Walserweg Gottardo, Stage 4/14

Running steeply across the Passo di Nefelgiù, along wild stream ditches and onwards into the next pieces of terrain. Lake Morasco, the ancient Walser settlement of Riale and the impressive Toce waterfall are on the descent into Val Formazza. The destination for this stage in the valley is Ponte or Zum Schtäg, as it is known in Walser German.

The 13-kilometre route begins at Lago Vanninio near Margaroli. The starting point is far from public transport; the nearest stop, Binn, Brunnebiel, is around 10 kilometres away. Initially, the route climbs across open slopes. It soon reaches its highest point at just under 2,600 metres.

The rest of the day is defined by an extended descent. Meadows and pastures lend the landscape a broad, open character, while the route loses around 1,450 metres in elevation overall. For most of the way, it runs outside the marked hiking trail network, requiring reliable navigation skills. Only for shorter sections does it follow a white-red-white marked mountain hiking trail.

After just under five hours, Ponte Formazza is reached at around 1,300 metres. This brings to an end a hike whose appeal lies less in individual landmarks than in the contrast between the initial ascent and the long descent. The destination also has no nearby public transport connection: the nearest stop, Rossboda (Grossalp), is around 7 kilometres away.