Sentiero Cristallina, Stage 2/3

This stage leads from the green Bavona Valley into alpine landscapes. You go up steep steps on winding roads to the Robièi reservoir and past other lakes to the Capanna Cristallina mountain hut. The ice masses of the Basòdino opposite you are sparkling.

The long ascent through Val Bavona begins at the S. Carlo (Bavona), Ponte bus stop. After a short opening stretch through San Carlo, the trail enters the forest. The mountain path soon climbs steeply, reaching Capanna Basodino at around 1,850 m after a good two and a half hours.

Above the hut, the landscape opens out. The trail runs directly alongside Lago di Robièi, a reservoir at the foot of the Basodino glacier. Beyond it, meadows and pastures gradually give way. Rocky terrain, small mountain lakes and the broad head of the valley lend the surroundings an increasingly high-alpine character.

The final ascent leads across stony slopes to Passo Cristallina. Capanna Cristallina stands there at around 2,575 m, marking both the destination and the highest point of the hike. After around 13 kilometres, 1,750 metres of ascent and just under six hours, the route ends far from public transport. The nearest stop, Robiei, is around 3.4 kilometres away.