Lago Ritom • Hike around alpine lakes in Ticino

This trail hikes around Lago Ritom, a beautiful mountain lake in southern Switzerland. It’s exciting just getting there, riding up the super steep funicular (87.8% grade), more like an elevator. The lake itself is a gorgeous deep blue, surrounded by dramatic mountains, rolling hills and forest.

I have a few trail options below, from easy and stroller-friendly to a mountain climb, all visiting the Cadagno hut for lunch. For a shorter day, you could simply enjoy a picnic lakeside.

NOTE: You can get a discount on the train + funicular with this SBB Railaway offer.

Overview

Lago Ritom is a large reservoir in the mountains at 1850m. You can reach the lake via a funicular and 20 min walk to the dam. Or you can drive up a single lane mountain road and park directly at the dam.

From the dam, I have three hiking options for you, all of which lead to the Capanna Cadagno hut for lunch. For a shorter day, you can simply walk a bit along the lakeshore and have a picnic.

Trail A: Easy to Hut & Back

From the dam, the easiest option is walking on the dirt road on the north side of the lake. The road is obstacle free, possible with strollers.

It’s 5.5 km to the hut, which took us about 2 hours with small kids. Return the way you came.

See this trail map on Komoot

The path is flat most of the way along the lake, then it climbs uphill, gaining about 100m until you reach the hut.

Trail B: Loop around lake

This loop starts along the dam. Then on a footpath along the lake, passing a few nice picnic areas along the lakeshore.

At the east end of the lake, the path heads straight up a hill, about 200m elevation gain over 1.3 km. Our kids, 6 and 10 yrs old at the time, complained a lot this part but eventually we made it.

The path descends to the river then walks back on the road to the hut. Then back along the north shore of the lake to the funicular.

See trail on Komoot – SchweizMobil

From the dam, it took us about 2 hrs to reach the restaurant, then about 1.5 h back to the funicular.

Trail C: Higher Mountain Loop + Third Lake

From the dam, this trail climbs up the hills above the lake. Much of the climb is in the forest and along a stream. You visit two small alpine ponds and walk through beautiful meadows.

From the higher parts of the trail, you get nice views of the surrounding mountain peaks and views of Lago Ritom far below. Eventually you join trail B and descend to the river and loop back to the hut.

On your way back, fork right to hike up to the Lago di Tom lake, a nice detour if you still have energy. After the lake, you hike back to Lago Ritom along a river and waterfalls. Then back along the service road to the funicular. This is my favorite version.

See trail map on Komoot

Trail alternatives

Just a picnic: If you don’t want a long hike, simply walk up to the lake and wander along the lake shore as long as you like. I recommend the south side of the lake, which has a narrow dirt footpath (not for strollers), often in a pretty forest and close to the water. Lots of nice quiet spots to picnic. 

Walk around lake (skip the hut): If you don’t want to visit the hut, you could walk around the lake, about a 9km loop. See trail map. You can hike in either direction. The better panorama views are from the north side of the lake. 

How to get there

These hikes are located in the Ticino region in southern Switzerland, near Airolo. 

To reach the hikes, you ride a steep funicular train from Piotta to Piora, then walk on a paved road to Lake Ritom, where the trails start.

By public transport:

The Piotta, Funicolare bus stop is directly at the funicular station. The bus does not run very frequently and not well coordinated with the funicular timetable. So check your connections carefully to avoid long wait times, especially for your return journey.

If you are coming from Zurich, the most convenient connection is the direct train to Airolo, then bus to Piotta, Funicolare. This train is often very full on weekend mornings, so you may want to make a seat reservation.

There is another connection that travels via Arth-Goldau and drops you at the Ambrì-Piotta station. Then bus 117 to Piotta, Funicolare. If you are coming from Lucerne, you mAlternatively, there 

In the afternoon, the 14:30, 15:35 or 17:00 funicular from Piora are well timed with the bus and train connections returning to Zurich or Lucerne.

By car:

The funicular address is Via Funicolare Ritom 1, 6776 Quinto. You can park right next to the funicular station.

It is possible to skip the funicular and drive directly to Lake Ritom and park next to the dam (metered parking). There are about 40 spots.

If you are driving from northern Switzerland (Zurich or Lucerne), you have to drive through the Gotthard tunnel, which can have heavy traffic, especially on weekends. This can lead to wait times of 45 mins to 2 hour or more at the tunnel entrance. Check current Gotthard tunnel traffic.

If the tunnel traffic is very bad, you may want to drive over the Gotthard pass or take the train instead.

Planning your day

Ticket prices

You’ll need a return ticket for the Piotta Funicular station. You can buy them at the ticket office on-site with cash or card. 

In 2025, a return ticket costs 25 CHF/adult and 12 CHF/child 6 to 17. They offer a Family pass for 2 adults and multiple children. Dogs return ticket CHF 10.

There is a 20% discount for SBB GA or Half-fare cards. See current prices.

Opening hours

The funicular runs daily from mid May through mid October. 

The funicular has an irregular schedule, running about every 35 to 60 minutes. Check the current timetable.

The funicular carries 50 people, no reservations. They may run the funicular more frequently is there is a large demand. We’ve never had to wait for the next funicular. 

Photo story of hike

Funicular Ride

The funicular has a 87.8% grade, making it one of the steepest funiculars in the world open to the public. It feels more like an elevator ride and is a little unnerving. It’s in an enclosed car, so it feels safer than Gelmerbahn’s open car.

View from top of funicular

Walk to lake

At the top of the funicular, follow the paved road to the east towards the lake, Lago Ritom. It’s about 1 km, took us about 20 mins with kids. When you reach the dam, walk up the path to the top of the dam.

At the top of the dam, the trail splits. To your left, you can walk on the dirt road along the north side of the lake, suitable for strollers. To your right, you can walk on the narrow footpath along the south side of the lake. Both paths eventually leading to the Capanna Cadagno hut and restaurant.

North side of the lake

If you took the dirt road on your left, the road starts by hugging the lake side.

At the east side of the lake, the trail starts to climb, rising about 400m over 2 km.

Small children probably can’t do it on their own and you will sweat a bit pushing up the stroller. Our 4.5 yr old walked most of it (with lots of encouragement) but made me carry him on my back for the last 20 minutes or so.

The views are great as you climb higher, this pic taken in mid-August.

Also pretty in snowy October.

The road passes two other smaller lakes on the way to the restaurant.

At the mountain restaurant

Finally the Capanna Cadagno hut and restaurant. There is a lot of outdoor seating and last time we went, a sandpit with toys for the kids. The food was hearty traditional Ticino dishes like stew and polenta, very tasty. Last time we went, there weren’t kid-friendly menu options like hot dogs, pasta or fries. My kids were quite picky at the time, so we had a bit of hard time finding something they would eat. So be warned. Last time we went it was cash only.

The hut has been renovated since this picture was taken, but the view is the same and the menu was similar last time we went in 2013.

Now you can simply go back the way you came. Or you can connect with the footpath that will loop you around to the south side of the lake.

South side of the lake

If you turn right at the top of the dam, you will walk across the dam then take a narrow footpath into the forest. This is not suitable for strollers.

The views on the south side of the lake are totally different from the north side.

Lots of places to stop for a picnic.

At the east side of the lake, the trail steeply climbs up the mountain, about 600m ascent over 1.3 km.

My kids wanted to quit here. It doesn’t look that steep, but it was exhausting for all of us.

The views from the highest point are amazing!

The trail makes its way back to the dirt road. The trail splits before reaching the hut. We took the left split, which first followed a river lower than the hut, crossed a bridge and then walked back up to the hut. Kinda annoying because we were really hungry. If you take the split to the right, it’s a more direct route to the road, then turn left to walk down to the hut.

Here’s the beautiful bridge we crossed before heading back up to the hut.

After visiting the hut, you can continue down the dirt road to return to the lake and dam.