
A steep road to Lago del Naret in Ticino
Switzerland, europe
21.9 km
2,310 m
hard
Year-round
# Lago del Narèt: A Alpine Adventure
Nestled at 2,310m (7,578ft) in the Vallemaggia district of Swiss Ticino, Lago del Narèt is a stunning high-altitude reservoir worth the challenging drive. Starting from Lavizzara, this fully paved route (built back in the 1950s) stretches 21.9 km (13.60 miles) and climbs a whopping 1,570 meters—that's an average gradient of 7.16%, though don't let that fool you.
The road gets serious with several sustained pitches hitting 10-12%, and some brutal ramps that spike up to 18%. You'll snake through dense evergreen forests with tight hairpin bends that keep things interesting. The narrow track demands your full attention, but stick with it and you're rewarded with killer views of Lago del Sambuco and the surrounding peaks. As you approach the summit, there's even a short dip before you reach the dam—a nice surprise after all that climbing.
Save the best for last: the final stretch reveals three charming alpine lakes (Lago di Sassolo, Lago Superiore, and Lago Scuro) before you finally arrive at the crystal-clear waters of Lago di Narèt itself. It's a genuine alpine gem that combines challenging driving with some seriously spectacular scenery.
Where is it?
A steep road to Lago del Naret in Ticino is located in Switzerland (europe). Coordinates: 46.8087, 7.7222
Road Details
- Country
- Switzerland
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 21.9 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,310 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 46.8087, 7.7222
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