Via Alta Vallemaggia
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Via Alta VallemaggiaPhoto: Ascona-Locarno Tourism
Explanation
Featuring grassy ridges, scree slopes, Alpine lakes, small snowfields, wildflower meadows, rocky ridges, larch woods and passages equipped with chains, the Via Alta Vallemaggia offers a unique trekking experience for hikers seeking a ridgeway adventure in the Vallemaggia region.
Source: Associazione Via Alta Vallemaggia
Author’s recommendation
Check the availability of beds in the huts of Via Alta Vallemaggia indicating the day of departure, the number of participants and the direction chosen.
Reservations must be made individually for each hut. Clicking on the number of available beds will open the reservation page for the relevant hut.
GUIDES
Would you like to experience an adventure along the Via Alta Vallemaggia? If you wish, you can rely on a trained guide who will know how to lead you in complete safety along an itinerary that will allow you to discover extraordinary alpine landscapes.
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Rest stops
Capanna CimettaMountain hut Nimi
Mountain hut Alpe Masnee
Mountain hut Alpe Spluga
Capanna Tomeo
Mountain hut Barone
Mountain hut Soveltra
Safety information
The Via Alta Vallemaggia alternates between mountain trails (T3) and Alpine routes (T4-T5–) and includes short exposed stretches (risk of falling) and climbing sections. The trickier sections are often equipped with chains or staples.Some huts open as early as June, when the connecting sections are usually still covered in snow. Generally, the best season for trekking is between July and September/October. However, even in the height of summer, you are advised to contact the guardians to check the state of the route. Overnight stays must be booked in advance in order to avoid unpleasant surprises and find oneself without accommodation.
The following are therefore required:
- Good experience in the alpine environment
- Good physical condition
- Detailed planning (current conditions, weather forecast etc.)
- Sure-footedness off the marked trails and a head for heights
Not to be underestimated:
- High elevation
- Sudden weather changes
- Presence of snow at the beginning of the season
- Trekking time (particularly when hiking in large groups)
- Often no mobile coverage
Lack of drinking water sources along some sections
Swiss REGA air ambulance service: 1414
Generaly emergencies (international): 112
When you call 112, your call is automatically transferred to the relevant emergency unit (ambulance, police and fire brigade). 112 can be called via the GSM network even if your SIM card or mobile phone are blocked. In virtually all countries, 112 works on a GSM network. Outside Switzerland, it also works without a SIM card.
In an emergency:
- Keep calm
- Protect injured persons and people in difficulty from further danger, the cold and bad weather
- Lend first aid
- Call for help and start rescue operations; never leave injured persons alone
- Think about your own safety, too
Start
Destination
Coordinates
Equipment
- Good hiking boots
- Suitable clothing
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Map with a scale of 1:25,000, altimeter, compass, and, if possible, GPS
- Travel pharmacy and emergency thermal blanket
- Sufficient food and drink
- Identity card and cash (francs and euros)
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
- Content
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- 16 Stages
The first stage of Via Alta Vallemaggia goes from Cimetta (1673 m.a.s.l.) to Alpe Nimi mountain hut (1718 m.a.s.l.).
The second stage of the Via Alta Vallemaggia goes from Alpe Nimi mountain hut (1718 m/a/s/l) to Masnee alp (2063 m/a/s/l) and takes 3-and-a-half to ...
The third stage of Via Alta Vallemaggia goes from Masnee alp (2063 m/a/s/l) to Spluga alp (1838 m/a/s/l).
The fourth stage of Via Alta Vallemaggia takes about six hours and goes from Spluga alp (1838 m/a/s/l) to Capanna Tomeo mountain hut (1739 m/a/s/l).
Sometimes it can be fun to go back over your own tracks, at least for a bit. We do so by climbing up to the Bocchetta della Campala.
The northern route of the seventh stage leads in almost 9 hours from Fusio (1289 m.a.s.l.) to the Capanna Cristallina (2566 m.a.s.l.).
The eighth stage via the northern route leads into neighbouring Piedmont in 5.5 hours. From the Capanna Cristallina (2566 m.a.s.l.) to the Rifugio ...
From Piedmont, the ninth stage takes you back to Switzerland. In 5 hours from the Rifugio Maria Luisa (2160 m.a.s.l.) to the Capanna Piano delle ...
The tenth stage is a long one: 6.5 hours. From the Piano delle Creste (2107 m.a.s.l.), the route leads over fascinating rocky slopes to the ...
A short and technically less demanding stage makes up the eleventh stage. From the Capanna Grossalp (1885 m.a.s.l.) down to Cimalmotto (1402 m.a.s ...
The twelfth stage leads in just under 7 hours from Cimalmotto (1402 m.a.s.l.) in the Vallemaggia to Capanna Ribia (1996 m.a.s.l.) in the Onsernone ...
The thirteenth stage, from Capanna Ribia (1996 m.a.s.l.) to Capanna Alzasca (1733 m.a.s.l.), is short but mostly without trails. 3.5 hours in the ...
A ridge hike of almost 4 hours from the Capanna Alzasca (1733 m.a.s.l.) to the Capanna Alpe Canaa (1842 m.a.s.l.).
The fifteenth stage is technically minimally less demanding. The waling time from Capanna Alpe Canaa (1842 m.a.s.l.) to Salmone (1559 m.a.s.l.) is ...
The sixteenth and last stage leads in 4 hours from Salmone (1559 m.a.s.l.) to Ponte Brolla (254 m.a.s.l.).
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Route
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Gradient