Locarno Monti-Cardada-Brione sopra Minusio
Hiking Trail
· Ascona-Locarno

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Ascona-Locarno Tourism Verified partner Explorers Choice
Ascona-Locarno Tourism Verified partner Explorers Choice
Beautiful hike up Locarno's local mountain. Cardada is both a popular excursion destination and a place to soak up sun and peace in nature.
moderate
Distance 12 km
Duration4:50 h
Ascent990 m
Descent956 m
Highest point1,336 m
Lowest point398 m
By bus or funicular (Locarno-Orselina) to Monti della Trinità. The trail zigzags steeply up through the deciduous forest to San Bernardo, Cortaccio and finally Cardada, Locarno's local mountain. From Cardada you can see the highest (Dufourspitze, 4,634 m above sea level) and the lowest point in Switzerland (Lago Maggiore, 193 m above sea level) at the same time. You can get a particularly good view from the "Passerelle" viewing platform, which is only a few minutes' walk from the mountain station. On Cardada there are various opportunities to eat and enjoy the cosy ambience on one of the sunny terraces. A long traverse leads down to Giorledo and on to the settlement of Monte Cordonico. The last 500 metres or so of altitude difference zigzag down through the forest to Brione sopra Minusio, where the bus leaves.

Author
Mariano Berri
Update: March 24, 2022
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
1,336 m
Lowest point
398 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt 7.29%Forested/wild trail 2.62%Path 88.21%Road 1.86%
Asphalt
0.9 km
Forested/wild trail
0.3 km
Path
10.6 km
Road
0.2 km
Safety information
Sentieri Svizzeri - Escursioni sicure
Start
Monti della Trinità (397 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'704'319E 1'114'474N
DD
46.173662, 8.789495
DMS
46°10'25.2"N 8°47'22.2"E
UTM
32T 483751 5113364
w3w
///tickles.strutting.nights
Destination
Minusio, Moranda
Turn-by-turn directions
Monti della Trinità-All'Eco-S.Bernardo-Cortaccio-Cardada-Chiodo-Giorledo-Monte Cordonico-Monte Baffi-Minusio, Moranda
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
From Locarno train station: Take bus 3 or 4 in the direction of Brione s. Minusio, Chiesa. Get off at Monti della Trinità.
From Brione s. Minusio: Take bus 1 direction Losone, Sottochiesa or bus 4 direction Locarno, Residenza Lido. Get off at Locarno, Stazione.
Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'704'319E 1'114'474N
DD
46.173662, 8.789495
DMS
46°10'25.2"N 8°47'22.2"E
UTM
32T 483751 5113364
w3w
///tickles.strutting.nights
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
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
Difficulty
moderate
Distance
12 km
Duration
4:50 h
Ascent
990 m
Descent
956 m
Highest point
1,336 m
Lowest point
398 m
Public-transport-friendly
Linear route
Scenic
Refreshment stops available
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- Content
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Maps and trails
- 3 Waypoints
- 3 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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km
● km