The 4 Valleys Trail

Hiking through the wild valleys above Menaggio

The Sentiero delle 4 Valli (4 Valleys Trail) is a beautiful hiking route of approximately 50 km through Val Sanagra, Val Cavargna, Val Rezzo, and Valsolda, offering the opportunity to admire a diverse landscape of rare beauty.
The trail begins in Breglia and ends in Dasio, a village located above San Mamete on Lake Lugano.

The route is divided into three stages: the first, from Breglia to Malè at the beginning of Val Cavargna, is 13 km long; the second, from Malè to Cavargna, is 19 km long; and the third, from Cavargna to Dasio, is 13 km long. Each stage can be undertaken as a day hike, or you can embark on a three-day trek, staying overnight in the inns located at the end of each stage.

The trail winds at an average altitude of 1,000 meters, reaching its highest point at the Colonè mountains in Val Cavargna, and is marked by red-white-red flags with the number 3 crossed out in red.

Step One: From Breglia to Malè

In this stage, you leave behind the area of Breglia and Plesio on the western Larian slope and traverse the entire Val Sanagra—a wild and little-known valley once rich in pastures and alpine huts, now abandoned. Breglia can be reached by bus from Menaggio (line C13). From the bus stop, turn left, passing in front of the Hotel Breglia. In this first section, the Sentiero delle 4 Valli and La Via dei Monti Lariani overlap, so you will find signage for both routes. La Via dei Monti Lariani is marked by red-white-red flags with the number 3, while the Sentiero delle 4 Valli has a crossed-out 3. Leaving the village behind, enter the woods to cross a small wooden bridge near the Troi spring. An uphill section follows. Passing below the Ponte summer camp, you emerge onto the road that leads down to "La Piazza," a large meadow with several houses. Upon reaching an intersection where the Bergum chapel is located, turn right and then immediately right again, leaving the Via
dei Monti Lariani, which continues straight. The cart track crosses the meadows before entering the woods. Pass through the locality of Ferée to reach Monti Dosso, where you take the track descending into the valley. Continue deeper into Val Sanagra, skirting the steep southwestern slope of Monte Grona. Following a level path through steep little valleys, you reach Monti Stanga and then Alpe Varòo. From here, descend the small valley to the Sanagra stream. Then, climb back up toward the road and enter Val Cavargna. Here, you can conclude the hike at Malé or continue along the Sentiero delle 4 Valli.

Step Two: From Malé to Cavargna

The second stage, the longest of the three, takes place entirely within Val Cavargna and provides an excellent introduction to the complex geographical makeup of this large basin, with its countless steep valleys rich in water and its ancient settlements.
From Malè, take the cart track that climbs to Alpe di Rozzo. Leave it almost immediately to take the path on the left, which enters a dense beech forest. Following the path downhill and crossing numerous small valleys, you reach a small bridge; climbing the opposite side of the valley, you arrive at
Costa, which is connected to a road climbing from San Bartolomeo. You will emerge onto this road by continuing along a slightly uphill path. Cross it to rejoin the path passing through Selva where, just after the house, you take the path on the right. Through beech and chestnut woods, you will intersect a mule track climbing from San Bartolomeo. Follow it to the left, then immediately climb to the right to reach the church. Just above the small church, you return to the road that ends at the notable settlement of Oggia. Passing it, rejoin the path toward the Val dei Molini stream. Here, you can admire the entrance to an abandoned iron mine. After passing this area, take the uphill path leading toward Pizzo di Gino and Cima Pianchette.
Continue toward Val di Lana and, following the stream's course backward, you will reach a panoramic point above the valley. From here, continue the itinerary through a pine forest.
The Sentiero delle 4 Valli crosses the agricultural road to enter a pine grove. Exit the grove, passing small settlements, Valle Piazza, Monti Bezzacco, and Monti Carava. Descend toward the Cuccio di Cavargna stream and cross the bridge, which leads to the path for Cima Verta and Vetta Vallone.
From here, follow the road to Cavargna, from where you can return to Menaggio by bus.

Step Three: From Cavargna to Dasio

In the third stage, you leave Val Cavargna just below the San Lucio Pass on the Italian-Swiss border and traverse the wooded head of the lush Val Rezzo. You will pass through the village of Seghebbia and then enter a long, evocative level valley until reaching the Stretto Pass, which marks the entrance into the rocky basin of Valsolda. Following the valley, descend to Dasio.
From Cavargna, take the beech path entering Val Marda. After crossing the stream in Val Molino, climb toward Monti Colonè; passing it, you reach Roccoli, the watershed point between Val Cavargna and Val Rezzo.
Take the service road until you rejoin the path that leads to a downhill mule track to Seghebbia. After passing the village, rejoin the path until reaching the junction connecting Val Rezzo and Valsolda.
Through the beech forest, you reach Alpe Riccola (featuring a panoramic viewpoint overlooking Lake Lugano) and take the mule track descending along the valley that leads to Dasio. From here, take the ancient road to San Mamete, where you can catch the bus to Menaggio.