Autumn vacation in Ticino, vineyard in Malcantone — Malcantone, lived during centuries from the chestnut. Today, more importance is given to the Merlot grapes in the vineyards |© Ticino Turismo, photo Alberto Vicari

Ticino Turismo
Via C. Ghiringhelli 7
6500 Bellinzona

www.ticino.ch

Autumn shines here in the most beautiful colors until late November. Hike with us, in the footsteps of the chestnut. Some of the most beautiful autumn hikes in Ticino.

On the trail of the chestnut in Malcantone
Autumn is the best time of year to wander through the lush chestnut groves of Malcantone, a wooded hilly area southwest of Lugano. The "Sentiero del Castagno" (Chestnut Trail) is a themed trail that provides information about chestnut cultivation and the woods that surround it. The 15-kilometer circular hike starts in Arosio. It leads in five to six hours through enchanting landscapes and past picturesque villages with charming views. At various locations, hikers learn interesting facts about the importance of chestnuts in Ticino as well as about the processing procedures for the various products. Chestnut specialties can be tasted on the tour, for example, at the Ristorante Castagno in Mugena. The villages along the way can all be reached by public transport, so the tour can also be shortened in places.

Hike with adrenaline kick to the Tibetan bridge "Carasc
Just a few kilometers from Bellinzona begins the family-friendly hike to the Tibetan bridge "Carasc", with 270 meters one of the longest suspension bridges in Switzerland. The four-hour tour starts in Monte Carasso and passes wineries that invite you to taste Ticino Merlot. The destination is the village of Curzútt, which has been awarded the Wakker Prize by the Swiss Heritage Society. In the village center, with typical Ticino stone houses, a small inn invites you to take a break. A few minutes' hike away is the small church of San Barnàrd with frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries. The crossing of a 100-meter-deep gorge on the Ponte Tibetano promises an adrenaline rush and magnificent views of the landscape glowing in autumn colors. Length: 7.91 kilometers, duration: 4 hours, difficulty: medium.

Hiking in the Indian Summer of Centovalli
From mid-October to mid-November, the Centovalli Railway offers a journey into the "Indian Summer" of Ticino with the "Treno del Foliage" and the trip through the valley ablaze in all the colors of autumn. On the journey, the passing forests glow in all shades of red, yellow and orange. At the Verdasio stop, a small cable car takes excursionists to Rasa, one of the last car-free villages in Ticino and the starting point of the roughly nine-kilometer hike. Situated at just under 900 meters, the village offers a magnificent view of the Centovalli. From there, the trail leads via Terra Vecchia to Bordei with its lovingly restored stone houses. A steep path leads back to Palagnedra. There it is worth taking a look at the church of San Michele with its valuable frescoes before returning to Locarno by Centovalli train from the Palagnedra stop.

A riot of color in the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site of the Maggia Valley
The ancient beech forests in the Valle di Lodano, a side valley of the Maggia Valley in Ticino, have been a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site since July 2021. There are a total of four hiking routes there that promise variety all year round. However, a visit to the beech forests is particularly spectacular in the fall, when the blaze of color reaches its peak. The forest reserve at an altitude of 700 meters and above is an exceptional example of the distribution of beech trees on the southern side of the Alps. Anyone who walks there with hiking guide Luca Goldhorn experiences nature with a whole new intensity. Because the expert knows the local flora and fauna like the back of his hand. Biodiversity and species richness in the reserve testify to the diversity of local plants and animals.

On the cultural trail of Monte Ceneri
The importance of Ticino's Monte Ceneri in north-south traffic is reflected in the "Via del Ceneri" theme trail, which is almost 18 kilometers long. Over the centuries, hikers, pilgrims, armies and merchants have traveled along this historic route to cross the Alps. From Cadenazzo train station, you can reach the starting point of the tour on the Ceneri Pass by bus. From there the "Via del Ceneri" leads through the area of Monte Ceneri via St. Antonino to the three medieval castles of Bellinzona. Information boards along the route provide information on history and culture, and the sights along the way bear witness to the former life in the region. These include a restored mill, a roccolo (brick tower used for bird hunting), a radio museum, churches and chapels, and the Piazza Ticino with its symbolic totem, made from the rock extracted for the construction of the Gotthard and Ceneri Alpine transit tunnels. Thanks to the impressive chestnut woods of Robasacco, among the most splendid in Ticino, the path is particularly worthwhile in autumn.

La Strada Alta della Leventina - hiking from the mountains to southern climes
The heart of the Alps beats at the Gotthard Pass. Those who have overcome it reach the Leventina Valley, where one of the most famous high-altitude trails in Switzerland can be found. The trail, which is about 48 kilometers long, begins in Airolo at 1,140 meters at the foot of the Gotthard and leads in three daily stages on the sunny left side of the valley over Lake Ritom as well as the Passo Forca in the direction of Osco to Biasca. On the way the landscape changes visibly and the archaic mountain world with resin-scented woods changes into Mediterranean flair with pine, birch and chestnut trees, whose colors shine in autumn. The trail also passes ancient Leventina wooden houses, typical Ticino stone buildings, and idyllically situated churches and villages that offer insights into the alpine culture of the region. Along the way you will find small, friendly hotels to stay in and simple restaurants that spoil their guests with local dishes.

Circular hike through the Valle di Muggio - the southernmost valley of Switzerland
A trip to another time is an excursion to the Valle di Muggio, the southernmost valley of Switzerland. It offers impressions like 100 years ago and is considered a living open-air museum with its tiny villages embedded in terraced landscapes clinging to the steep slopes. A circular trail of about eight kilometers leads past "Nevère" cold storage houses, "Roccoli" birdcatcher towers, "Graa" chestnut village houses, over bridges and through dense chestnut forests. The tour starts and ends in the charming village of Bruzella. There is also the main attraction of the valley: the mill of Bruzella, more than 700 years old, is still in operation and can be visited every Wednesday and Thursday afternoon from April to October and on three Sundays a month.