Hiking (mountain trail, in places narrow and exposed)
Alpine route (equipped or very exposed section, snow field, blocks)
R86
Capanna Alpe Cava » Biasca
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4h05 |
10.5 km
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189 m
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1969 m
Leave the Capanna Alpe Cava hut and head westward, and make the only climb involved in this stage right at the start of the hike to the Forcarella di Lago gap. From here, the steep descent - a drop of around 1,800m metres in altitude - passes via alpine meadows and woodland to Biasca.
The route from the Capanna Cava UTOE hut to Biasca is a recovery walk, so to speak. The only ascent of 200 metres in altitude is right at the start of the hike, from the start to the Forcarella di Lago pass. Look back to see the trough with the mountain hut that you have just left behind, while the lovely Caregiöö mountain lake smiles at us from the opposite side. From the Sprüngh Alp, head downward to Biasca. The descent is very steep and Biasca and the valley floor are in fact reached in just a short time within an altitude difference of 1,800 metres. On the way, the trail passes San Pietro, a church that is under Swiss monument protection, richly decorated with frescoes. The rosary chapel that is part of the church is a baroque structure from the 17th century. From the church, a Way of the Cross with a panoramic view stretches out to the arched bridge over the Froda. For those who start in the early morning, it is possible to stop in the “grottis” of Biasca and spend a lovely evening there. The grottis are located to the north of Biasca at the foot of Mount Crenone and in the vicinity of the major rock fall of 1513. In the grottis, a good alpine cheese and sausages made by the restaurant’s own butcher await you, not to mention the excellent Merlot del Ticino, which has now replaced the rather tart but nevertheless refreshing and titillating Nostrano everywhere. (ATSE)
Natural and cultural heritage
Biasca Coins found in the area indicate that people had already settled in Biasca in Roman times. Initially, however, Biasca belonged to Raetia before it fell under the control of Milan at the end of the Middle Ages. The church of Biasca with its Roman sculptures and paintings from the 15th and 16th centuries also dates back to these times. It was mentioned for the first time in 1213 as a parish church for the Bleniotal valley, Leventina and lower Tessino. Again and again, the people of Uri tried to dispute the area surrounding Biasca with the people of Milan. For a short time, the town of Biasca was a Uri border town. In 1512, a rock fall from Mount Crenone created a storage dam to the north of the town. For the next 14 months, the Brenno river blocked by the masses of detritus formed a lake several kilometres in length, which burst its dam at Whitsun in 1514 and wrecked havoc in Tessino as far as the Magadinoebene plateau and the Langensee lake. Not least of all thanks to its favourable location near the roads used by alpine traffic, the local economy gradually recovered from this catastrophe. In around 1900, the work on the Gotthardbahn funicular provided many labours with a livelihood and today it is once again railway construction in the form of the new trans-alpine railway (NEAT) that exerts its economic and social effect on the Biasca region. (Schweizer Wanderwege)
Other long-distance trails and alternative routes
European long-distance hiking trail E1.
Useful topographic maps
266T Valle Leventina ~ Swisstopo (1: 50'000)
Tessin Sopraceneri 3-259-00831-4 ~ Hallwag Kümmerly und Frey AG, Urtenen BE (1: 60 000)
Useful guidebooks
Wanderwelt Tessin / SAW und Geotechn. Institut ~ Hallwag Kümmerly+Frey AG (ISBN 3-259-03698-9)
20 Bergwanderungen RegionTessin / Luc Hagmann / Franz Auf der Maur ~ Werd Verlag TA Media AG, Zürich (ISBN 3-85932-347-4)
Strada Alta Leventina Bedrettotal / Hans-Peter Nething ~ Ott Verlag AG, Thun (ISBN 3-7225-6882-X)
Picture gallery
Add your own pictures!
Comments
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.
Kat - 2023-07-23
Please be incredibly careful to stay on the marked track at Forcarella di Lago. The GPX file that I downloaded here sends you into a steep and very dangerous chimney with a goat track that looks as if it might go - it's actually a barely-there path over a sheer drop on chossy rock.
A few factors fed into this error for me -i didn't sleep at Capanna Cava, improvised a shortcut, and there were many (animal?) tracks to follow. There may also have been an issue with the way my gpx maps onto my map app. Either way, please be wary. The real path is well marked in red and white and easy and safe to descend.
Berta - 2018-06-27
Es gibt von Capanna Cava einen 2. Weg nach Biasca. Wir haben ihn unabsichtlich erwischt und es war ein wirklich schöner Abstieg, nicht so steil und lange Zeit auf einem guten Maultierpfad. In Biasca Zimmer in der Albergo della Posta, 120 SF mit Dusche und Frühstück. Zimmer zur Straße sehr laut.
Automatic translation
[Google]
There is a second way from Capanna Cava to Biasca. We caught him unintentionally and it was a really nice descent, not so steep and long time on a good mule track. In Biasca room in the Albergo della Posta, 120 SF with shower and breakfast. Room to the street very loud.
Der endlose Abstieg nach Biasca war nicht so schlimm wie befürchtet. Dennoch kein Spaziergang, mit Pausen deutlich über 5 Stunden gebraucht. In Biasca Unterkunft im Hotel Giardinetto (121 Euro DZ für 2 P ohne Frühstück!). Teureres Zimmer zum Hof nehmen, ist relativ ruhig, alle anderen gehen auf die Hauptstraße raus. Restaurant im Haus und Frühstück schon ab 6:45 Uhr.
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[Google]
The endless descent to Biasca was not as bad as it was feared. Nevertheless, no walk, with breaks well over 5 hours needed. In Biasca accommodation in Hotel Giardinetto (121 Euro double room for 2 P without breakfast!). More expensive room to the courtyard, is relatively quiet, all the others go out on the main road. Restaurant in the house and breakfast from 6:45.
Letztes Wochenende (12.8./13.8.17) von Selma nach Biasca gewandert. Sehr schöne Wanderung, gute Wegverhältnisse. Via Alpina Wegweiser nur an der Alpe di Lago (Selbstversorgerhütte) und Höhe Fracion (waren mal mehr), sonst gut ausgeschildert durch die Schweizer Wanderweg-Organisationen. Bin alternativ ab Piansgera über Nadro und Bedra del Vent nach Biasca gewandert. Nur für geübte, schwindelfreie und trittsichere Wanderer.
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[Google]
Last weekend (12.8./13.8.17) hiked from Selma to Biasca. Very nice hike, good road conditions. Via Alpina signposted only at the Alpe di Lago (self-catering hut) and Fracion height (were once more), otherwise well signposted by the Swiss hiking trails organizations. Alternatively I hiked from Piansgera via Nadro and Bedra del Vent to Biasca. Only for experienced, vertigo-free and sure-footed hikers.
Letztes Wochenende (10.01.-11.01.2015) von Biasca zur Alpe Di Lago gewandert. Ab Alpe Di Compiett (1516 m) bis Alpe Di Pontima vereinzelt Eis auf dem Weg, dann ab 1800 m Schnee. Schneeschuhe wären von Vorteil gewesen ;-)! Trotzdem top Wanderung und schöne, einsame Übernachtung in der Alpe Di Lago!
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[Google]
Last weekend (10.01.-11.01.2015) Biasca migrated to the Alpe di Lago. From Alpe Di Compiett (1516 m) to Alpe di Pontima isolated ice on the road, then from 1800 m snow. Snowshoes would have been an advantage;-)! Nevertheless top hike and beautiful, lonely night in the Alpe di Lago!
Elisabeth - 2014-03-20
A cause du mauvais renseignement reçu à la cabanne de l'Alpe Cava, je n'ai pas vu le "superbe lac de Careggio"... Ceci dit, le sentier que j'ai pris, passant par Svall et que l'on peut considérer comme une variante, est très joli, longtemps en balcon, et fort bien aménagé.
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Because of incorrect information given to the cabin of Alpe Cava, I have not seen the "beautiful Lake Careggio" ... That said, the path that I took, through Svall and we can be considered as an alternative, is very pretty, with long balcony, and very well done.
Daniel - 2011-08-18
In Biasca hotel Giardinetto charges CHF 88 pp. Around the train station (15mins) prices tend to be cheaper.
Visit the old church on the hill with early medieval fresco's inside.
murmel - 2010-07-26
Biasca: Minotel Al Giardinetto hat nette (preisgünstigere) Vierbettzimmer.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Biasca Minotel Al Giardinetto has nice (cheaper) quadruple.
murmel - 2010-07-26
Alpe di Lago kleine Selbstversorgerhütte, Schlüssel über Tür, s. a. www.capanneti.ch.
Automatic translation
[Google]
Alpe di Lago small self-catering lodge, key on the door, sat www.capanneti.ch.
|
4h05 |
10.5 km
|
189 m
|
1969 m
Favourites, criticisms ? Make your personal comments on this stage. For more general notes please use the comments section of the page Over to the Via Alpinists.