> Hike through remote alpine wilderness between Italy and Switzerland
> Sleep in cozy mountain huts near dramatic dams and serene lakes
> Let us handle the hut bookings, you just hike
Cross the border and lose the crowds. On this five-day loop through Val Formazza, you'll explore a hidden corner of the Alps most travelers never see. Starting in Ulrichen, Switzerland, a short cable car ride catapults you into the heart of the mountains, where your only companions are marmots, mountain lakes, and a few perfectly placed rifugios. It’s green, it’s wild, and it’s a bit of a secret.
Designed for intermediate hikers, this route blends mellow trails with moments of T3 spice enough to keep things exciting without tipping into serious alpinism. You’ll pass through sleepy hamlets like Riale di Sotto, trace turquoise lakes like Toggia, and sleep in high-altitude mountain huts like Capanna Corno Gries and Rifugio Bim Se. If you’ve done the beginner hikes and are ready for more, this one’s calling.
The day starts above Ulrichen, where the bus winds its way up the Passo della Novena / Nufenenpass for 15 minutes before dropping you straight into a sea of green slopes and easy-going paths. As the bus runs every day but only sporadically, it is worth planning your timing, though the stage is short enough to suit different departures. Once high above Ulrichen, gentle paths lead through grassy slopes and scattered rocks, with wide views towards the rounded summit of Nufenenstock. It is a relaxed introduction, perfect for families to get used to the altitude and the open, bright landscape around Val Corno.
The route first dips slightly towards the pastures around Mandelli, crossing streams and small bridges where the water runs straight from the snowfields. From here the path begins to climb in easy zigzags into the upper valley. The further you go, the more the massif of Corno Gries appears, with traces of old glacier and wind-carved ridges above the trail.
The final stretch traverses a rocky slope on a well-marked path, with one last short climb to reach the stone buildings of Capanna Corno Gries. The hut sits like a balcony above the valley, with plenty of flat rocks for children to explore. Inside you find a welcoming dining room, warm drinks and simple family rooms, the ideal place to settle in for the night.
From Capanna Corno Gries the route rolls out across a high, open balcony above the Ticino mountains. It is a hard but wonderfully scenic traverse, with big views toward Lago Morasco, Lago Toggia and the pale peaks around Punta Elgio and Pizzo San Giacomo. The rhythm is mostly downhill, but never sleepy, alpine theatre from the first step.
The path first follows gentle terrain near the Chapel of San Nicolao Val d’Olgia, then bends south toward Lago Toggia. Around the lake the trail keeps things elegant, with water on one side and rugged stone on the other. Peaks such as Punta Elgio (2,887 m), Manió (2,962 m) and Pizzo San Giacomo (2,924 m) give the route that proper high-mountain swagger.
After the view over Lago Morasco the descent becomes the main act, dropping decisively toward Riale di Sotto. The final stretch eases into the valley, where Rifugio Bim Se waits in a calmer, greener setting. Boots off, shoulders down, and there it is: a finish with lakes, mountains and a plate waiting somewhere nearby.
Leaving the valley near Riale, the route climbs from the area around Lago Morasco into quieter mountain terrain. It is a moderate stage with a steady uphill character, moving toward the Nefelgiù basin below Punta del Costone and Punta dei Camosci. Views open quickly over Val Formazza, with rugged slopes, streams and wide alpine scenery setting the tone.
The trail rises past the view over Val Formazza and Alpe Nefelgiù, then continues into a higher, more open landscape. Around the route, Punta d’Arbola (2,949 m), Punta del Costone (2,956 m), Punta dei Camosci (2,928 m) and Corno Maggiore di Nefelgiù (2,954 m) mark the skyline. Near the upper section, the path reaches the area above Lago Vannino before a short descent toward the lake.
The final stretch brings you into the calm surroundings of Lago Vannino. Rifugio Eugenio Margaroli sits just above the water, with grass, rock and high peaks all around. It is a strong place to finish: boots off, lake in front of you, and the valley far behind.
This is a high mountain day, connecting two lakeside huts above the tree line with a long ridge loop. The route climbs to the lookout of Punta Lebendun, then swings across the vast basin of Lago Sabbioni with glaciers and three thousand metre peaks close at hand. It feels remote yet surprisingly playful, hopping from hut to hut and finishing on a rocky balcony at Rifugio Claudio e Bruno.
From Rifugio Margaroli the track follows the shore of Lago Vannino before turning onto steeper T3 terrain. A long ascent of roughly 800 vertical metres snakes up rubble and slabs to Punta Lebendun, a superb balcony over Val Formazza and the Sabbioni basin. The descent drops back to gentler ground near Rifugio Somma Lombardo at 2,561 metres, with huge views to Punta d'Arbola and Blinnenhorn.
Beyond the hut an airy traverse leads towards Rifugio Mores Lago Sabbione at 2,515 metres, perched just above the big dam. You cross the concrete wall with Lago Sabbioni on one side and waterfalls plunging into the valley on the other, then follow a clear path that hugs the northern shore. Short up and downs on turf and boulder ribs bring you to the stone buildings of Rifugio Claudio e Bruno, right above the turquoise water.
The final stage keeps the altitude for a while, hopping between high huts and dams before the long drop back towards Switzerland. It starts among moraine and old snowfields above Lago Sabbioni, brushes the glacier world around Rifugio 3A, then swings over towards the border ridge. After a panoramic traverse above Griessee the path finally spirals down to the Altstafel station, where the cable car glides you back to the valley.
From Rifugio Claudio e Bruno the trail climbs steadily on rocky T3 ground to reach Rifugio 3A, set right beside the Siedel glacier. Short exposed sections demand concentration but remain well marked. From here you swing south on balcony paths that lead to Rifugio Città di Busto at 2,480 metres, with long views back over Lago Sabbioni and the serrated skyline of Blinnenhorn and Punta dei Camosci.
Beyond the hut the markings guide you across rubble slopes to the broad Gries Pass and the concrete curve of the Griessee dam at around 2,380 metres. On clear days the view stretches to the icy tongue of the Gries glacier and far across the Valais peaks. A final long descent on well built mountain paths and service tracks zigzags down towards the power station buildings at Altstafel, where the loop comes to an end. From here you will need to make your way back to the Ladstafel bus stop, where the bus takes you down to Ulrichen. As the bus does not run very frequently, it is important to check the timetable in advance and plan your arrival accordingly. While you wait for the bus, there is time to rest and enjoy the last views of the high mountains around you.
