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Trail Running recommended route

Ascona-Locarno Golden Trail

Trail Running · Ascona-Locarno
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  • Ascona-Locarno Golden Trail
    Ascona-Locarno Golden Trail
    Photo: Alessio Pizzicannella, Ascona-Locarno Tourism

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    Relive the adrenaline experienced by the best trail runners in the world during the final of the 2024 Golden Trail Series, organized by Salomon. A breathtaking route that winds over the iconic Cardada mountain, overlooking Locarno and Lake Maggiore.

    moderate
    Distance 18 km
    4:00 h
    1,058 m
    1,058 m
    1,847 m
    1,015 m

    This technical and varied loop route starts from Cardada and initially develops along a flow trail immersed in the forest, heading towards the Bassa di Cardada. Once out of the vegetation, the climb begins to the Cima della Trosa (1869 m), the highest point of the route. The ascent, though demanding, has regular gradients, runnable by more experienced runners.

    From the summit, a fast and flowing descent leads to the Bassa di Bietri, perfect to regain rhythm. The route continues with a new climb towards Alpe Cardada, followed by a technical descent leading to the Monti di Chiodo. From there, a brief ascent returns to Cardada, a prelude to the final descent towards Brè above Locarno.

    The finish line is near: only the last climb remains, still requiring strength and determination to complete the loop and return to the starting point, thus closing the circuit.

    Profile picture of Mariano Berri
    Author
    Mariano Berri 
    Logo Ascona-Locarno Tourism
    Responsible for this content
    Ascona-Locarno Tourism  Verified partner 
    Difficulty
    T2 moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Highest point
    1,847 m
    Lowest point
    1,015 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Asphalt 6.86%Dirt road 0.24%Forested/wild trail 9.12%Path 83.21%Road 0.55%
    Asphalt
    1.2 km
    Dirt road
    44 m
    Forested/wild trail
    1.6 km
    Path
    15 km
    Road
    101 m
    Show elevation profile

    Public transport

    Public-transport-friendly

    To reach Cardada by public transport, start from the Locarno FFS station. From there, a few minutes on foot leads to the Locarno–Madonna del Sasso funicular station, which takes you up to Orselina. Upon arrival, you find the departure station for the cable car to Cardada, which takes only a few minutes to reach the upper station.

    Train connections and public transport are frequent and well coordinated. It is recommended to check the schedules at www.sbb.ch to plan your trip optimally.

    Coordinates

    SwissGrid
    2'703'694E 1'116'389N
    DD
    46.190976, 8.781828
    DMS
    46°11'27.5"N 8°46'54.6"E
    UTM
    32T 483164 5115289
    w3w 
    ///pushed.loudness.pursue
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    👕 Clothing:

    • Breathable technical t-shirt
    • Trail shorts or leggings
    • Sports anti-blister socks
    • Lightweight windproof/rainproof jacket
    • Cap or headband
    • Sunglasses with UV protection

    👟 Shoes:

    • Trail shoes with good grip

    🥤 Hydration and nutrition:

    • Trail running backpack or belt
    • At least 1 liter of water
    • Energy snacks: bars, gels, or dried fruit

    🧭 Safety and navigation:

    • Charged cell phone
    • Map or GPS track of the route
    • Emergency whistle
    • Mini first aid kit
    • Emergency thermal blanket

    ☀️ Other tips:

    • Sunscreen
    • Anti-chafing cream
    • Trail poles (optional)

    Localization

    Parts of this content were machine translated using Italian as the source language

    Similar routes nearby

    • Cardada-Mergoscia Trail
    • Vertical Orselina-Cimetta
    • Locarno Trail
    • Pizzo Leone Trail
    • Avegno-Cimetta Trail
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    T2 moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    18 km
    Duration
    4:00 h
    Ascent
    1,058 m
    Descent
    1,058 m
    Highest point
    1,847 m
    Lowest point
    1,015 m
    Public-transport-friendly Round trip Scenic Refreshment stops available Cableway ascent/descent Insider tip Summit route

    Weather at the starting point

    10-day forecast

    Statistics

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    Distance
    Duration
    Ascent
    Descent
    Elevation profile

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