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Ascona-Locarno Golden Trail
Trail Running
· Ascona-Locarno
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Ascona-Locarno Golden TrailPhoto: Alessio Pizzicannella, Ascona-Locarno Tourism
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Relive the adrenaline rush experienced by the world’s top trail runners during the 2024 Golden Trail Series final, organised by Salomon. A breathtaking route winding across the iconic Cardada mountain, overlooking Locarno and Lake Maggiore.
moderate
Distance 18 km
Duration4:00 h
Ascent1,058 m
Descent1,058 m
Highest point1,847 m
Lowest point1,015 m
This varied and technically demanding circular route starts in Cardada and initially follows a flow trail through the forest towards Bassa di Cardada. After emerging from the trees, the climb to Cima della Trosa (1,869 m), the highest point of the route, begins. The ascent is challenging but features a steady gradient, making it runnable for experienced trail runners.
From the summit, a fast and smooth descent leads to Bassa di Bietri – perfect for finding your rhythm again. This is followed by another climb to Alpe Cardada, before a technical descent takes you down to the Monti di Chiodo. From there, the trail rises slightly once more to return to Cardada – the prelude to the final descent to Brè sopra Locarno.
The finish is close: only one last climb remains, requiring strength and determination to complete the loop and return to the starting point.
Author
Mariano Berri
Update: April 17, 2025
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
Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
To reach Cardada by public transport, start at the train station in Locarno. From there, it’s just a short walk to the Locarno–Madonna del Sasso funicular, which takes you up to Orselina. On arrival, you’ll find the valley station of the Cardada cable car, which brings you up the mountain in just a few minutes.Public transport connections are frequent and well-coordinated. Check the timetable in advance at www.sbb.ch to plan your journey efficiently.
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
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Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!
Equipment
👕 Clothing:- Breathable technical shirt
- Trail shorts or leggings
- Sports socks
- Light wind-/rain jacket
- Cap or headband
- Sunglasses with UV protection
👟 Shoes:
- Trail running shoes with good grip
🥤 Hydration:
- Trail running backpack or waist belt
- At least 1 liter of water
- Energy bars, gels or dried fruit
🧭 Safety:
- Fully charged mobile phone
- Map or GPS track of the route
- Emergency whistle
- Small first-aid kit
- Emergency blanket
☀️ Other tips:
- Sunscreen
- Anti-chafing cream
- Trail poles (optional)
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 route's trailhead
Statistics
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Maps and trails
9 Waypoints
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Distance
Duration
Ascent
Descent
Elevation profile
Plan your stay
Sole
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