Stage 1: Brissago-Cortaccio-Rifugio Al Legn

The village of Brissago lies directly on Lake Maggiore on the border with Italy, and can be reached by bus, car or boat. The red and white hike starts at 197 m (Lake Maggiore is the lowest point of Switzerland) and zigzags up to Cortaccio, a small hamlet. It enters the forest, which makes walking very pleasant in summer. At Vantarone the terrain opens up again and via Alpe Voje you reach Alpe Avaiscia, which consists of three buildings. In summer, the landscape in this area is very green and the vegetation is lush. The terrain now becomes more alpine and in a large curve you arrive at the Rifugio Al Legn. The partially guarded hut (open May-November) has drinks, cooking facilities and WC. The hut owes its charm to the wood-burning stove and the view over the region and the Valais and Bernese mountains.