Vergeletto and the Salei alpine lake
Hiking Trail
· Ascona-Locarno

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Ascona-Locarno Tourism Verified partner Explorers Choice
Ascona-Locarno Tourism Verified partner Explorers Choice
Explore Valle Onsernone, the renowned, secluded wilderness. Features which have indeed, attracted famous artists and writers to the area. Your first trip will almost certainly not be your last! There are a large number of itineraries which allow you to appreciate it properly. Discover the Salei area, its pretty alpine lake and the idyllic landscape surrounding it. Such charming beauty, bound to amaze you.
moderate
Distance 13.1 km
Duration4:45 h
Ascent480 m
Descent1,275 m
Highest point2,006 m
Lowest point953 m
Discover a charming little lake, a jewel of the Alpine landscape in the area of Salei, located above Vergeletto. It is an easy walk and a pleasant excuse to spend a day exploring the Onsernone. This valley has preserved an interesting appearance: it is very green, wild, slightly reserved and remote. Whoever visits it for the first time cannot avoid coming back in order to spend more time in the area. The valley has been appreciated by artists and famous writers thanks to its unique characteristics. Some of them found shelter there during darker times. Others, like Max Frisch, elected it homeland of the soul. From Vergeletto-Zott leave the cableway that leads to the area of Salei where a namesake pasture and a cabin are located (room and board).
After an easy 40-minute walk along a trail that smoothly ascends, offering a priceless view over the Locarno region all the way to Lake Maggiore, you reach a little lake. An ideal place to relax surrounded by nature and to enjoy a picnic in the grass. Continuing over a pleasant, wide path, after little more that an hour of walking, you can reach the Arena mountain hut, where you'll find food and accommodation. You then take the detour toward Sciüpada, where a beautiful traverse on the side of this V-shaped valley starts. After the traverse you reach the road on the valley floor, one km before Zott, both starting point and cableway station, where you can take the PostBus.

Author
Mariano Berri
Update: March 27, 2023
Difficulty
moderate
Technique
Stamina
Highest point
2,006 m
Lowest point
953 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt 11.76%Forested/wild trail 0.79%Path 86.30%Unknown 1.12%
Asphalt
1.5 km
Forested/wild trail
0.1 km
Path
11.3 km
Unknown
0.1 km
Rest stops
Mountain hut SaleiMountain hut Alpe Arena
Start
Vergeletto, Zott (1,769 m)
Coordinates:
SwissGrid
2'687'002E 1'119'558N
DD
46.221843, 8.566241
DMS
46°13'18.6"N 8°33'58.5"E
UTM
32T 466547 5118787
w3w
///housework.dishes.mediate
Destination
Vergeletto, Zott
Turn-by-turn directions
Vergeletto, Zott-Capanna Salei-Al Laghétt di Salèi-Al Pass dal Bösan-Al Bösan-In Pièi Bechèi-Capanna Alpe Arena-Vergeletto, Zott
Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'687'002E 1'119'558N
DD
46.221843, 8.566241
DMS
46°13'18.6"N 8°33'58.5"E
UTM
32T 466547 5118787
w3w
///housework.dishes.mediate
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
13.1 km
Duration
4:45 h
Ascent
480 m
Descent
1,275 m
Highest point
2,006 m
Lowest point
953 m
Round trip
Flora
Scenic
Refreshment stops available
Fauna
Cableway ascent/descent
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- Content
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Maps and trails
- 4 Waypoints
- 4 Waypoints
Distance
km
Duration
: h
Ascent
m
Descent
m
Highest point
m
Lowest point
m
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km
● km