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Best Lake Hikes near Locarno

There are 12 hikes near Locarno in our database that fit. They average 17.9 km and 461 m (1,512 ft) of ascent.

That is 14 percent of the 87 routes we map near Locarno. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 17.9 km against 11.6 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here.

Lake routes give you a natural halfway point, somewhere to swim in summer, and the calmest reflections of the whole week if you get there before the wind picks up. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Vista sul lago Maggiore dall'alpetto Caviano
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.6 km
/ 14.7 mi
Elevation gain
1,111 m
Typical duration
6 hr 51 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Vicolo al Castello 3, Brissago. "Palazzo Branca-Baccalà" et musée Leoncavallo.
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
19.6 km
/ 12.2 mi
Elevation gain
989 m
Typical duration
5 hr 42 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
01 202 of "Verein Pacific 01 202" ahead (together with 01 1066) of a northbound special train at Minusio.
Hard

Cammino del Lago Maggiore

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
24.4 km
/ 15.1 mi
Elevation gain
193 m
Typical duration
5 hr 39 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Expert

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
33.0 km
/ 20.5 mi
Elevation gain
725 m
Typical duration
8 hr 29 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
  • 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
15.2 km
/ 9.4 mi
Elevation gain
334 m
Typical duration
3 hr 40 min
  • Lake
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
22.6 km
/ 14.0 mi
Elevation gain
496 m
Typical duration
5 hr 40 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
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.9 km
/ 10.5 mi
Elevation gain
372 m
Typical duration
4 hr 8 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

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
Hard

Sentiero Lago di Lugano

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.4 km
/ 10.2 mi
Elevation gain
361 m
Typical duration
4 hr
  • Lake
  • 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
Cammino del Lago MaggioreTicino23.6 km1,111 m6 hr 51 minHardApril to October
Cammino del Lago MaggioreTicino19.6 km989 m5 hr 42 minHardApril to October
Cammino del Lago MaggioreTicino24.4 km193 m5 hr 39 minHardApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino33.0 km725 m8 hr 29 minExpertApril to October
Giro della Valle del SaltoTicino7.8 km171 m1 hr 53 minModerateApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino15.2 km334 m3 hr 40 minModerateApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino22.6 km496 m5 hr 40 minHardApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino10.8 km237 m2 hr 36 minModerateApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino16.9 km372 m4 hr 8 minHardApril to October
Sentiero Lago di LuganoTicino11.3 km248 m2 hr 43 minModerateApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Cammino del Lago Maggiore, Cammino del Lago Maggiore, Cammino del Lago Maggiore. 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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