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Moderate Hiking Trails in Ticino

152 routes in Ticino qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 5.7 km and 274 m (899 ft) of ascent, with the longest running to 23.4 km.

That is 68 percent of the 223 routes we map in Ticino. They are shorter than the local average, 5.7 km against 7.8 km, which is what makes this a practical shortlist for a half day. They also climb less than the area average, 274 m (899 ft) against 410 m (1,345 ft), so they suit a recovery day or a group with mixed fitness.

Moderate routes are the sweet spot for most regular walkers: enough climbing to feel like a proper day out, never enough to turn into an ordeal. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Gotthard railway Way between Faido and Airolo at Piotta Special train «125 Years of Gotthardbahn»
Moderate

12-Alpine Passes Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
14.4 km
/ 8.9 mi
Elevation gain
271 m
Typical duration
3 hr 24 min
  • Mountain
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
CAS Capanna Basodino ( 1856 m.ü.M.) mit Seilbahn St.Carlo - Robiei oberhalb des Maggiates im Schweizer Kanton Ticino.
Moderate

02-Sentiero Cristallina

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.6 km
/ 7.9 mi
Elevation gain
144 m
Typical duration
2 hr 51 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Das Grab von Clay Regazzoni auf dem Friedhof in Porza
Moderate

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
11.8 km
/ 7.3 mi
Elevation gain
219 m
Typical duration
2 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Downtown of Morbio Inferiore, Tessin, Switzerland
Moderate

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.9 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
591 m
Typical duration
3 hr 34 min
  • Waymarked route
Das Grab von Clay Regazzoni auf dem Friedhof in Porza
Moderate

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
11.9 km
/ 7.4 mi
Elevation gain
171 m
Typical duration
2 hr 44 min
  • Waymarked route
Gotthard railway Way between Biasca and Faido Special train «125 Years of Gotthardbahn»
Moderate

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.6 km
/ 7.8 mi
Elevation gain
581 m
Typical duration
3 hr 29 min
  • Waymarked route
View of Earth taken during ISS Expedition 65.
Moderate

01-Sentiero Verzasca

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.4 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
228 m
Typical duration
3 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Giro della Valle del Salto

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.8 mi
Elevation gain
171 m
Typical duration
1 hr 53 min
  • Waterfall
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.4 km
/ 6.5 mi
Elevation gain
229 m
Typical duration
2 hr 31 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
237 m
Typical duration
2 hr 36 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
10.8 km
/ 6.7 mi
Elevation gain
237 m
Typical duration
2 hr 36 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
15.2 km
/ 9.4 mi
Elevation gain
334 m
Typical duration
3 hr 40 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
11.3 km
/ 7.0 mi
Elevation gain
248 m
Typical duration
2 hr 43 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Monte Garzirola

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
8.2 km
/ 5.1 mi
Elevation gain
181 m
Typical duration
1 hr 59 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

ViaSuworow

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.8 km
/ 8.0 mi
Elevation gain
120 m
Typical duration
2 hr 51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Laghi Scouri Hospitz

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
8.3 km
/ 5.2 mi
Elevation gain
183 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Lago della Sella - Sunnsbühl

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
9.5 km
/ 5.9 mi
Elevation gain
208 m
Typical duration
2 hr 17 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Citto-Alpe d,Alva

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
4.6 km
/ 2.9 mi
Elevation gain
877 m
Typical duration
2 hr 17 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Cordonico-Alpe Cardada

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
2.4 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
477 m
Typical duration
1 hr 13 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Monti di Lego-Alpe Cardada

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
425 m
Typical duration
1 hr 28 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Giro del Castello di Serravalle

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.4 km
/ 4.0 mi
Elevation gain
455 m
Typical duration
2 hr 1 min
  • Castle and ruins
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

01 Via Alta del Sole

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.1 km
/ 7.5 mi
Typical duration
2 hr 32 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

02 Via Alta del Sole

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
811 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

02-Via Alta Crio

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
9.2 km
/ 5.7 mi
Elevation gain
660 m
Typical duration
2 hr 54 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

03 Via Alta del Sole

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.0 km
/ 8.1 mi
Typical duration
2 hr 43 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

05-Via Alta Crio

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
4.4 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
630 m
Typical duration
1 hr 51 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

07-Via Alta Crio

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.8 km
/ 4.9 mi
Elevation gain
700 m
Typical duration
2 hr 41 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Acquarossa - Grumo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
356 m
Typical duration
1 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Acquarossa - Leontica

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
353 m
Typical duration
58 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Acquarossa - Olivone

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.2 km
/ 7.6 mi
Elevation gain
558 m
Typical duration
3 hr 23 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Alnasca - ?

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.4 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
162 m
Typical duration
1 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Aquila - Camperio

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.4 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
552 m
Typical duration
2 hr 22 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Brè-Cardada

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
2.0 km
/ 1.2 mi
Elevation gain
315 m
Typical duration
53 min
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Brè-Cardada

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
2.5 km
/ 1.5 mi
Elevation gain
318 m
Typical duration
1 hr
  • Waymarked route
Moderate

Camerino-Isone

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.1 km
/ 4.4 mi
Elevation gain
157 m
Typical duration
1 hr 43 min
  • 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
12-Alpine Passes TrailTicino14.4 km271 m3 hr 24 minModerateJune to October
02-Sentiero CristallinaTicino12.6 km144 m2 hr 51 minModerateJuly to September
Trans Swiss TrailTicino11.8 km219 m2 hr 47 minModerateApril to October
ViaGottardoTicino12.9 km591 m3 hr 34 minModerateApril to October
ViaGottardoTicino11.9 km171 m2 hr 44 minModerateApril to October
Trans Swiss TrailTicino12.6 km581 m3 hr 29 minModerateApril to October
01-Sentiero VerzascaTicino13.4 km228 m3 hr 8 minModerateApril to October
Giro della Valle del SaltoTicino7.8 km171 m1 hr 53 minModerateApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino10.4 km229 m2 hr 31 minModerateApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino10.8 km237 m2 hr 36 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with 12-Alpine Passes Trail, 02-Sentiero Cristallina, Trans Swiss Trail. Those are the routes people come back to. Every route on this page links through to a full guide with the map, elevation profile, seasonal advice and what to bring.

Frequently asked questions

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