Val Bavona: Foroglio-San Carlo
Nature Trail
· Ascona-Locarno

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Ascona-Locarno Tourism Verified partner Explorers Choice
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Zona golenale, ForoglioPhoto: Ivan Sasu
Loyal to its identity in a way few valleys are, the Valle Bavona is home to a very wide variety of plant and animal species, in particular in the floodplains around the river, which are explored on these two excursions.
easy
Distance 5.4 km
Duration1:50 h
Ascent357 m
Descent100 m
Highest point942 m
Lowest point682 m
The Valle Bavona is a fascinating area. A place where the enterprising spirit of humans has blended perfectly with nature, with truly surprising variety in terms of biodiversity. Both setting off from Foroglio, these two itineraries provide an introduction: the first winds its way towards San Carlo, while the second moves through the Val Calnègia. The privilege, in addition to the opportunity to admire a picture-postcard landscape, is the chance to explore nationally important floodplain areas rich in plant (e.g. the Salix elaeagnos, grey alder and ash) and animal species (such as the common frog and the fire salamander). During the excursion, you will also see splüi (shelters under the rock) and suspended meadows (cultivated boulders) that bear witness to the ingenuity of humans when it comes to exploiting even the most unthinkable places to provide themselves with food. This particular agricultural landscape is also very popular with various species of reptile (such as the common wall lizard and the Italian slowworm), crickets, grasshoppers, locusts and a myriad of butterflies (more than 100 species have been identified). Higher altitudes provide the ideal habitats for chamois, ibex and marmot, as well as the rock partridge, a fascinating species that is not easy to observe.
Discover more walks "Alla scoperta della biodiversità" in the printed guide (in Italian). Information: www.a-pro.ch

Author
Mariano Berri
Update: April 01, 2022
Difficulty
easy
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
942 m
Lowest point
682 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt 5.61%Forested/wild trail 22.50%Path 64.03%Road 7.84%
Asphalt
0.3 km
Forested/wild trail
1.2 km
Path
3.5 km
Road
0.4 km
Safety information
Sentieri Svizzeri - Escursioni sicure
Start
Foroglio (Bavona) (682 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'685'377E 1'136'389N
DD
46.373444, 8.548267
DMS
46°22'24.4"N 8°32'53.8"E
UTM
32T 465257 5135640
w3w
///pounce.hurry.publisher
Destination
S.Carlo (Bavona), Ponte
Turn-by-turn directions
From Foroglio follow the signs for Roseto. On the other side of the road, walk along the opposite bank of the Bavona river and continue into the floodplain forest towards Faedo and then Sonlerto. From the centre of the village, descend along the road for around a hundred metres before taking the path on the left that leads to the town of Gannariente. Here you will find the oratory of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Continue on the left-hand side of the carriageway to San Carlo.
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
Bus 315 from Locarno, towards Bignasco + Bus 333 from Bignasco, towards San Carlo. Timetable on www.sbb.ch
Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'685'377E 1'136'389N
DD
46.373444, 8.548267
DMS
46°22'24.4"N 8°32'53.8"E
UTM
32T 465257 5135640
w3w
///pounce.hurry.publisher
Arrival by train, car, foot or bike
Book recommendation by the author
Alla scoperta della biodiversità. Escursioni nelle zone naturali protette del Canton Ticino - Salvioni Edizioni, www.a-pro.ch
Ivan Sasu, Eric Vimercati, Marcello Martinoni, SalvioniEdizioni, ISBN 978-88-7967-419-5
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
easy
Distance
5.4 km
Duration
1:50 h
Ascent
357 m
Descent
100 m
Highest point
942 m
Lowest point
682 m
Public-transport-friendly
Linear route
Scenic
Flora
Fauna
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- Content
- Show images Hide images
Maps and trails
- 2 Waypoints
- 2 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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km
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