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About this place
Lago d'Alzasca is a small glacial lake above Maggia in the canton of Ticino, southern Switzerland. It lies at roughly 1,855 m in the Val Lavizzara side valley, near Alpe d'Alzasca, and covers about 10 hectares. There is no road: you get here on foot.
Where is Lago d'Alzasca?
The water fills a rocky hollow carved by ice, high above the Vallemaggia. It is one of Ticino's alpine lakes that the Ascona-Locarno tourist board recommends to walkers. The lake is modest in size, yet the cliffs, pastures and peaks around it make the effort worthwhile.
How do you hike to Lago d'Alzasca?
The usual route starts in Someo (378 m) in the Vallemaggia. The path climbs the Soladino valley, passes Monte Rotonda and Corte di Fondo, and reaches the Capanna di Alzasca hut at 1,734 m. From the hut, the lake is another 15 to 20 minutes on foot.
- Ascent from Someo: about 1,477 m, per the cantonal guide.
- Walking time: around 4 hours one way.
- Terrain: the path to the hut is in good condition but steep, partly cut into a rock face.
- A round trip from the valley takes about 8 hours, so many hikers split it into two days and sleep at the hut.
What else can you combine it with?
The lake sits on several longer routes. From the Cansgei pass (2,036 m) a path drops to Lago Sascòla at 1,740 m. Alzasca is also part of the Via Alta Vallemaggia: stage 14, from Capanna Ribia to Capanna Alzasca, detours to the lake before the final descent to the hut. Parts of that stage follow ridges with no defined path, so you rely on white-blue waymarks.
Trail runners can try the Alzasca Trail, a loop of about 24 km with roughly 2,100 m of climbing that runs via the hut.
Can you fish here?
Yes, the lake is a popular fishing spot. Check the current Ticino fishing rules before you go.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Lago d'Alzasca?
About 1,855 m above sea level. The Capanna di Alzasca hut is lower, at 1,734 m.
Where does the hike start?
In Someo in the Vallemaggia (378 m), the classic trailhead for the hut and the lake.
How long does the climb take?
Around 4 hours from Someo, the last 15 to 20 minutes from the hut. A full day trip there and back is about 8 hours.
Can you continue to another lake?
Yes. The Cansgei pass leads to Lago Sascòla, and the Via Alta Vallemaggia links Alzasca with Capanna Ribia.
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