Hiking and trekking in the Val di Colla and Verzasca Valley

At 1,816 metres, Monte Bar is a very pleasant hiking experience amidst picturesque villages, forests and alpine pastures. Starting from Bogno, in Val Colla, climb up to Alpe Cottino, famous for its Scottish cow herds, and continue to Capanna San Lucio, where you can enjoy an incredible view as far as Val Cavargna, before reaching the summit, which offers a 360 degree panorama from Lake Lugano to the Alps. Another exciting balcony over Lake Maggiore and the Alpine chain is Cimetta, at an altitude of 1,670 metres, which can be reached via Cardada after the ascent by cable car from Orselina: here starts the trail towards the Cima della Trosa and the enchanting village of Mergoscia, which ends at Lake Vogorno, where you can also admire the famous Verzasca dam. For climbing enthusiasts, Canton Ticino offers its best at the Capanna del Pairolo in Alta Val Colla, an hour's walk from Cimadera: more than 80 routes are available in the surrounding area, and a particularly popular destination is the 'Denti della Vecchia' rock massif, a dolomite rock that stretches to the Italian border.