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Contra-Alpe Cardada Trail
Trail Running
· Ascona-Locarno
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Contra-Alpe CardadaPhoto: Ascona-Locarno Tourism
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Experience an unforgettable trail running adventure on the fascinating 'Contra-Alpe Cardada' loop. The trail, which is fully marked, features an exciting ascent and an equally technical descent accompanied by numerous breathtaking views.
moderate
Distance 16.1 km
Duration3:00 h
Ascent1,193 m
Descent1,193 m
Highest point1,486 m
Lowest point478 m
The adventure begins in Contra, in front of the town hall and the church of San Bernardo. The trail run starts with a steep climb immediately tackling a series of steps that quickly lead into the forest towards the Monti di Lego. After crossing this impressive landscape, an incomparable natural spectacle opens up with a panoramic view of the lake. The climb to Alpe Cardada is a continuous series of challenges that offer a unique experience at every step.
Once you reach Alpe Cardada, the descent begins, leading back to the centre of Contra. The trail quickly passes through the settlements of Monti di Chiodo, Giorledo and Cordonico, where you can admire numerous restored rustici (stone houses) with views of Lake Maggiore. The descent ends in the area of Ronco di Bosco at kilometre 12, from where the route alternates between flat sections and gentle climbs and finally leads back to Contra, the start and finish point of this adventure.
Author’s recommendation
The trail is signposted anti-clockwise. Follow the white signs with the "Contra-Alpe Cardada" sticker.
Author
Mariano Berri
Update: June 02, 2025
Difficulty
T2
moderate
Overall difficulty
moderate
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Highest point
1,486 m
Lowest point
478 m
Best time of year
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Track types
Asphalt 12.16%Forested/wild trail 3.69%Path 83.74%Road 0.39%
Asphalt
2 km
Forested/wild trail
595 m
Path
13.5 km
Road
63 m
Rest stops
Mountain hut Grotto Monti di LegoCapanna Lo Stallone
Capanna Cardada
Safety information
From December to April, the section between Monti di Lego and Alpe Cardada in particular can become slippery with snow and ice due to the reduced amount of sunlight. Special care should therefore be taken during this period.Public transport
Public-transport-friendly
The Conta, Paese bus stop is easily accessible by bus B323 from Tenero, Stazione or bus B312 from Locarno, Stazione. More information on www.ffs.ch .Coordinates
SwissGrid
2'708'161E 1'116'202N
DD
46.188594, 8.839638
DMS
46°11'18.9"N 8°50'22.7"E
UTM
32T 487625 5115014
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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
16.1 km
Duration
3:00 h
Ascent
1,193 m
Descent
1,193 m
Highest point
1,486 m
Lowest point
478 m
Public-transport-friendly
Round trip
Scenic
Refreshment stops available
Insider tip
Weather at the route's trailhead
Statistics
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Maps and trails
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