There are some hikes in Ticino where the scenery changes so dramatically that it feels like you’ve left Switzerland (and Ticino!) altogether. Hiking in Robiei is definitely one of them. High above Val Bavona, surrounded by enormous granite mountains, stunning blue lakes and the Basòdino Glacier, this is one of those places where you spend almost as much time stopping to take photos as you do actually hiking.
Below I share with you an amazing 11km hike that starts at the Robiei cable car, and heads around 600 meters above elevation to a beautiful viewpoint of the area.
Read on to understand the route, get inspired by my photos and more!
Photos throughout this post are based on my hike from 8am to 1pm on a Sunday in late September.
Hiking In Robiei
For this hike, I started at the Robiei cable car station, at around 1,890 metres above sea level. The cable car journey takes around 15 minutes and brings you up to this spectacular alpine landscape at almost 1,900 metres.
From there you follow a route through the high-alpine landscape towards the viewpoints overlooking the Basòdino Glacier before looping back to Robiei.
According to my Komoot plan and recording, the route was approximately
- Length: 10.9 km long
- Elevation: 565 metres of elevation gain
- Duration: 4 hours and 21 minute
The route is classified as hard, with some sections requiring good footing.
Robiei has a surprisingly large network of hiking routes if you are more or less experienced too. You can choose anything from shorter walks around the lakes to much longer and more demanding alpine routes. The official Robiei hiking information also lists routes towards Lago Nero, Lago del Zött and the Basòdino Glacier as well as some 2-3 day hikes into the Valais canton to the North West (towards the Nufenen Pass) and Italy to the West.
Starting at Robiei Cable Car
I began the hike at the Robiei cable car station, where you are immediately surrounded by mountains. Even before taking a single step, there is already plenty to look at.
For my journey, the cable car costed only 24 CHF for return as an adult.
Robiei sits in the heart of the Basòdino region, with several hiking routes branching out from the cable car station. While taking the 15 minute journey up with the cable car, the trees start to disappear from the valley and you arrive in the rocky terrain.
Make sure to plan your visit well, as they do not run all times depending on the day you visit. It’s also good to highlight that the cable car does not run all year round and limited to late Spring to early Autumn.
Lago di Robiei
One of the first major highlights of the route is the area around Lago di Robiei. The reservoir sits at around 1,940 metres and is surrounded by impressive mountain scenery.
The water was so calm on the day that I visited, creating a beautiful reflection. The water colour was perfectly turquoise! There is also the impressive Robiei dam, which forms part of the hydroelectric infrastructure of the area.
Here some fishermen were starting their day at the edge of the lake, while I continued further for my hike.
From Lago di Robiei, I followed the route, which takes you up past the mountains following the concrete path along the river. You can alternatively walk through the mountain path on the other side of the river.
Discover our full Lago di Robiei post here: Lago di Robiei: An Easy Alpine Lake For Everyone
TIP: Discover our favourite Autumn Hikes for more inspiration: Autumn Hikes in Ticino: 13 Beautiful Routes To Explore
Lago Bianco
Before heading further up, you are greeted by Lago Bianco. It’s situated around 2,000 metres above sea level. Depending on the day and season you visit, you will experience different blue and green tones of Lago Bianco, influenced by the light, clouds and seasonal conditions.
It’s a lovely spot to pause for a moment and take in the landscape, especially if the lake area has the most perfect reflection like in my photos.
Climbing higher
After the easier opening section, the route gradually became more of a proper mountain hike.
The further I climbed, the more the landscape changed. The paths became rockier and the surrounding scenery increasingly felt like classic high-alpine Switzerland rather than the softer, greener landscapes you find lower down in Ticino.
This was also where the elevation started to become noticeable. With around 565 metres of total ascent over the whole route, there are several sections where you’re definitely earning the views. I was definitely dead at this point, as I hate hiking up, but it was well worth it!
The dam in the distance higher up in the photos below is Lago dei Cavagnöö, which I’ll hike to another day!
The Basòdino Glacier viewpoint
The big reward of the hike was reaching the higher viewpoint towards the Basòdino Glacier.
At 3,272 metres, Basòdino is one of the most impressive peaks in Ticino, and its glacier is the largest in the canton. Seeing the glacier from this area is quite special. It also gives the hike a slightly different feeling because you’re not simply looking at a pretty mountain panorama, you’re looking at a landscape that is constantly changing and unfortunately melting away.
The Basòdino Glacier has been shrinking considerably, as is the case with many Alpine glaciers in Switzerland, and the official glaciological trail in Robiei highlights the area as an important place to understand the geological and environmental changes happening in the Alps. For those into more extreme hiking, check it out!
For me, this viewpoint was probably the point where I appreciated the hike the most. You have this huge mountain landscape in front of you, with the glacier, rocky peaks and alpine lakes all fitting together into one view. Plus at this point, I was already eating my lunch!!
Lago Sfundau
Next on the hike was seeing Lago Sfundau, which was just as turquoise as Lago di Robiei, but surrounded ultimately by the large stones and rocks bigger than people. Its located at around 2,443 metres above sea level.
Lago Sfundau is actually a small reservoir, forming part of the extensive hydroelectric system in the Robiei area.
At this point you can consider also hiking furhter up towards Capanna Cristallina. You follow the path around the right of the lake up to the capanna in around 45 minutes.
Return To Robiei
After reaching the higher sections of the route and past Lago Sfundau, I started making my way back towards Robiei down the mountain.
The return was a completely different experience from the climb. Rather than constantly looking upwards at where I was going, I could finally look back at the landscape I’d crossed and relax on the downhill, which I much prefer than hiking up!
The final part of the route brought us back towards the Robiei cable car station following the concrete path along the river that I started on, completing the loop.
TIP: Enjoy a refreshing cold drink and some local mountain snacks at the Albergo-Ristorante Robiei. Here you can also sleep the night if you want to stay in the area longer. They are located right near the cable car, so if you also have time to relax, I suggest it here!
Summary
What I loved most about this hike was the variety.
You have the cable car ride into the mountains, reservoirs, alpine lakes, rocky paths and stunning views towards the Basòdino Glacier.
Hiking in Robiei is also a great reminder of just how much variety there is in Ticino. You can start your morning down in Val Bavona and, just a short cable car ride later, find yourself surrounded by a completely different world at almost 2,000 metres.
This definitely isn’t the easiest hike I’ve done in Ticino, and I wouldn’t recommend treating it as a casual walk. The route is classified as hard, and some sections are more technical, so good hiking shoes, sensible clothing and an eye on the weather are important. Mountain conditions can change quickly at this altitude.
But if you’re looking for a hike with big scenery, alpine lakes and glacier views, Robiei should definitely be on your Ticino hiking list.
Discover our related Ticino hiking posts!
Understanding The Swiss Hiking Signposts
Hiking In Ticino: Iconic, Easy Going Routes
Piora Valley Ticino Hiking: The 3 Lakes Of Lago Ritom, Lago Di Tom And Lago Cadagno
Hiking Valle Verzasca: Sonogno to Ponte dei Salti
Scenic Ticino Hiking At 2 Lakes: Lago di Tremorgio and Lago di Leit
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