Alpine Passes Trail

The Bedretto Valley extends from Airolo to the Nufenen Pass, forming the topmost section of the Leventina Valley. This is the location of the headwaters of the river Ticino, which is fed by various mountain streams from both flanks of the valley. The hike starts at the traffic junction in Airolo. If you prefer to shorten the steep route up to Alp Pesciüm by taking the cable car, you can save almost two hours of hiking time. As you climb, you cross the downhill bike route in places. You leave Pesciüm on a beautiful high-level path where you will also encounter mountain bikes as you walk through a sparse larch forest and across lovely meadows.

The new Gotthard road is clearly visible, but all you can see of the old Tremola road is one hairpin bend. Always staying high above the Bedretto Valley, the trail leads via the Cascina della Croce pasture to the Ri di Cristallina stream. At this junction, the Sentiero Cristallina trail branches off to the left, leading up to the Cristallina hut. Shortly afterwards, the Alpine Passes Trail reaches the magnificent Alpe di Folcra pasture. A tiny lakelet and streams that seem to flow at random invite you to rest awhile here. You then continue downhill on a gravel road to the Alpe di Valleggia, from where you climb up again: at first for a good half hour on a gravel road through the woods, then on a trail. The view of the neighbouring mountains Pizzo Rotondo, Pizzo Lucendro or Witenwasserenstock is fantastic.

You continue towards San Giacomo via Stabbiasco and All' Uomo. Shortly before you get there, an infantry station can be seen. At the foot of the Pizzo San Giacomo and not far from the pass of the same name, which leads on to Italy, you arrive at a hamlet with three houses and a chapel. Here, the hiking trail branches off to the right in the direction of the stage destination Capanna Corno Gries. The toughest ascent is now over. A high-level path with a magnificent view over the Val Bedretto, the pass road and the Nufenen pass ends after about one and a half hours at the SAC hut, which looks a little like a spaceship. In 2007, architect Silvano Caccia "cut off" the roof of the traditional stone building and raised the hut. A dining room was built between the spectacular wooden superstructure and the original hut. The windows on all four sides of the building provide a 360-degree panoramic view.