Ticino region of Ascona-Locarno is expanding its mountain biking offer with a new trail at Cardada-Cimetta, designed to attract intermediate-level riders while supporting the Swiss destination’s wider outdoor tourism strategy.
Cardada-Cimetta is a mountain dominating the Locarno Valley. When reaching Cimetta, its peak at 1,670 m., visitors enjoy a 360-degree view over the entire basin of Lake Maggiore and the surrounding Alps.
The Bassa di Cardada Trail will officially open September 15, 2026. The 957-meter (3,140-foot) route connects Cimetta with Capanna Lo Stallone and is already available to bikers.
The new trail features 102 meters (335 feet) of elevation change and is rated red, or intermediate. Its design combines flowing sections with technical passages, different types of turns and optional style features that riders can bypass.
The route uses a completely natural surface and incorporates existing rocks and roots. Designers followed the mountain’s natural contours to minimize construction work and reduce the trail’s impact on the alpine landscape. All construction materials were sourced locally, according to the tourism organization.
Tourism officials say the project is intended to improve the mountain biking experience while encouraging better coexistence between cyclists, hikers and other mountain users.
“The new trail responds to a concrete demand from mountain biking enthusiasts,” said Benjamin Frizzi, chief operating officer of the Lago Maggiore and Valleys Tourism Organization. He added that it strengthens Ascona-Locarno’s position as an outdoor destination.
The project has been in development since 2016 and involved Cardada Impianti Turistici, in charge of the tourism infrastructure as well as local municipalities, community landowners, the Canton of Ticino and the regional tourism organization.
The trail was jointly financed by the Lago Maggiore and Valleys Tourism Organization and the Canton of Ticino through the economic development division.
Cardada tourism infrastructure agency will handle day-to-day operations and routine maintenance, while the tourism organization will oversee extraordinary maintenance.
The trail forms part of a broader strategy to develop sustainable outdoor tourism and spread visitor demand across a longer season. Last year, Cardada Cimetta recorded approximately 136,000 total annual visitors according to local newspaper Corriere del Ticino.