Hop on your bike, pop on your walking boots

The most beautiful trails around Cardada-Cimetta

High above Lake Maggiore, a world of scenic trails, shade-dappled forests, and viewpoints unfolds. Cardada-Cimetta offers everything a hiker or e-biker could wish for.

Just a few kilometres from Ascona and the Vista Lakefront Boutique Hotel, high above sparkling Lake Maggiore, lies Cardada-Cimetta, one of Ticino’s most beautiful destinations. As early as the cable car’s first year of operation in 1952, around 69,000 visitors travelled up to the Panorama Plateau. Today, it’s appreciated by hikers, bikers, and leisure seekers alike from all over the world. From Locarno, you can take the funicular, cable car, and chairlift for a comfortable journey to Cardada and on to Cimetta. Anyone wishing to explore the area by bike can rent e-bikes from Vista Lakefront Boutique Hotel in Ascona. There are four routes we would particularly recommend:

• The Sentiero della Meraviglia is the classic scenic trail from Cardada to Cimetta. A gentle incline, with benches and the legendary viewing platform designed by Ticino architect Mario Botta, which hovers like a balcony out over the lake.

• The hike to Cima della Trosa at 1,869 metres requires a bit more stamina. In just over two hours, you’ll reach the summit, where you’ll be rewarded with a panoramic view stretching from the Valais Alps to the Po valley.
• The Panoramica route is ideal for e-bike riders. From Cardada, you pedal through forest sections and over open hilltops towards Alpe di Neggia. The gradients are challenging, but can be tackled comfortably with electric assistance.
• Ambitious e-bike riders choose the Verzasca loop. The trail leads into one of Switzerland’s most beautiful valleys, offering views of the emerald-green river pools at Lavertezzo and the chance to take a refreshing dip in the cool water.

After a day spent enjoying the mountain air and exercise, the best reward awaits down by the lake. Al Pontile restaurant is situated right on Ascona’s picturesque promenade. Here, you can round off the day in style with a glass of Merlot del Ticino and traditional Ticino specialities with a Mediterranean twist.