Walserweg Gottardo, Stage 7/14

Up through wild Val Bavona to San Carlo, crossing numerous landslide areas and attractive traditional hamlets. Now comes the most demanding part of this stage: narrow paths ascend via several steep valley steps up to Capanna Basodino.

The long mountain hike begins at the Bignasco, Posta stop, almost on the valley floor. The route initially climbs through Bignasco and shady woodland. Between a chapel and Fontana, a longer section runs outside the marked hiking trail network before the path once again passes through the small settlements of Val Bavona. Foroglio is reached via Sabbione, followed later by Sonlerto and San Carlo.

Beyond San Carlo, the character of the route changes markedly. The white-red-white waymarked mountain path climbs steeply through woodland and increasingly emerges onto open pastures. The long final ascent requires stamina: over 19 kilometres, the route gains around 1,850 metres in elevation, with a hiking time of just over seven hours. Near the Capanna Basodino CAS, the route reaches its highest point at around 1,860 m. Lago di Robiei lies slightly off the route. A little later, the hike ends in Robiei; the nearest stop is around 400 m from the actual destination.