This hike in the Verzasca valley follows a beautiful river with clear emerald green water, ending at the famous bridge and swimming area at Laverterzzo.

The path follows the river the entire way, dipping in and out of the forest, crossing through fields and charming tiny villages of rustic farm houses.

There are many places to stop to splash in the water, skip rocks or have a picnic away from the crowds you’ll find later at the bridge. Since the trail parallels the bus line, you can easily cut your hike short if necessary and simply ride to the end.

This hike is also a great choice for spring and fall because of the lower elevation and warmer temperatures in this area.  

The full trail is 13.4 km from Sonogno to Lavertezzo. You can easily shorten this to about 5km by starting lower down the river in Brione.

Trail: easy • 3h45 • 13.4 km • 40m up, 400m down • Trail map

• More info about trail on SwissFamilyFun.com

Location: Trail start Sonogno, finish in Brione or Lavertezzo
Best to access with public transport. 40 mins from Locarno.

When to visit: Best May through October, swimming late June to Aug on hot days

For kids: The second half of the trail, from Brione to Lavertezzo, is an activity trail for kids, with marble runs places along the trail. Learn more.