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Hard Hiking Trails near Lugano

22 routes near Lugano qualify, ranked below by how much walkers rate them. They average 18.0 km and 800 m (2,625 ft) of ascent.

That is 44 percent of the 50 routes we map near Lugano. They run noticeably longer than average for the area, 18.0 km against 12.0 km, so budget more daylight than a typical outing here. The climbing is steeper too: 800 m (2,625 ft) on average versus 497 m (1,631 ft) across the wider area.

Hard routes mean sustained ascent, long descents and a real need to watch the clock and the forecast. These lean toward the demanding end, so plan for a full day and check the forecast before you commit.

Trails

Protected area dry Grasslands and Pastures of National Importance Monte San Giorgio.
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
12.3 km
/ 7.6 mi
Elevation gain
852 m
Typical duration
3 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Marcatura semi-permanente Scenic Trail eseguita con spray bianco a rapido degrado
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.6 km
/ 14.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,203 m
Typical duration
6 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Marcatura semi-permanente Scenic Trail eseguita con spray bianco a rapido degrado
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
18.0 km
/ 11.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,135 m
Typical duration
5 hr 33 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Carona, Casa Bernasconi, arch. Luigi Snozzi 1989-90
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.7 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
881 m
Typical duration
4 hr 11 min
  • Waymarked route
Carona, Casa Bernasconi, arch. Luigi Snozzi 1989-90
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.5 mi
Elevation gain
870 m
Typical duration
4 hr 8 min
  • Waymarked route
Meride village in Mendrisio.
Hard

ViaGottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
13.6 km
/ 8.4 mi
Elevation gain
546 m
Typical duration
3 hr 39 min
  • Waymarked route
Staudamm Selvatica im Verzascatal
Hard

02-Sentiero Verzasca

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
21.2 km
/ 13.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,429 m
Typical duration
6 hr 44 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Dreamtime Boulder in Cresciano, opened by Fred Nicole in 2000
Hard

Trans Swiss Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
23.3 km
/ 14.5 mi
Elevation gain
69 m
Typical duration
5 hr 12 min
  • Waymarked route
Il nuovo vallo sul Riale Pián Perdásc ultimato nel marzo 2013, che serve a proteggere la strada Cantonale e le industrie sud, fotografato dalla strada Cantonale
Hard

Via Gottardo

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
26.6 km
/ 16.5 mi
Typical duration
5 hr 53 min
  • Waymarked route
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
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
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
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
Hard

Di Monte in Monte - Tappa 2

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
16.2 km
/ 10.1 mi
Elevation gain
851 m
Typical duration
4 hr 41 min
  • Mountain
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Lodrino-Alpe d,Alva

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
5.2 km
/ 3.2 mi
Elevation gain
1,376 m
Typical duration
3 hr 9 min
  • Alpine meadow
  • Waymarked route
Hard

01 - Cimetta - Capanna Nimi

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
9.6 km
/ 6.0 mi
Elevation gain
1,170 m
Typical duration
3 hr 46 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

01-Via Alta Crio

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
14.9 km
/ 9.3 mi
Elevation gain
1,250 m
Typical duration
4 hr 59 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Avegno Bassa di Cimetta

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.3 km
/ 3.9 mi
Elevation gain
1,357 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Avegno Bassa di Cimetta

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
7.3 km
/ 4.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,442 m
Typical duration
3 hr 42 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Brione Masnèe

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,480 m
Typical duration
3 hr 29 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Cattle Trail

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
20.3 km
/ 12.6 mi
Elevation gain
447 m
Typical duration
5 hr 4 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Claro Saurù

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
4.4 km
/ 2.8 mi
Elevation gain
904 m
Typical duration
2 hr 17 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Giova Capanna Brogoldone

Grisons · Switzerland

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
994 m
Typical duration
2 hr 45 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Gordevio - Ör

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
17.0 km
/ 10.6 mi
Elevation gain
374 m
Typical duration
4 hr 10 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Lumino Monti Saurù

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
5.7 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
1,063 m
Typical duration
2 hr 47 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Mergoscia-Madone

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.7 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
1,308 m
Typical duration
3 hr 21 min
  • Waymarked route
Hard

Mergoscia-P1650

Ticino · Switzerland

Distance
6.7 km
/ 4.1 mi
Elevation gain
990 m
Typical duration
2 hr 52 min
  • 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
Trans Swiss TrailTicino12.3 km852 m3 hr 50 minHardApril to October
Trans Swiss TrailTicino23.6 km1,203 m6 hr 58 minHardApril to October
ViaGottardoTicino18.0 km1,135 m5 hr 33 minHardApril to October
Trans Swiss TrailTicino13.7 km881 m4 hr 11 minHardApril to October
ViaGottardoTicino13.6 km870 m4 hr 8 minHardApril to October
ViaGottardoTicino13.6 km546 m3 hr 39 minHardApril to October
02-Sentiero VerzascaTicino21.2 km1,429 m6 hr 44 minHardApril to October
Trans Swiss TrailTicino23.3 km69 m5 hr 12 minHardApril to October
Via GottardoTicino26.6 kmflat5 hr 53 minHardApril to October
Cammino del Lago MaggioreTicino23.6 km1,111 m6 hr 51 minHardApril to October

If you only have time for one, start with Trans Swiss Trail, Trans Swiss Trail, ViaGottardo. 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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