Nature Trail recommended route Multi-stage route

Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake

Nature Trail
Logo Ascona-Locarno Tourism
Responsible for this content
Ascona-Locarno Tourism Verified partner 
  • Photo: Mariano Berri, Ascona-Locarno Tourism
Hint

Explanation

Selected alternatives for you

    The Between the Mountains and the Lake educational trail links Dirinella, also the starting point for the mountain trail of the same name, to the railway station in Cadenazzo. The itinerary passes through woods, meadows and villages with enchanting views and panoramas, as well as industrial and agricultural areas and roads, offering an exhaustive insight into Gambarogno and the Magadino plain.

    moderate
    Distance 23.5 km
    7:20 h
    1,085 m
    1,085 m
    392 m
    194 m

    The forty or so themed panels, produced with the help of schools in Gambarogno, tell evocative tales of times past as well as fascinating modern stories. They provide walkers with facts and historical, geographical and scientific information, about long-standing professions and new settlements, as well as parks and natural areas. They also highlight the major local and socio-economic changes of the last 200 years, from the advent of the railway to the canalisation of the Ticino river and the subsequent reclamation of the Magadino plain.

    The educational trail, created thanks to an Interreg initiative in 2004 with the first section from Dirinella to San Nazzaro, was extended to Contone in 2017 and as far as the railway station in Cadenazzo in 2019. This extension came about thanks to the Le Terre del Ceneri and La Via del Ceneri, projects envisaged to showcase the historical, cultural and landscape features of the Cadenazzo, Gambarogno and Monteceneri regions, located on the slopes of Monte Ceneri, and to highlight the operation of the rail tunnel at the base of the Ceneri, opened in 2020.

    The educational trail is aimed at a broad public: school children, families, people of all ages, and can be undertaken without difficulty in both directions.

    Given its length, approx. 23 km, we suggest tackling the educational trail in three stages.

    Profile picture of Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia
    Author
    Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia
    Update: May 05, 2023
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Highest point
    392 m
    Lowest point
    194 m
    Best time of year
    Jan
    Feb
    Mar
    Apr
    May
    Jun
    Jul
    Aug
    Sep
    Oct
    Nov
    Dec

    Track types

    Asphalt 45.86%Dirt road 2.10%Forested/wild trail 2.36%Path 32.34%Road 17.14%Unknown 0.17%
    Asphalt
    10.8 km
    Dirt road
    0.5 km
    Forested/wild trail
    0.6 km
    Path
    7.6 km
    Road
    4 km
    Unknown
    0 km
    Show elevation profile

    Start

    Dirinella
    Coordinates:
    SwissGrid
    2'702'069E 1'106'742N
    DD
    46.104456, 8.758689
    DMS
    46°06'16.0"N 8°45'31.3"E
    UTM
    32T 481349 5105681
    w3w 
    ///asterisk.repeat.extremely

    Destination

    Cadenazzo

    Turn-by-turn directions

    Dirinella-Caviano-Calgiano-Torcetto-Gerra Gambarogno)-Lubie-S.Nazzaro-Vairano-Piazzogna-Fosano-Vira (Gambarogno)-Magadino-Vira-Lido Magadino-Orgnana-Cavriana-Motto Rabello-Quartino-Contone-Cadenazzo, Stazione

    Public transport

    Public-transport-friendly

    From Locarno: take the boat in the direction of Ascona. Get off at San Nazzaro. Or take the train in the direction of Castione-Arbedo. Get off at Cadenazzo, then take the B 350 bus in the direction of Dirinella to San Nazzaro.

    Return from Magadino: take the boat to Locarno. Or take the B 350 bus in the direction of S. Antonino, Centri commerciali. Get off at Cadenazzo. Take the train towards Locarno. Get off at the station. Further information: www.sbb.ch

    Coordinates

    SwissGrid
    2'702'069E 1'106'742N
    DD
    46.104456, 8.758689
    DMS
    46°06'16.0"N 8°45'31.3"E
    UTM
    32T 481349 5105681
    w3w 
    ///asterisk.repeat.extremely
    Get there by train, car, bike, or on foot!

    Equipment

    • Hiking daypack (approx. 20 liters) with rain cover
    • Comfortable and sturdy footwear
    • Adequate and durable outdoor clothing in multiple layers
    • Telescope sticks if necessary,
    • Sun and rain protection
    • Snacks and drinking water
    • First aid kit
    • Penknife
    • Mobile phone, headlight if necessary
    • Maps

    Similar routes nearby

    • Yoga Trail
    • Sculpture path
    • Centres of energy in the Ghiridone
    • Arcegno-Losone-Arcegno
    • Places of Power in Arcegno
     These suggestions were generated by our system
    Difficulty
    moderate
    Overall difficulty
    moderate

    Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

    Distance
    23.5 km
    Duration
    7:20 h
    Ascent
    1,085 m
    Descent
    1,085 m
    Highest point
    392 m
    Lowest point
    194 m
    Public-transport-friendly Linear route Scenic Refreshment stops available Cultural/historical interest Flora

    Weather at the route's trailhead

    Statistics

    • Content
    • Show images Hide images
    Features
    Maps and trails
    • 3 Stages
    Nature Trail · Ascona-Locarno
    Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake - Stage 1: Dirinella-San Nazzaro
    recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 1
    Distance 7.5 km
    Duration 3:00 h
    Ascent 391 m
    Descent 401 m

    The first part of the Between the Mountains and the Lake educational trail links Dirinella and San Nazzaro.

    from Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia,   Ascona-Locarno Tourism
    Nature Trail · Ascona-Locarno
    Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake - Stage 2: San Nazzaro-Magadino
    recommended route Difficulty easy Stage 2
    Distance 6.7 km
    Duration 2:30 h
    Ascent 295 m
    Descent 295 m

    from Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia,   Ascona-Locarno Tourism
    Nature Trail · Ascona-Locarno
    Educational trail - Between the Mountains and the Lake - Stage 3: Magadino-Cadenazzo
    recommended route Difficulty moderate Stage 3
    Distance 8.9 km
    Duration 3:30 h
    Ascent 393 m
    Descent 385 m

    from Christian Bordoli - Ente Regionale per lo Sviluppo Locarnese e Vallemaggia,   Ascona-Locarno Tourism
    • Route
    • Gradient
    Push the arrows to change the view
     km Distance
    : h Duration
     m Ascent
     m Descent
     m Highest point
     m Lowest point

    Plan your stay