Program

Day 1  Locarno (200msm) - Cristallina Hut (2572msm)

Early morning departure from Locarno's Piazza Grande. Once you have entered the Maggia Valley, you go through the whole valley up to Bignasco (442m) where the road begins to climb.

The road climbs with slopes that are anything but prohibitive up to Prato Sornico where it really begins to climb. From Prato Sornico to the Sanbuco Dam there are about 12km of ascent with a constant average gradient of about 8%. After Mogno (where you can visit the spectacular Church of San Giovanni Battista) and an impressive number of hairpin bends you reach the village of Fusio. From Fusio the road flattens out slightly and then climbs again for a short distance to the Sanbuco Dam. At that point, about 1000m of difference in altitude have been covered without the real climb having yet begun!  

At the end of the beautiful lake fact begins the tough climb to the Naret Pond; a real challenge for the legs of any cyclist with walls and sections that touch slopes of 15% and a scenario that becomes increasingly alpine and spectacular.

Arrived at 2310 msm of the Naret lake  the road ends but not our day. After a short break and hoist wheels and bicycles to our backpacks, we will begin a 2 and a half hour trek towards the 2572m of the Cristallina pass where we will spend the night in the modern and welcoming hut.  

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Day 2 Capanna Cristallina (2572msm) - Locarno (200msm)

After a restful night and a breakfast subscription, we face an undemanding but spectacular trek towards Robiei (1940m). The landscape is breathtaking, along with numerous alpine lakes with the constant and imposing presence of the Basodino glacier in the background.  

In Robiei you take the cable car to go down to San Carlo where you return to pedal down the beautiful Val Bavona and then get back to Bignasco and cover the last kilometers downhill slightly to Locarno.

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Material

Included in the experience:

• Guide and Snack along the way

• Breakfast / Brunch at Rustico Ticinese

• Overnight in Capanna Cristallina (half board)

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Personal material:

• Road bike or Gravel bike 

• Technical backpack with laces to attach frame and wheels

• Technical equipment and helmet (mandatory)

• Mountain boots and poles (recommended)

• Canvas bag for sleeping in the hut (recommended) 

• Water bottles, energy bars, dried fruit to recharge your batteries along the way.  

In August, temperatures should be mild. We recommend technical clothing, sunglasses and spare parts for trekking and in the hut in the evening. La Capanna is located at over 2500 meters above sea level, so expect a sweatshirt, technical jacket and long trousers. Bring only the essentials with you. In case of bad weather the experience will be postponed.