Lago del Sambuco

Lago del Sambuco is a reservoir above the village of Fusio in the municipality of Lavizzara, in the Swiss canton of Ticino. The surface sits at roughly 1,461 m above sea level, at the head of the Valle Lavizzara, a side valley of the Valle Maggia, and the lake feeds the Maggia hydropower system.

What is Lago del Sambuco?

The lake was created by a dam on the Maggia built between 1954 and 1956. It is an arch-gravity structure 130 m high with a crest 363 m long, run by Ofima (Officine Idroelettriche della Maggia). The reservoir stretches about 3 km, is around 500 m wide and covers roughly 1.1 km². When full it holds about 64 million m³ of water. There is a cantonal plan to raise the dam to 145 m, which would lift capacity to around 80 million m³, but it is still at the planning stage.

How do you get to Lago del Sambuco?

Travel to Fusio at the end of the valley. Bus 334 runs there from Bignasco. From the village a footpath leads up to the dam in about 50 minutes. A snack bar stands by the reservoir and is the last place to buy food before the climb higher up, so carry your own supplies for longer routes.

What can you see and do here?

The main sight is the dam itself and the long, narrow lake framed by steep slopes. Several walks start here:

• Loop via Alpe di Campo la Torba returns to the lake after 14 km. It takes about 5 hours, climbs 851 m and is graded T2 (moderate).
• Short loop around the Narèt lakes goes from the dam to Lago Piccolo del Narèt and Lago Cristallina, then returns over a pass in the Sasso Nero ridge. It takes about 2 hours with roughly 200 m of ascent.
• Passo del Narèt (2,438 m) links the Val Sambuco with the Val Torta and Ossasco in the Val Bedretto. The Capanna Cristallina hut (2,349 m) lies on the way. Lago del Narèt itself sits at 2,310 m.

Other huts in the area include Sasso Nero, Poncione di Braga, Basodino and Alpe Fontana, which makes multi-day trips easy to plan.

When should you visit?

The high trails are best in summer and early autumn, once the snow has gone. Before heading above the lake, check current conditions and hut opening times, because the stretch above Narèt is proper alpine terrain.

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lago del Sambuco?

Above Fusio in the municipality of Lavizzara, in the Valle Lavizzara of Ticino, at about 1,461 m.

How far is the walk from Fusio?

About 50 minutes on a footpath from the village. Reach Fusio by bus 334 from Bignasco.

Who operates the dam?

Ofima operates the dam and the Maggia power plants. The dam is 130 m high and was built in 1954–1956.

Can you buy food at the lake?

Yes, there is a snack bar on the shore. It is the last chance to eat before the climb towards the Narèt pass.