First of all: If I could, I would take anyone reading this right now immediately with me for a trip to Ticino. If I could do this, explaining the beauty of this area/range would become completely unnecessary, because when you visit once, you will come again…and again and again....

Ticino (or Tessin as the German-speaking people in Switzerland call it) is the Italian speaking Kanton of Switzerland. It is situated between Wallis, Uri and Graubunden in the north and Italy in the south. Furthermore, Ticino is the southernmost part of Switzerland. It has an area of 2812 square kilometers and has 319.200 inhabitants. The capital is the city of Bellinzona, which means something like ‘Beautiful Zone/Area’.

Ticino is a world on it’s own since it cannot be compared to any other area in Switzerland nor in the entire Alps. This is mainly because of the climate: Ticino has the great mountains of the Alps but on the other hand it also has the mild climate of the Mediterranean. As a result you will find yourself along palm trees in the valleys looking up towards the high rocky and snowy peaks above you, which is an experience you don’t want to miss out on.

Because of these features the area is excellent for hiking, scrambling and climbing, but also for relaxing and enjoying the sun. For example by the famous Lago Maggiore lake which was created by the carving of ancient glaciers.

Ticino consists of some amazing valleys like the main Leventina valley which is the valley you access from north (Gotthard). Other famous valleys are Valle Verzasca, Valle Maggia and Val di Blenio which all hold some real beautiful hiking trails and challenging peaks waiting to be climbed.

Ticino has two main ridges where the highest mountains of the area can be found. On the left side bordering Italy it is the Basodino-Massif. A strongly glaciated mountain of 3279m high. On the east side bordering the Kanton of Graubunden the Adula-massif can be found. Adula, which is 3404meters high, is the highest peak of Ticino and is better known under the name Rheinwaldhorn. (the German name)

Going from north through south through Ticino, the mountains will gradually become lower in elevation, since the Alps will end and you will enter Italy’s Po-area with big cities like Milano.

Getting There

Getting in ticino by Car

Main access routes:
-You can access from the south (Italy): Take the A8 Highway coming from Milano
-You can access from the North: Take the '2' Highway through Switzerland to the south: After the Gotthard (pass or tunnel) you will enter Ticino.

Minor access routes:
-You can access from the west, when coming out of Wallis. Take the Nufenenpass (2450m), you will enter Ticino at Airolo in the north of the Kanton.
Note: Nufenenpass is closed in winter!!!
-You can enter from the east by taking the St bernard/San Bernardino Pass when coming from Graubunden.
descend the pass and you are straight on the route to Bellinzona.
-Take the Lukmanier/ Lucomagno pass. you will enter Ticino form the north-east into val di Blenio

Major Mountains of Ticino:

Upper Eastern Ridge (First W-E ending N-S)

Piz Blas (3019m)
Scopi (3190m)
Cima di Camadra (3172m)
Piz Medel (3211m)
Pizzo Gaglianera(3121m)
Piz Terri (3149m)
Pizzo Cassinello (3101m)
P di Cassimoi (3128m)
P. Jut (3129m)
Grauhorn (3260m)
Rheinwaldhorn/Adula (3402)
Logia (3079m)
Vogelberg (3218m)
Rheinquellhorn (3200m)
Poncione del Freggione
Cima del Cogn (3063m)
Pizzo Muccia (2963m)
Pizzo delle Streghe
Torrone Alto (2950m)
Torrent Basso 2820m)
Cima D'Orz (2700m)
P. di Campedell (2724m)
Mottone (2692m)
Torrone Rosso (2670m)
Pizzo di Claro (2727m)
P. de Molinera (2288m)

Cassinello & Cassimoi

Upper Middle Ridge (W-E) (ending South)

Pne de Arbione (2409m)
Pne pro do Robuc (2507m)
Pecianett (2744m)
P. del Sole (2773m)
P. d'Era (2618m)
P. di Campello (2660m)
Cima di Gana Rossa (2565m)
P. Molare (2585m)
Motto Crostel (2302m)
Pizzo Alto (2366m)
P. Erra (2416m)
Cogn (2166m)
Pizzo Matro (2171m)

P. del Sole & d'Era

Pizzo Matro

Upper left Ridge (W-E)

P.Cassina Baggio (2860m)
P. Gallina (3061m)
P. Nero (2904m)
Forcella (2860m)
Pne di Manio (2924m)
Chuebodenhorn (3070m)
P. Rotondo (3192m)
P. Pesciora (3122m)
Huenerstock (2889m)
Lucendro (2963m)
Fibbia (2739m)
Pizzo Centrale (3000m)

Val Bavona West Ridge (N-S)

Poncione val Piana (2660m)
P.S. Giacamo (2924m)
Marchhorn (2962m)
Kastelhorn (3128m)
Basodino (3272m)
Tamierhorn (3087m)
P. Medola (2759m)
Kalberhorn (2805m)
P. Fiorera (2921m)
Madone di Formazzo (2510m)
P. Cazzola (2750m)
Wandfluhhorn (2863m)
Martschenspitz (2688m)
Madone Batnall (2748m)
P. Quadro (2792)
Pizzo Stella/Martschenspitz (2688m)

P. val Piana

Kastelhorn

Basodino

Val Peccia West Ridge (N-S)

P. Gararesc (2729m)
Cristallina (2912m)
Cavallo del Toro
Poncione di Braga (2864m)
Pulpito (2532m)
P. Castello (2808m)
P dei Foioi (2624m)
Rosso (2604m)
P Oglie (2604m)
Pzo Maldra (2640m)

Cristallina

Val Sambuco west Ridge ( N-S)

P. del L Scuro (2648m)
Pne dei Laghetti (2616m)
P. di Rod (2699m)
P. della Valetta (2580m)
P. del Piatto (2616m)

Valle Leventina West Ridge

Pne Sambuco (2587m)
Madone (2710m)
Pizzo del Prevat (2558m)
P. Campolungo (2714m)
P. Cana (2953m)
Pizzo Campo tencia (3072m)
P. Barone (2863m)
P. di Piancoi (2769m)
P. dei Laghetti (2443m)
Cima Bianca (2612m)
P. di Mezzodi (2708m)
Madom Gross (2741m)
P. Cramosino (2718m)
Cima d'Efra (2577m)
Cima Lunga (2512m)
Poncione d'Alnasca (2301m)
Pne Rosso (2505m)
Cima di Precastello (2539m)
Pne di Piotta (2439m)
Madone (2395m)
Pizzo di Vogorno (2442m)
Cima dell Uomo (2390m)
Gaggio (2267m)

Valle Maggia East Ridge (N-S)

Madas (2739m)
Corona di Redorta (2804m)
Triangolino (2591m)
Monte Zucchero (2735m)
P. del cocco (2339m)
Sasso Bello (2290m)
P. Alber (2213m)
P. Muretto (2257m)
Piancasia (2360m)
Madom da Sgiof (2265m)
P. di Corbella (2060m)

Monte Zucchero

Madom da Sgiof

Val Vergeletto North Ridge (W-E)

P. Porcarescio (2447m)
Pianca (2376m)
Rosso di Ribia (2541m)
Cima di Catogn (2398m)
P. Cramalina (2322m)

Lugano Valley West Ridge (N-S)

Monte Tamaro (1962m)
Graddicioli (1936m)
Pne Breno (1654m)
Monte Lema (1621m)

More south:
Monte Generoso (1701m)a>

Monte Generoso
Monte Tamaro
Valle Leventina

Leventina North side

Censo waterfall

Ticino river in Valle Leventina

Typical Ticino house

Valle Leventina is the main valley of Ticino. When coming to Ticino from the north you you can ether come from the Nufenen- or Gotthard pass. Descending from these passes you will enter Ticino in Valle Leventina. You are immediately in another world. Almost always when the weather in the other parts of Switzerland is bad, the clouds will clear up when entering Ticino. This because of the Mediterranean climate.
The Leventina valley is situated at low altitude, mainly somewhere between 700 and 200 meters above sea level. The mountains rise high above the valley until almost 3100meters. As a result climbing these mountains requires a large altitude gain. Sometimes until 3000 meters, this requires a good physical condition. The highest mountain to be climbed here is Pizzo Campo Tencia (3071m). Other great climbing possibilities are Cima dell Uomo, Pizzo di Claro, and Torrone Alto.

To get more information about climbing these mountains: (click to go to their SP-pages)

Torrone Alto
Pizzo di Claro

For climbing Cima dell’ Uomo, Pizzo Vogorno and many others:
Mornera cableway
This is the home page of the Mornera cableway, which gives you access to climb these mountains. Also info about climbing durations, access etc. can be found.
This cableway is located just north of the city of Bellinzona, (Access map can be found on the mentioned site) and is a perfect way for spending one or more days high in the Ticino Alps.

A nice trad climbing route in Leventina is Via del Veterano

Val Verzasca

Lavertezzo's wonderful ancient bridge.

Pizzo di vogorno (2442m)

Wall high above the verzasca Valley

Verzasca River

Val verzasca is one of the most famous valleys of Ticino. When you enter the valley the first thing you see is an immense Dam. It is the famous ‘James Bond’ Dam since James Bond jumped of it in the movie: Goldeneye. For those extreme people: You can imitate him and bungee-jump of it. I have to say: It is a jump of 270 meters deep and is one of the highest bungee-jumps in the world!
Continuing inside the valley you will come to enjoy the beauty of this valley: little ancient towns, a tremendously beautiful green colored river which the valley is most famous of.
The valley holds an enormous amount of trails which are all well marked.
Also many great mountains can be climbed. Most of them are not too well known and often seldom climbed. When you like to be ‘alone’ in the mountains this is the place to visit.

For climbing information and hiking trails go to:
Verzasca
Ticino Tourism

Val Maggia

Water of the Maggia River

Kastelhorn

Basodino (3271m) at the end of the Maggia Valley

View into Maggia valley

Valle Maggia is situated in the northwestern part of Ticino
It holds over 700km of marked trails, which gives a tremendous amount of opportunities for hiking in the area.
Great hikes are for example the trails to the 48 mountain lakes or to the 6 Dams in the area.
To plan your route you can buy the 1:50.0000 Vallemaggia map at the tourist office which is situated in the village of Maggia, Valle Maggia.

The most well-known place for hikes and climbs is Robiei, a cableway at the end of the Maggia-Valley
This is a nice page with a lot of nice hiking suggestions.
Go to this page and click on ‘Wanderwege’ on the left side.

This cableway brings you up to an elevation of about 1800 meters and is the starting point for many great hikes and climbs.
The most famous mountains to be climbed here are Christallina and Basodino.
Click on these names to go to the SP-pages of these mountains for more information about climbing them.

Valle Maggia site:
ValleMaggia

Monte Tamaro/ Monte Lema

View from Monte Tamaro towards Lago Maggiore

Monte tamaro Radio Mast

Monte Tamaro is situated in the southern part of Ticino, a few kilometers south of Locarno. A cableway brings you up to Monte Lema (1620m). Here starts an impressive route towards Monte Tamaro (1964m)
You walk over mountain ridges and have great views towards the Lago Maggiore and the Monte Rosa Group in Wallis.

For more information go to: Monte Tamaro

Entirely in the south you can find Monte generoso, check out the SP page:
Monte generoso SP

External Links

View into val di Blenio

Main Links for ticino:

Ticino Tourism
MySwitzerland

Links for specific valleys:

Val Verzasca
Valle Maggia

Cableway Links:

Robiei
Mornera
Monte Tamaro/Lema
Monte Generoso
Camping
Campings in Ticino can be found on: Camping search

Personal Favourite:
Camping Al Censo, Claro
Camping Al Censo

For hotels and other places to stay:
Visit the Major cities: Bellinzona, Lugano or Locarno
Hotels
Weather Forecast
Up to date weather Forecast:
CLICK!

Books about Ticino
Topo d’escalade Tessin et Mesolcina – Guida d’arrampicata – letterführer
G l a u c o C u g i n i
Editions du CAS, Berne 2006
ISBN 3-85902-253-9

--> A guide consisting of about 2100 routes in Ticino!

(thanks to SP member Bruno Tibet for noticing me about this book)

Images
[ View Gallery - 547 More Images ]

Overview

Getting There

Major Mountains of Ticino:

Upper Eastern Ridge (First W-E ending N-S)

Upper Middle Ridge (W-E) (ending South)

Pne de Arbione (2409m) Pne pro do Robuc (2507m) Pecianett (2744m) P. del Sole (2773m) P. d'Era (2618m) P. di Campello (2660m) Cima di Gana Rossa (2565m) P. Molare (2585m) Motto Crostel (2302m) Pizzo Alto (2366m) P. Erra (2416m) Cogn (2166m) Pizzo Matro (2171m)

Upper left Ridge (W-E)

P.Cassina Baggio (2860m) P. Gallina (3061m) P. Nero (2904m) Forcella (2860m) Pne di Manio (2924m) Chuebodenhorn (3070m) P. Rotondo (3192m) P. Pesciora (3122m) Huenerstock (2889m) Lucendro (2963m) Fibbia (2739m) Pizzo Centrale (3000m)

Val Bavona West Ridge (N-S)

Val Peccia West Ridge (N-S)

P. Gararesc (2729m) Cristallina (2912m) Cavallo del Toro Poncione di Braga (2864m) Pulpito (2532m) P. Castello (2808m) P dei Foioi (2624m) Rosso (2604m) P Oglie (2604m) Pzo Maldra (2640m)

Val Sambuco west Ridge ( N-S)

P. del L Scuro (2648m) Pne dei Laghetti (2616m) P. di Rod (2699m) P. della Valetta (2580m) P. del Piatto (2616m)

Valle Leventina West Ridge

Valle Maggia East Ridge (N-S)

Madas (2739m) Corona di Redorta (2804m) Triangolino (2591m) Monte Zucchero (2735m) P. del cocco (2339m) Sasso Bello (2290m) P. Alber (2213m) P. Muretto (2257m) Piancasia (2360m) Madom da Sgiof (2265m) P. di Corbella (2060m)

Val Vergeletto North Ridge (W-E)

P. Porcarescio (2447m) Pianca (2376m) Rosso di Ribia (2541m) Cima di Catogn (2398m) P. Cramalina (2322m)

Lugano Valley West Ridge (N-S)

Monte Tamaro (1962m) Graddicioli (1936m) Pne Breno (1654m) Monte Lema (1621m)

Valle Leventina

Torrone Alto Pizzo di Claro

Val Verzasca

Val Maggia

Monte Tamaro/ Monte Lema

External Links

Main Links for ticino: Ticino Tourism MySwitzerland Links for specific valleys: Val Verzasca Valle Maggia Cableway Links: Robiei Mornera Monte Tamaro/Lema Monte Generoso

Camping

Campings in Ticino can be found on: Camping search Personal Favourite: Camping Al Censo, Claro Camping Al Censo For hotels and other places to stay: Visit the Major cities: Bellinzona, Lugano or Locarno Hotels

Weather Forecast

Up to date weather Forecast: CLICK!

Books about Ticino

Topo d’escalade Tessin et Mesolcina – Guida d’arrampicata – letterführer G l a u c o C u g i n i Editions du CAS, Berne 2006 ISBN 3-85902-253-9

--> A guide consisting of about 2100 routes in Ticino!

Images

Pne de Arbione (2409m)
Pne pro do Robuc (2507m)
Pecianett (2744m)
P. del Sole (2773m)
P. d'Era (2618m)
P. di Campello (2660m)
Cima di Gana Rossa (2565m)
P. Molare (2585m)
Motto Crostel (2302m)
Pizzo Alto (2366m)
P. Erra (2416m)
Cogn (2166m)
Pizzo Matro (2171m)

P.Cassina Baggio (2860m)
P. Gallina (3061m)
P. Nero (2904m)
Forcella (2860m)
Pne di Manio (2924m)
Chuebodenhorn (3070m)
P. Rotondo (3192m)
P. Pesciora (3122m)
Huenerstock (2889m)
Lucendro (2963m)
Fibbia (2739m)
Pizzo Centrale (3000m)

P. Gararesc (2729m)
Cristallina (2912m)
Cavallo del Toro
Poncione di Braga (2864m)
Pulpito (2532m)
P. Castello (2808m)
P dei Foioi (2624m)
Rosso (2604m)
P Oglie (2604m)
Pzo Maldra (2640m)

P. del L Scuro (2648m)
Pne dei Laghetti (2616m)
P. di Rod (2699m)
P. della Valetta (2580m)
P. del Piatto (2616m)

Madas (2739m)
Corona di Redorta (2804m)
Triangolino (2591m)
Monte Zucchero (2735m)
P. del cocco (2339m)
Sasso Bello (2290m)
P. Alber (2213m)
P. Muretto (2257m)
Piancasia (2360m)
Madom da Sgiof (2265m)
P. di Corbella (2060m)

P. Porcarescio (2447m)
Pianca (2376m)
Rosso di Ribia (2541m)
Cima di Catogn (2398m)
P. Cramalina (2322m)

Monte Tamaro (1962m)
Graddicioli (1936m)
Pne Breno (1654m)
Monte Lema (1621m)

Torrone Alto
Pizzo di Claro

Main Links for ticino:

Ticino Tourism
MySwitzerland

Links for specific valleys:

Val Verzasca
Valle Maggia

Cableway Links:

Robiei
Mornera
Monte Tamaro/Lema
Monte Generoso

Campings in Ticino can be found on: Camping search

Personal Favourite:
Camping Al Censo, Claro
Camping Al Censo

For hotels and other places to stay:
Visit the Major cities: Bellinzona, Lugano or Locarno
Hotels

Up to date weather Forecast:
CLICK!

Topo d’escalade Tessin et Mesolcina – Guida d’arrampicata – letterführer
G l a u c o C u g i n i
Editions du CAS, Berne 2006
ISBN 3-85902-253-9