Sassariente

Access

On reaching Switzerland, take the Strada Cantonale 13, which connects Locarno with Bellinzona. At the height of the municipality of Cugnasco, just beside a stream, take the road to the Monti. After passing through the hamlets of Agarone, Medoscio, Curogna and Monti di Ditto, you reach a fork in the road: turn right towards Monti della Gana. After a few hundred metres, the road is barred to unauthorised persons. There is ample parking space.

Introduction

The summit of Sassariente is a well-known and spectacular viewpoint over the end of Lake Maggiore: next to the tourist resorts of Locarno and Ascona are the Bolle di Magadino, a nature conservation area in the marshes at the mouth of the Ticino. The final part of the ascent, right at the rocky summit of the spire - the old via ferrata is now disused - takes place on overhead wooden footbridges. The descent is through solitary alpine pastures along a good, poorly marked path. Also interesting is the passage through a gap in the so-called 'Polish Wall', a mighty drystone wall that stretches for over a kilometre on the ridge behind Sassariente.

Description

From the car park 1080m, cross the barrier and continue for half an hour along the tarmac track leading to Monti della Gana 1286m. Following the precise signposting, take the path to the left and enter a vast beech forest; continue along a long traverse that climbs comfortably through bumps and tree-lined valleys to the base of a sunny rock face. The trail climbs it with a series of hairpin bends, carved out on natural or artificial ledges; then, past some clearings with traces of recent felling, it leads close to the border ridge with the Valle della Porta valley (Val Verzasca valley) and descends into a valley towards a fir forest. Here begins the long series of footbridges that - apart from a short wooded middle section - climbs alternating between ladders and switchbacks up to the small summit forecourt of Sassariente 1768m with a large metal cross. The entire artificial section is assisted by handrail cables or wooden parapets; the final gully - rocky - is a remnant of the old ferrata and is traversed by a canopy still in fairly good condition.
The descent takes us back to the ridge, where, turning left, we reach the Muraglia dei Polacchi and go past it, descending briefly into a small valley until we meet the Muraglia again: from here begins a steep winding descent through a dark wood that leads to the clearing of the Alpe di Foppiana 1495m. Without reaching the two farmsteads, turn immediately to the left, re-entering the wood near a spring; a long, gently descending traverse takes you to the Monti di Gola Secca 1296m, a panoramic cluster of partially restored huts. Find the path again at the bottom right of the clearing and continue to Monti Bared 1210m. From here, through a beautiful beech forest, on a wide path, we return to the starting point.

General Information

Signposting:white/red/white, white/blue/white
Type of route:circular
Recommended period: in the absence of snow
Objective hazard:hypes
Exposure to sunlight:south
Exposed sections:long stretches of path