Alpine Passes Trail

The 6-hour hike to the SAC mountain hut above lake Ritom takes off at the beautifully situated Bovarina hut. The tour starts with a highlight: around one and a half hours of delightful hiking from the Alpe Bovarina to the Passo di Gana Negra. Lovely trails meander past streams and a small lake. And all this with a fantastic view of the surrounding mountain peaks and the dam of the Lago di Luzzone. The closer you get to the pass, the more black stones consisting of Graubünden slate lie scattered in the green pastures. They provide a special contrast due to their colour and shape.

After crossing the pass, there is a steep descent of around 600 metres in altitude to Casascia. A little further down you reach Acquacalda on the southern side of the Lukmanier pass in the Valle di Blenio. The landscape around the Lucomagno is protected on account of its geological and botanical riches. This makes the tiny village a perfect setting for the Pro Natura Centre. You will immediately notice the diversity of the scenery: after crossing the Brenno stream, the path plunges into a magical forest of mountain pines, larches and Swiss stone pines, with various wetlands.

After the plateau at Piano dei Canali, the last steep ascent follows to Passo delle Columbe at 2380 m.a.s.l. The small Lago dei Campanitt invites you to take a rest. If the visibility is good, 4000-metre peaks such as the Finsteraarhorn, the Lauteraarhorn or the Schreckhorn can be admired. As you descend, you have superb views of the Piora Valley. Just like the Lucomagno Pass, this valley is famed for its abundance of flora. This is because of the various types of rock that are present here. Crystalline rocks alternate with dolomites containing calcium carbonate. In about one and a half hours, you reach Capanna Cadagno (hut), a little way above the idyllic lake and its waterfall. It is located on the Alpe di Piora, one of the largest alps in Ticino. Aromatic herbs grow here, including ribwort plantain and various types of clover.