Find your tours

Find lots of fantastic Hiking Tours in Switzerland and in Liechtenstein!

Find your tours >>

Hiking Tour of the Month

Top Tour of the Month

Restored Irrigation Channel: Bisse du Torrent Neuf
3 hours / 12 km

Details ... >>

Hiking in Ticino

Round Tour in the Valle del Salto, Maggia Valley

Maggia - Pioda Chapel - Ovia - Ceir - Pioda Chapel - Maggia

Route Infos ▾ | Tour Ratings (2) ▾ | Tours in the Vicinity ▾ | Favourite Entries (5)

Maggia - Pioda Chapel - Ovia - Ceir - Pioda Chapel - Maggia

Published/updated on 18.05.2016 by GabrielleMerk | 23061 points
 | Date of Tour: 15.05.2016 | Favourite Entries (5) 

The Maggia Valley in the Ticino is renowned for its side valleys such as the Bavona, Lavizzara, Vergoletto, Bosco Gurin, Peccia… but some of the lesser known side valleys are also worth discovering, such as the “Valle del Salto”... read more >>

The Maggia Valley in the Ticino is renowned for its side valleys such as the Bavona, Lavizzara, Vergoletto, Bosco Gurin, Peccia… but some of the lesser known side valleys are also worth discovering, such as the “Valle del Salto” (Valley of the Jump, referring to the waterfall at the mouth of the valley) just East and above the town of Maggia.

The valley is easy to access via a path that leads first through the heart of the town, then about 20 minutes up stone steps through vineyards and forest to the little chapel (Santa Maria della Pioda) perched on the top of the cliff. From the location of the chapel (which contains frescoes from the 15th century), you have splendid views down the Maggia Valley.

The Valle del Salto consists of mostly heavily forested steep slopes with the odd pasture and cluster of renovated Rustici homes, reinforcing how beautiful the Ticino wilderness is, and how difficult life must have been for farmers of yore. Kilometers of retaining walls, well-laid stone steps, and small stone shelters hanging on the steep slopes attest to years of backbreaking work.

The trail is mostly uphill toward the back of the valley and downhill coming out with a few level sections along the way, passing across several wild streams that cleave the slopes and many huge old hollowed-out chestnut trees along the way. At the back where a side trail heads steep uphill to pass into the Verzasca Valley is a small dam creating a couple of attractive pools…. A good place to stop for a picnic.

Published/updated on 18.05.2016 by GabrielleMerk (23061 points) | Date of Tour: 15.05.2016

Route Infos
Region
Ticino
Time Required
3 hours 45 minutes
Distance
9 km
Ascent
690 m
Descent
690 m
Max. Altitude
872 m
Min. Altitude
327 m
Season Start / Season End
May - October
Level of Difficulty (Hiking)
Panorama
Experience
Points of Interest
Santa Maria della Pioda Chapel
Starting Point
Maggia (Village)
Starting Point with Public Transport
Maggia, centro
Destination
Maggia (Village)
Return with Public Transport
Maggia, centro
Places to Eat
Maggia

Details about the route 

Are you interested in hiking the tour described above? Log in or register for free to get access to all the details for a successful hike.

  • Detailed map with traced route on SwissMobility map, including elevation profile
  • GPS file for download
  • Route description in text form
  • Printable tour description

 

 
0
Very well maintenaned, and indeed great in for a hot day as the trees offer a nice shade.

Rating: 5/6

Hiked on 08.07.2018 by Okueng

Very well maintenaned, and indeed great in for a hot day as the trees offer a nice shade.

More Tour Reviews
0
Wunderschoene Landschaft. Viel im Wald daher gut an heissen Tagen. Wirklich zu...

Rating: 5/6

Hiked on 15.05.2016 by GabrielleMerk

Wunderschoene Landschaft. Viel im Wald daher gut an heissen Tagen. Wirklich zu empfehlen wenn man Ferien im Maggiatal macht.

 

Tours in the Vicinity 

5.6 km from Starting Point

On the Old Mule Trail from Loco to Intragna

2 hours 30 minutes  / ↔ 6 km / ↑ 270 m / ↓ 610 m / ⛰ 682 m / ☀️ 3/5 / 😀 3/5

Published/updated on 06.03.2017 by GabrielleMerk

In the Middle Ages, the old mule trail “Via delle Vose” was the only road connecting the villages of the wild and steep Onsernone Valley with the harbour and markets at Ascona... more >>

Tour Ratings 0
Tour Ratings 0
Favourite Entries 4
Favourite Entries 4
6.1 km from Starting Point

Hike in the Wild and Romantic Onsernone Valley

3 hours 30 minutes  / ↔ 10 km / ↑ 430 m / ↓ 639 m / ⛰ 1023 m / ☀️ 3/5 / 😀 2/5

Published/updated on 23.10.2016 by GabrielleMerk

October is the perfect time to hike in the Ticino because the thick chestnut forests are starting to change colour, and the beautiful fat glossy nuts are pelting down all... more >>

Tour Ratings 0
Tour Ratings 0
Favourite Entries 2
Favourite Entries 2
6.4 km from Starting Point

Valle da Riei

3 hours  / ↔ 10 km / ↑ 357 m / ↓ 587 m / ⛰ 710 m / ☀️ 4/5 / 😀 4/5

Published/updated on 30.12.2016 by GabrielleMerk

This particular tour was mapped for maximum sunshine on a winter day (when there is little snow and mild weather in the Ticino then this tour can be done year-round) and it did... more >>

Tour Ratings 2
Tour Ratings 2
Favourite Entries 2
Favourite Entries 2
9.9 km from Starting Point

From Verdasio to Intragna on the Sentiero di Comino

5 hours  / ↔ 14 km / ↑ 900 m / ↓ 1100 m / ⛰ 1245 m / ☀️ 4/5 / 😀 5/5

Published/updated on 07.06.2016 by GabrielleMerk

This tour up Monte Comino in the magnificent Centovalli and down to Intragna definitely rates as one of the best! There is a cable car from Verdasio up the mountain, shortening... more >>

Tour Ratings 0
Tour Ratings 0
Favourite Entries 3
Favourite Entries 3
10.2 km from Starting Point

Hiking on the Other Side of the Verzasca Valley

3 hours 30 minutes  / ↔ 11 km / ↑ 512 m / ↓ 575 m / ⛰ 595 m / ☀️ 3/5 / 😀 4/5

Published/updated on 11.04.2019 by GabrielleMerk

Most hiking websites will describe the relatively easy walk along the Verzasca River from Sonogno to Lavertezzo, or the more challenging ascent from Lavertezzo to Mergoscia on... more >>

Tour Ratings 0
Tour Ratings 0