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Hard Hiking Trails in Ticino

The directory currently contains 112 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Ticino. Their average mapped distance is 13.3 km and average recorded ascent is 1,081 m (3,547 ft); the longest route in the set is 44.7 km.

This subset represents 27% of the 418 quality-checked routes in Ticino. Its average distance is 13.3 km, compared with 6.2 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 1,081 m (3,547 ft), versus 460 m (1,509 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

This set contains routes rated hard or expert from their available distance and elevation measurements. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 112 (100%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (2%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

6.9 km

Trans Swiss Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

543 m

13-Alpine Passes Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Expert

14a-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
41.4 km
/ 25.7 mi
Elevation gain
2,249 m
Typical duration
12 hr
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

13-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
26.6 km
/ 16.5 mi
Elevation gain
543 m
Typical duration
6 hr 42 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

10-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
14.4 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
722 m
Typical duration
4 hr 5 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

14-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.3 km
/ 10.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,248 m
Typical duration
5 hr 19 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
992 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
18.6 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,228 m
Typical duration
5 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
South slope of the pass of the San Gottardo - Ticino - Switzerland
Hard

Via Gottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.0 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
992 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.6 km
/ 14.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,203 m
Typical duration
6 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.6 mi
Elevation gain
852 m
Typical duration
3 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
18.0 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,135 m
Typical duration
5 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
33.0 km
/ 20.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,580 m
Typical duration
9 hr 46 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
22.6 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
827 m
Typical duration
6 hr 10 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
15.2 km
/ 9.4 mi
Elevation gain
513 m
Typical duration
3 hr 56 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Ad ogni incrocio di sentiero ed ogni cambiamento importante di direzione, la marcatura permanente impedisce al corridore di potersi smarrire. Sul percorso di 54Km sono presenti circa 80 cartelli indicatori con il logo di Scenic Trail.
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,185 m
Typical duration
3 hr 57 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

11-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.7 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,075 m
Typical duration
5 hr 9 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
11.3 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
887 m
Typical duration
3 hr 41 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Dove non è stato possibile mettere dei pali segnaletici ufficiali, sono stati posti dei paletti in alluminio anodizzato con marcatura bianco-rosso-bianco per permettere ai corridori di seguire senza difficoltà il percorso di Scenic Trail.
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,140 m
Typical duration
5 hr 10 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

03-Sentiero Cristallina

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.8 km
/ 10.4 mi
Elevation gain
1,646 m
Typical duration
6 hr 1 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Walserweg Gottardo - Etappe 7

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
18.6 km
/ 11.6 mi
Elevation gain
170 m
Typical duration
4 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Walserweg Gottardo - Etappe 8

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
15.2 km
/ 9.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,302 m
Typical duration
5 hr 8 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Mountains in Switzerland (Gotthard region?)
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.9 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
725 m
Typical duration
3 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.9 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
725 m
Typical duration
3 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.7 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
881 m
Typical duration
4 hr 11 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
870 m
Typical duration
4 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
19.7 km
/ 12.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,107 m
Typical duration
5 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
546 m
Typical duration
3 hr 39 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
17.7 km
/ 11.0 mi
Elevation gain
804 m
Typical duration
4 hr 58 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.2 km
/ 7.6 mi
Elevation gain
708 m
Typical duration
3 hr 36 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.8 km
/ 8.6 mi
Elevation gain
669 m
Typical duration
3 hr 53 min
  • Waymarked route
Gordevio
Hard

Gordevio - Capanna Alpe di Ními

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.3 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,591 m
Typical duration
3 hr 42 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

02-Sentiero Verzasca

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
21.2 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,429 m
Typical duration
6 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Walserweg Gottardo - Etappe 5

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
4.2 km
/ 2.6 mi
Elevation gain
940 m
Typical duration
2 hr 17 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.3 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
5 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Borne routière kilométrique du milieu du XIXe siècle sur la route de Chiasso jusqu’au col du Gotthard. 66 kilomètres depuis Chiasso.
Hard

Via Gottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
26.6 km
/ 16.5 mi
Typical duration
5 hr 53 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Loderio - Capanna Pian d'Alpe

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.5 mi
Elevation gain
1,483 m
Typical duration
3 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Laghi Scouri Hospitz

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,052 m
Typical duration
3 hr 19 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Lake Lugano from Monte Boglia
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,026 m
Typical duration
3 hr 47 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Carona, Lugano, Switzerland
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
939 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Vista sul lago Maggiore dall'alpetto Caviano
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.6 km
/ 14.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,111 m
Typical duration
6 hr 51 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
19.6 km
/ 12.2 mi
Elevation gain
989 m
Typical duration
5 hr 42 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Semione - Capanna Pian d'Alpe

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,422 m
Typical duration
3 hr 35 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Common Nightingale Luscinia megarhynchos , near Gordevio, Ticino, Switzerland.
Hard

Gordevio - Ör

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
17.0 km
/ 10.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,726 m
Typical duration
6 hr 12 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Lavertezzo Borgna

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
11.8 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,934 m
Typical duration
5 hr 22 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Bivio Fromighera - ?

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
5.3 km
/ 3.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,634 m
Typical duration
3 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
24.4 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
5 hr 39 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Avegno Bassa di Cimetta

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.3 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,354 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
14a-Alpine Passes TrailTicino41.4 km2,249 m12 hrExpertJuly to September
13-Alpine Passes TrailTicino26.6 km543 m6 hr 42 minHardJuly to September
10-Alpine Passes TrailTicino14.4 km722 m4 hr 5 minHardJune to October
14-Alpine Passes TrailTicino16.3 km1,248 m5 hr 19 minHardJuly to September
Trans Swiss TrailTicino6.9 km992 m2 hr 56 minHardJune to October
Trans Swiss TrailTicino18.6 km1,228 m5 hr 50 minHardApril to October
Via GottardoTicino7.0 km992 m2 hr 56 minHardJune to October
Trans Swiss TrailTicino23.6 km1,203 m6 hr 58 minHardApril to October
Trans Swiss TrailTicino12.3 km852 m3 hr 50 minHardApril to October
ViaGottardoTicino18.0 km1,135 m5 hr 33 minHardApril to October

14a-Alpine Passes Trail, 13-Alpine Passes Trail, 10-Alpine Passes Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

Read article →

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