No matter whether you are hiking or mountain biking around the lakes at Val Piora, both activities show you the beautiful landscape in the midst of the magnificent Ticino Alps.
With its length of 8km and at an altitude of 1800 to 2000m above sea level, the Val Piora is the ideal setting to spend some quality time with your family or loved ones.
Due to the remarkable variety of botanical, faunistic and geological elements one can find at Val Piora, the region is a popular destination for researchers.
List of Contents
Where is Val Piora in Ticino?
Beautiful Val Piora is located in the north of Canton Ticino in the Bellinzona-Valli region and belongs to the Ticino Alps.
The hight plateau valley is best known for its man-made dammed lake Ritòm and the Ritòm Funicular, which is one of the steepest cableways in the world.
The Ritòm funicular departs from Piotta located between Airolo and Quinto. Both of these villages can be reached easily from the Swiss German part via the famous Gotthard Tunnel near Andermatt. The approach to this tunnel gets very congested most weekends and during school holidays and long waiting times are often registered.
Take the Swiss Pass Road
We always use one of the mountain passes when heading to Ticino as many beautiful viewpoints await. You will probably never take the tunnel again.
From Valais we take the Nufenen Pass road which brings us down to Airolo which is not far from Val Piora.
If you do not fancy a wait at the Gotthard tunnel drive over the Gotthard pass.
How to get to Val Piora
From the Leventina Valley in Piotta the impressive Ritòm Funicular will take you up to the Val Piora valley.
The single-cabin cableway with a maximum gradient of 87.8% is, as mentioned before, one of the steepest publicly accessible funicular railways in the world.
The journey is just under 1,4 Km and climbs 786 metres. It stops and lets people in or out at Altanca station before it carries on to Piora.
By Public transport
Take the train to Airolo, followed by a short Post bus ride to Piotta (Funicolare).
By car
Type Piotta in your GPS, if it is not detecting “Piotta funicolare”
Once in Piotta follow the signs to the Ritòm Funicular. A large car park is available.
Tickets & Opening times Ritòm Funicular
NOTE- For the season 2023 the opening of the funicular is 23 May and it will close again at the beginning of October.
Check website to get accurate opening information.
Get your ticket when you arrive. Neither the Swiss Travel Pass, GA or half tax are accepted.
Adults – Round trip Chf 12.-
Children – Round trip Chf 6.- (before the age of 6 free of charge)
Timing: As early as 8.35h from Piotta and the last funicular down is at 18.30h
(Except in October)
Hotels near Val Piora
Planning to stay longer in the area? Great idea! Discover the four Ticino Regions with all their glory. Below you can browse through the card and find your perfect hotel in the Bellinzona Valley which is close to Val Piora.
Mountain Biking Val Piora
This is how we explored Val Piora – by mountain bike.
Before planning your mountain bike route in Val Piora you have to know that you are not allowed to bike along the Nature Reserve (theme trail) which is on the right-hand side of Lago Ritòm.
We started in Piotta where we took the Ritòm Funicular to the top (read below regarding bike transport).
From there the path goes along towards the dam wall of Lago Ritòm, always with great views down the valley.
Bike to Lake Cadagno
Once we had arrived at the height of the Lake Ritòm we cycled along the left-hand side of the lake shore all the way to Lago Cadagno.
We spotted many marmots along this section.
Before reaching Lago Cadagno you will be passing by some beautiful stone houses which are scattered over the alpage.
It is here where the Cadagno Alpine Biology Centre and the popular Piora cheese dairy farm are located.
You should stop at the centre and buy some of the award winning Piora Alp cheese.
If you do not have a picnic with you the SAC hut Capanna Cadagno is only a few more bike pedals away and an ideal place to have lunch.
Bike to Lago di Tom
The last lake we wanted to explore was Lago di Tom. There is a path going over the mountain from lake Cadagno, but our mountain bike skills are not up to that standard.
So, we cycled back down towards Lago Ritòm from where you can see the road heading up towards the mountain on your right.
It is a steep ascent, but part of the road is reinforced with stone-bricks which makes it easier to cycle up. The kids enjoyed the steep ride whilst being taken on the pull rope. (E-bikes highly recommended).
Definitely glad we made the effort to get up to Lago di Tom.
A beautiful setting with amazing views over Val Piora.
After some time, it was time to head back down to Piotta. Once back at the funicular we opted to use the tar road for the descent back to the car park. We did encounter some cars on the last stretch, but overall the road was very quiet.
Bike transport to Piora
This is the statement from the Ritóm Funiculare
“Funicolare Ritóm SA informs that from the beginning of the 2023 season, due to the limited space in the cabin, the transport of bicycles will only take place from 13:15 to 15:15 PM”
We went in May 2022 and it was super quiet. The friendly operator let us bring the bikes up the mountain outside these times, but we were the only people in the funicular.
But if you wish to bike around the lakes in Val Piora even a 13.15h transport should give plenty of time, especially if you cycle back down to Piotta.
Hiking Trails in Val Piora
If you are visiting Val Piora for the purpose of hiking, you will be in for a treat.
You might find it difficult to choose which of these trails to follow as they are all great. A famous one is the lake trail of Val Piora, where you will get to the three main lakes. If you would like to go further afield check the map below.
On the photograph below you can see the different trails through Val Piora. For more information click on the photo or you can head to their website.
Facilities up at Val Piora
Val Piora attracts all kinds of different people who love the outdoors.
Also, thanks to the incredible variety of botanical, faunistic and geological elements in the Val Piora region, this place is used for studies by researchers and schools.
Alp Piora – Alpe Piora
The mountain pasture at Alp Piora hosts during the summer months from July to September, around 500 cattle including calves, heifers and dairy cows.
Located at Lake Cadagno you will also find the Cadagno Alpine Biology Centre and the renowned Piora cheese dairy from where you can buy the finest Piora Alp cheese.
Furthermore, at the same place is the aging cellar for Prosciutto dell’Alpe Piora from the Rapelli company.
If you are there during peak production time, why not go and visit and buy some of these Ticino delicacies!
Mountain Huts at Val Piora
To spend more than a day in Val Piora is a good idea.
The impressive alpine landscape and beautiful lakeland are rich in botanical and geological treasures. Several mountain huts are on hand to provide culinary delights, serving up Ticino specialities such as Polenta e Brasato (braised beef) or delicious Piora cheese.
The SAC Hütte Capanna Cadagno is a newly renovated hut offering a bed including half board for Chf 57.- whereas children aged 6 -13 pay Chf 42.-
From the Ritóm Funicular station the hut is reachable on the direct foot trail in 1h30.
Make a reservation with the hut if you would like to stay there.
Further afield via Val Cadlimo to the Lukmanier Pass, check out the SAC Cadlio Hütte. This hut is not manned during the off season and stands as a Rifugio only. But definitely a cool place to check out during the summer time.
Alternatively there is also a great option to overnight right at Lago Ritòm in the Rifugio Lago Ritòm
Things to do in Ticino
There is so much to do in Ticino and many beautiful places to visit.
We have travelled in the southern canton of Switzerland many times and our guides to discover Ticino should help you to see and do the best. Whether it is just a family bike tour in Lugano or maybe you like to walk the Via Del Ceneri, Ticino’s new theme trail, the choice if endless. Also for you we have put together a great 4 day Lugano Itinerary which can easily be combined with some of the best places to see in Ticino around Ascona-Locarno.
Also read the below articles.
- Discover the four different Ticino regions
- 24 of the best things to do in the Ticino regions “Ticino Moments”
More activities around Ticino
- Lugano Food tour, Get to know the city Lugano from a local’s perspective with a self-guided “Taste My Swiss City” gastronomic tour.
- Day trip from Como to Lugano, if you are heading to Como after this is a great tour. Visit two countries on a full-day tour of the lakes and villages in Switzerland and Italy from Como.
I hope that the information provided here will prove useful when you are planning to Bike or Hike in Val Piora in Ticino.
If I have left anything out or you have a question, please ask your questions in the comments below. Other readers can then join in the conversation and benefit from your queries also.
