Sentiero Alpino Calanca

Our 5 highlights on the Sentiero Alpino Calanca:

• Ospizio San Bernardino: The restaurant in the San Bernardino Hospice offers simple dishes and refreshing drinks for all travelers who reach the pass height.


• Rifugio Pian Grand: Two bivouacs shaped like a "Toblerone" on the terrace of Pian Grand, exposed to the morning sun and with views towards Pian San Giacomo.


• Capanna Buffalora: It is the only staffed hut in the Val Calanca, high above the valley incision in a magnificent viewpoint on the southern edge of the huge basin between Dragiva/Calvaresc Lake and Pass de Buffalora.


• Lagh de Calvaresc: The Calvaresc Lake is known among southern alpine hikers as "the heart-shaped lake." This is because this beautiful body of water takes on its silhouette coming from the north and enchants the viewer.


• Santa Maria in Calanca: The village located at 955 m above sea level overlooks the Misox and is dominated by a spectacular architectural complex consisting of the medieval tower, the parish church already mentioned in 1219, and the hospice of the Capuchin monks.

Starting point: San Bernardino Pass. The route is special due to its course and alpine, varied terrain. Beautiful mountain lakes, breathtaking views and depths, and with some luck, various wild animals. Mostly above the tree line at over 2000 m, traveling on slopes full of alpine roses and sparse larch forests. The 42 km long route also passes through barren and imposing mountain basins and delights hikers with its bold crossings and unique huts.

The Sentiero mainly runs on the Calanca side of the nearly 3000 m high mountain range; only the start at San Bernardino and the descent to Santa Maria are on the Misox side. Like a ladder to heaven high above the valley, the path winds from gap to gap, from hut to hut. Besides the staffed Capanna Buffalora, the three self-catering huts well distributed along the Sentiero have a very special charm.

The village of San Bernardino can also be chosen as the starting point. Better public transport connections than the pass height.

Stages:

712.01 San Bernardino Hospice – Rifugio Pian Grand

712.02 Rifugio Pian Grand – Capanna Buffalora

712.03 Capanna Buffalora – Santa Maria in Calancatal

Stages:

712.01 San Bernardino Hospice – Rifugio Pian Grand

712.02 Rifugio Pian Grand – Capanna Buffalora

712.03 Capanna Buffalora – Santa Maria in Calancatal