Walserweg Gottardo, Stage 8/14

This stage crosses the highest point of the Gottardo Walserweg trail: the Cristallina Pass where the Capanna hut is located. However, first it goes steeply up from the Basodino hut and across a rocky valley at Lago Bianco. The pass follows the slope through the flanks above the grey Lake Sfundau. The descent across the Alps into the Bedretto Valley takes some time.

The starting point at Robiei is some distance from public transport; the stop of the same name is around 400 metres away. Right at the start, the mountain trail passes Capanna Basodino and climbs through open pastures. The small Lago di Robièi reservoir is soon left behind. In increasingly rocky terrain, the route passes Lago Bianco and continues uphill to Passo Cristallina.

The highest point is reached at Capanna Cristallina, at around 2,570 metres. The hut stands directly on the pass and is an ideal place to rest after the long ascent. The extended descent into the Bedretto Valley then begins. At first, the mountain trail crosses barren terrain; later, the slopes become greener and sections of woodland replace the alpine pastures. Towards the end, the trail widens and leads down to Bedretto. After 16 kilometres and just under six hours, the hike ends near the Bedretto, Paese stop.