5 Best hikes near Ascona Locarno

The sister cities Ascona & Locarno are a great base for exploring the long valleys, Valle Maggia and Valle Verzasca, which have many waterfalls, beautiful rivers and big mountains. Below are hikes that highlight the best of this area.

All hikes are easy to reach by car or public transportation. If you stay overnight in the area, you get a free Ticino Ticket, which include free public transportation and discounts on mountain railways and other attractions.

1. Cardada – hike down from Cimetta

Directly in Locarno city, a funicular train, then gondola, then chair lift up to the Cardada-Cimetta viewpoint shown here. You can enjoy fabulous views of Lago Maggiore from the panorama terrace and/or restaurant. To enjoy the views a little longer, hike down to the middle station, an easy 3.2 km. With kids, ride down instead and do the fun barefoot path and treasure hunt trail.

• Hike: Easy • 1h • 3.2km • 310m down
• From Locarno: funicular is a short walk from Locarno train station
• Cost: about CHF 36/adult, discount with Swiss travel cards/passes

See details for Cardada

2. Valle Verzasca

You can reach this famous Valle Verzasca swimming area directly by car or bus. But we suggest starting with a hike along the river, finishing with a swim near this bridge. The full trail is 14k but you can easily shorten it to as little as 4k by starting at a closer bus stop. 

• Hike: Easy • 14k • 3.5 h • 10m up, 390m down 
• From Locarno: 30 mins by car, 1hr15 by bus
• Cost: parking fees and bus fare to reach start of trail, free with Ticino Ticket

See details for Verzasca river hike 

3. Foroglio waterfall

You don’t have to hike to see these falls since they are right near the parking and bus stop. You can do a short path to the base of the falls for a little drama. For more beauty, we suggest hiking up the mountain to the “hanging valley” above the falls and walk along the river. 

• Hike: Moderate • 2 h • 5.3 k • 310m up/down
• From Locarno: 45 mins by car, 1hr15 by bus
• Cost: free

See details for Foroglio hike

4. Lago di Robiei

Robiei is a mountain area at the end of Valle Maggia with several reservoirs fed by glacier melt. For a short hike, you can hike around the main reservoir near the cable car, shown in the picture here. For a longer hike, we suggest the Basodino Glacier Trail that hikes higher into the mountains near the glacier. For a multi-day hike, follow the Senterio Cristallina north to towards Airolo and the Gotthard tunnel, staying overnight in a hut along the way.  

• Lago di Robiei Hike: Moderate • 1 h • 3.2 k loop • 90m up/down
• From Locarno: 1hr by car, 1hr30 by bus
• Cost: Cable car return CHF 24/adult, discount with Ticino Ticket but not with other Swiss travel cards

See details for Robiei lake hike

5. Cascata del Salto waterfall and valley tour

The valley near Locarno are well known for their waterfalls and Cascata del Salto is one of the more popular ones. The falls are near the start of the hike, where you can cool off in the river on hot day. The full hike head up river, looping around the mountains. 

• To the falls: 1 km to the falls
• Full hike: 8.9 km • 4 h • 836m up/down
• From Locarno: 25 mins by car, 35 mins by bus
• Cost: free

See details for hike on SchweizMobil and AsconaLocarno.ch

For more hikes in this region, see Best hikes in Ticino