 bus in the direction of S. Antonino, Centri commerciali. Get off at Cadenazzo. Take the train towards Locarno. Get off at the station. Further information: www.sbb.ch

Coordinates

SwissGrid
2'702'069E 1'106'742N
DD
46.104456, 8.758689
DMS
46°06'16.0"N 8°45'31.3"E
UTM
32T 481349 5105681
w3w 
///asterisk.repeat.extremely
Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

Equipment

  • Hiking daypack (approx. 20 liters) with rain cover
  • Comfortable and sturdy footwear
  • Adequate and durable outdoor clothing in multiple layers
  • Telescope sticks if necessary,
  • Sun and rain protection
  • Snacks and drinking water
  • First aid kit
  • Penknife
  • Mobile phone, headlight if necessary
  • Maps

Similar routes nearby

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 These suggestions were generated by our system
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
23.5 km
Duration
7:20 h
Ascent
1,085 m
Descent
1,085 m
Highest point
392 m
Lowest point
194 m
Public-transport-friendly Linear route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Flora

Weather at the route's trailhead

Statistics

  • Content
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Features
Maps and trails
  • 3 Stages
Nature Trail · Ascona-Locarno
Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake - Stage 1: Dirinella-San Nazzaro
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 1
Distance 7.5 km
Duration 3:00 h
Ascent 391 m
Descent 401 m

The first part of the Between the Mountains and the Lake educational trail links Dirinella and San Nazzaro.

from Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia,   Ascona-Locarno Tourism
Nature Trail · Ascona-Locarno
Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake - Stage 2: San Nazzaro-Magadino
recommended route Difficulty easy Stage 2
Distance 6.7 km
Duration 2:30 h
Ascent 295 m
Descent 295 m

from Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia,   Ascona-Locarno Tourism
Nature Trail · Ascona-Locarno
Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake - Stage 3: Magadino-Cadenazzo
recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 3
Distance 8.9 km
Duration 3:30 h
Ascent 393 m
Descent 385 m

from Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia,   Ascona-Locarno Tourism
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