7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo
7 ViaGottardo

Hiking

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ViaGottardo

Stage 12, Airolo–Rodi

Route report
66 photos

WL_007_12_IMG_6379_R_F_M.jpg
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ViaGottardo

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.
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.
14 km
360 m | 560 m
3 h 50 min
easy (hiking trail) | medium

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Airolo
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

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

Guides
There is a guide available for this route in German and French.
More

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Rodi, Posta
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

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

Services

Accommodation

B&B Motta
B&B Motta
Airolo
Hotel Forni
Hotel Forni
Airolo
B&B Gottardo
B&B Gottardo
Airolo
Capanna Garzonera
Capanna Garzonera
Quinto
Capanna Föisc
Capanna Föisc
Quinto
Motel Gottardo Sud
Motel Gottardo Sud
Piotta
Capanna Tremorgio
Capanna Tremorgio
Prato Leventina
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Places

Airolo
Airolo
Rodi
Rodi
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Places of interest

Cheese factory Gottardo
Cheese factory Gottardo
Airolo, Ressiga–Madrano
Airolo, Ressiga–Madrano
Ritom funicular
Ritom funicular
Natural trail Lago Ritom
Natural trail Lago Ritom
Strada alta (Madrano–Osco)
Strada alta (Madrano–Osco)
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Signalization

Signalization
For hiking, follow the logo indicated on the yellow signposts. Take a printout of our web map on your hike for safety's sake.
Signalization