Alpe del Corno

A short itinerary that allows you to admire the views of the Muggio Valley and to ride one of the most technical descents in the area: the Alpe del Corno trail (difficulty S3).

Given the difficulty, it should be noted that the descent requires adequate technical skills, so it is not recommended for everyone! In any case, a variant with a technically easier descent is also described, which still allows to close the tour.

Start from Cabbio (convenient free parking on the left coming from the valley floor) and take the road to the Bonello pass. At the beginning you face some steep asphalt ramps (12-14% gradient), then the road becomes unpaved and, after passing the ford and crossing to the opposite side, the gradient becomes gentler (5-6%) until you reach first the alp and then the Bonello pass. From here you take a long traverse that leads up to a fork with a bench near the dosso d'Arla: as you ascend, beautiful views gradually open up over Monte Generoso, Monte Bisbino, sasso Gordona, and as far as Monte Rosa.

Alpe Bonello and summit of Monte Generoso.

Variant for those who prefer a less technical descent: from the bench it is possible to follow the signs to Cabbio, descending along the trail dosso d'Arla (difficulty S1 with some S2 passages), not indicated in the trail.

Dosso d'Arla (departure of the variant with easier descent).

The route proceeds by turning left along an up and down section on the coast, at first easy, then with non-trivial relaunches even on rock, until reaching, after trespassing in Italy, the Prabello refuge. Here a beautiful panorama opens up over the Intelvi Valley and the surrounding Pre-Alps.

Panorama from the Prabello refuge: pizzo della Croce and val d'Intelvi

Sasso Gordona (the traverse you will have to cross is visible on the coast).

Leaving the refuge, you take a traverse that passes below the slopes of the rocky Sasso Gordona; this up-and-down section is exposed (steep meadows below, nothing extreme) and has a few non-trivial passages. In a short time you reach a ridge from which the descent of the Corno Alp starts: at first the trail is quite flowing and does not present high difficulties, then, after crossing the border fence that signals the return to Swiss territory, it becomes more technical. You pass the farmsteads of the alp of the same name and reach the final part, which is steep, with many hairpin bends, often dug into the rock, and with several technical passages, all of which are however short and easily overcome by getting off the mtb, if necessary. Just before arriving at a junction with yellow markers, take a link on the right that leads directly to the trail to Uggine, avoiding the relaunch. You ride along a short stretch on the coast to a ford over a stream, from here a short stretch of shoulder biking leads first to a dirt road and then, past the small village of Uggine, to a paved road that leads back to Cabbio.

Itinerary traveled on 10.04.2025 with mtb.