Hiking

ViaGottardo
Stage 12, Airolo–Rodi

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ViaGottardo
Stage 12, Airolo–Rodi
After the rock outcrop at Stalvedro the trail winds its way down to the floor of the Leventina valley. Alongside the Ticino River and changing from one bank to the other, you reach Rodi and the Dazio Grande customs house, one of the impressive symbols of the ViaGottardo.
Airolo is located in the Leventina district, which geographically comprises the valley of the Ticino river until Biasca, specifically the Val Bedretto and Valle Leventina valleys. The hike starts on the south side of the Gotthard Pass. Until Quinto you are mostly close to the motorway and able to gloat a bit when you look at the heavy traffic on the Gotthard route. Take the path to climb up to the rock outcrop with the remnants of Stalvedro castle, which probably dates back to the 13th century.
Back down again, follow the Ticino river to Piotta. The town is known primarily for its ice hockey club Ambri-Piotta. On the left side of the valley you will notice a funicular railway. With a maximum gradient of 87.8% it is one of the world’s steepest funiculars. It leads to the Lago di Ritom reservoir in the area of the Lukmanier Pass. Cross the Ticino and continue following a forest path to Quinto where you cross the river again and turn into the forest. After the next, fairly short wooded section the lovely hike ends in Rodi.
Before the construction of the Gotthard railway, Rodi was highly dependent on the Piottino gorge. The first path crossing the gorge was built in the 14th century. Later, the Roman Road led from Rodi along the western side of the valley to Monte Piottino and finally down to Prato. The “Urner Saumweg” (mule track of Uri) was not built until the 16th century and led directly through the gorge. This is when the Dazio Grande customs house was built, because the gorge formed the border between Swiss and Milanese territory. For a long time Rodi consisted of only this one building for the transfer of goods. At the same time, it also served as a toll station and customs office. Today, the Dazio Grande is open to guests, offering a country-style restaurant, overnight accommodations and an exhibit about the gorge.
Back down again, follow the Ticino river to Piotta. The town is known primarily for its ice hockey club Ambri-Piotta. On the left side of the valley you will notice a funicular railway. With a maximum gradient of 87.8% it is one of the world’s steepest funiculars. It leads to the Lago di Ritom reservoir in the area of the Lukmanier Pass. Cross the Ticino and continue following a forest path to Quinto where you cross the river again and turn into the forest. After the next, fairly short wooded section the lovely hike ends in Rodi.
Before the construction of the Gotthard railway, Rodi was highly dependent on the Piottino gorge. The first path crossing the gorge was built in the 14th century. Later, the Roman Road led from Rodi along the western side of the valley to Monte Piottino and finally down to Prato. The “Urner Saumweg” (mule track of Uri) was not built until the 16th century and led directly through the gorge. This is when the Dazio Grande customs house was built, because the gorge formed the border between Swiss and Milanese territory. For a long time Rodi consisted of only this one building for the transfer of goods. At the same time, it also served as a toll station and customs office. Today, the Dazio Grande is open to guests, offering a country-style restaurant, overnight accommodations and an exhibit about the gorge.
After the rock outcrop at Stalvedro the trail winds its way down to the floor of the Leventina valley. Alongside the Ticino River and changing from one bank to the other, you reach Rodi and the Dazio Grande customs house, one of the impressive symbols of the ViaGottardo.
Airolo is located in the Leventina district, which geographically comprises the valley of the Ticino river until Biasca, specifically the Val Bedretto and Valle Leventina valleys. The hike starts on the south side of the Gotthard Pass. Until Quinto you are mostly close to the motorway and able to gloat a bit when you look at the heavy traffic on the Gotthard route. Take the path to climb up to the rock outcrop with the remnants of Stalvedro castle, which probably dates back to the 13th century.
Back down again, follow the Ticino river to Piotta. The town is known primarily for its ice hockey club Ambri-Piotta. On the left side of the valley you will notice a funicular railway. With a maximum gradient of 87.8% it is one of the world’s steepest funiculars. It leads to the Lago di Ritom reservoir in the area of the Lukmanier Pass. Cross the Ticino and continue following a forest path to Quinto where you cross the river again and turn into the forest. After the next, fairly short wooded section the lovely hike ends in Rodi.
Before the construction of the Gotthard railway, Rodi was highly dependent on the Piottino gorge. The first path crossing the gorge was built in the 14th century. Later, the Roman Road led from Rodi along the western side of the valley to Monte Piottino and finally down to Prato. The “Urner Saumweg” (mule track of Uri) was not built until the 16th century and led directly through the gorge. This is when the Dazio Grande customs house was built, because the gorge formed the border between Swiss and Milanese territory. For a long time Rodi consisted of only this one building for the transfer of goods. At the same time, it also served as a toll station and customs office. Today, the Dazio Grande is open to guests, offering a country-style restaurant, overnight accommodations and an exhibit about the gorge.
Back down again, follow the Ticino river to Piotta. The town is known primarily for its ice hockey club Ambri-Piotta. On the left side of the valley you will notice a funicular railway. With a maximum gradient of 87.8% it is one of the world’s steepest funiculars. It leads to the Lago di Ritom reservoir in the area of the Lukmanier Pass. Cross the Ticino and continue following a forest path to Quinto where you cross the river again and turn into the forest. After the next, fairly short wooded section the lovely hike ends in Rodi.
Before the construction of the Gotthard railway, Rodi was highly dependent on the Piottino gorge. The first path crossing the gorge was built in the 14th century. Later, the Roman Road led from Rodi along the western side of the valley to Monte Piottino and finally down to Prato. The “Urner Saumweg” (mule track of Uri) was not built until the 16th century and led directly through the gorge. This is when the Dazio Grande customs house was built, because the gorge formed the border between Swiss and Milanese territory. For a long time Rodi consisted of only this one building for the transfer of goods. At the same time, it also served as a toll station and customs office. Today, the Dazio Grande is open to guests, offering a country-style restaurant, overnight accommodations and an exhibit about the gorge.
Length
14 km
Ascent | Descent
360 m | 560 m
Hiking time
3 h 50 min
Grade | Fitness level
easy
(hiking trail)
|
medium
Arrival | return travel
More …
Airolo - Piotta
Duration
22.09.2020 - 30.04.2023
Reason
Construction & maintenance work
Various road works temporarily make the valley floor path impassable. It is advisable to follow the "Strada Alta" from Airolo to Altanca and then descend to Piotta.
Status
validated
Data source: Swiss Hiking Federation and Cantonal hiking associations
Stalvedro
Duration
14.03.2023 - 30.04.2024
Reason
Amended routing
Several road construction sites make the path temporarily impassable. The diversions runs along the river and then reconnects with the hiking network to the east of the construction site area.
Status
validated
Data source: Swiss Hiking Federation and Cantonal hiking associations
Hints
Arrival | return travel
Contact
Signpost management
Signposting is managed by the cantonal hiking trail organisation on behalf of the canton.
Ticino Sentieri
Via A. Giovannini 3
6710 Biasca
info@ticinosentieri.ch
www.ticinosentieri.ch