Predèlp to Rossura via Carὶ in the Upper Leventina in Ticino

Saturday July 18, 2026 -- This is another one where the weather forecast fooled us.... After a few days of much-needed rain, the best weather forecast was, once again, in the south, i.e. Wallis or Ticino. But very south still too hot at 30 degrees. In the northern part of Canton Ticino, though, where the mountains are closer to the Alps, the temperatures are also cooler, and the forecast as of the evening before was for pure sunshine!

We had wanted to go back to Predèlp for a while now, to hike above the treeline in a similar hike we did exactly a year ago to the day (photos HERE), and then descend via Carì to Rossura which lies on the Strada Alta Trail along the Upper Leventina Valley.

But when we got to the start of our hike in Predèlp (after a 3-hour trip including a 40-minute ride along winding and partly dirt roads in a small bus-van), the skies were dark and overcast, and the forecast was now showing for possibility of rain and thunderstorms. Not wanting to be in the mountains for that, we changed plans to a lower forest trail, and of course the weather cleared up quite quickly after that! Nevertheless, we continued our descent to Rossura as planned, and still ended up doing a three-hour hike. At least it wasn't hot!

One disappointment is that I would have liked to have a look inside the fabulous church in Rossura, but it was locked, and I would have had to call the convent office in Faido for a code, and for that we didn't have enough time. (Buses off the hillside run only every three hours, and we didn't want to miss the 2 p.m. run!) Another time then, with better preparation...

Leaving home early again at just after 6 a.m. we arrived in Faido just south of the Gotthard Range at 8:20. Here we had to wait 20 minutes for the small van-bus to continue up the mountain. 

Here comes our bus at 8:40 for the 40-minute ride up the winding road to Carὶ and Predèlp

Approaching Carὶ, a popular mountain resort village (mostly for winter activities), most of the passengers on the bus got out here, as there is a chair-lift to take you to higher elevations (which is what we did on the July 2025 hike). Along with about three other people, we continued along a narrow dirt road toward the end stop called Predèlp. 

A fabulous view across the valley to the high plateau called Dalpe, and the Venett (or Vanit) Pass which we crossed on a hike from Lake Tremorgio to Dalpe in September 2022. 

When we arrived at Predèlp (the last station of the mountain bus line) at 9:20, the skies above the mountainside where we were originally planning to hike were quite overcast, and the weather forecast showed possible thunderstorms. The other three passengers were headed up to the Predèlp Pass (center of the photo) which is something we could also do one day. It was also quite cold at this point.

The small cluster of houses are located on an alpine hillside called Predèlp. In August 2019 we started here on a hike heading north, to visit the Chièra Lakes higher up. This time we want to head south, originally planning to hike uphill first, but we changed plans and took a lower trail. 

We decided to head back along the road we had come on, as we had passed a little hamlet on the way, which we wanted to have a look at. The bus is on its way now back down to Faido. 

Starting out at about 9:30 from the bus stop at Predèlp, we took a lower trail through the forest back to Cari, instead of the higher mountain trail we had originally planned to take. From Cari we then headed down as planned to the village of Rossura, where we took the 2 p.m. bus back down to Faido. 

The village that was on the road between Carὶ and Predèlp is called Tarnóuc. We reached this in less than 10 minutes.  

From up here we get a really nice look down the Leventina Valley. The skies are clearer further south, but it is much warmer there!

There was a little village church which we wanted to have a look at, but it was locked. 

A little walk around the mountain village called Tarnóuc. From here we headed uphill toward a forest trail. 

Heading uphill away from the vehicle road toward the forest trail. 

In the middle of the forest was a single house and a mini-golf course! And the cutest goats... 

A cute house in the middle of the forest, and the goats can go wherever they want to!

As luck would have it, the sky then cleared quickly even though the forecast for rain right now stayed the same all day! But we enjoyed the pleasant trail and sun-dappled forest. 

We then arrived at a mountain hostel called Prodör. An idyllic setting, but I can't imagine a lot of people stay here. There was a bench in front of the building where we took a snack break and to change into shorts, as it was getting warm after all!

View from in front of the hut to the mountains across the Leventina Valley! It was behind those mountains where we recently did a very long hike over the Passo Campolungo into the next valley over, the Lavizzara Valley. (Photos HERE). 

Close-up view of the Passo Vanit (Venett), where we were twice now. There is beautiful, white, ocean-bottom sand up there!

And now looking back to where we started from just around the corner of that little hamlet. The view is to the north to the Gotthard Massif. 

Continuing along the trail, we pass beneath the Carὶ chair lift, which we rode on the July 2025 hike. Instead of descending directly to here, we did a detour via a side valley toward "Carὶ di Dentro", although we didn't go all the way there, having passed through that hamlet on the same July 2025 Hike. 

These are the kinds of hikes we love. 

After another short stretch through the forest, we come from above to the hamlet called Cassinello. 

Last time we descended via Cari di Dentro, only five minutes further along but not worth the detour at this point. Predèlp from here is/was about 45 minutes, and from the Prodör Hostel (Capanna Prodör) only 10 minutes. 

Now we head down the road toward the town of Cari, where we came through by bus earlier. 

Another view down the valley to the winding road that we rode to get up here. The small village in the center is called Molare, where we ended the July 2025 hike. (And also started on a different one in May 2024)

Looking behind us at the houses of Cassinello. 

Down below is the center of Carὶ, and we will continue down the mountain from there. (It's not a quaint village, caters to the skiing crowd). 

Another look behind us again as we continue down the mountain from Carὶ . 

In this whole region, you pass many such shrines and small chapels on the mountain trails and mountain villages. 

What the inside of such a shrine typically might look like. 

Now we are reaching the next stop along the descent, the village of Campello, which the bus also passes through on the way up the mountain. It was just about noon. 

And very far down below, we catch the first glimpse of the large church in Rossura, where we are going to catch the 2 p.m. bus. 

In the circle in this photo is where the Rossura Church is, and we are walking down to there. 

VIDEO:

It was exactly noon when we walked through Campello, 

and the church bells started to ring!

(Chiesa di Santa Margherita).

We did have a quick look into the Santa Margherita church, but it was a weird combination of modern and Baroque. Information translated from Wikipedia: "The church was built in 1632 in the Late Baroque style, spanning two bays. The building underwent radical alterations in 1814, and in 1961, its interior was substantially transformed. Stained-glass windows created by Fra' Roberto Pasotti were added in 1965. The building was restored in 1995."

A walk through the village of Campello

Walking through the village of Campello

Pretty houses, nice vegetation. 

Ready to continue downhill now, we were planning the direct route down to Rossura, 50 minutes from here. 

As we started downhill, next to this little property, the owner was in his garden and asked us if we were walking all the way to Faido. When we said Rossura, he claimed that the other trail, where we first had to walk along the main road and descend the mountain further to the south, was much the prettier trail. So we took his advice and returned to the road. 

This is the alternate trail recommended by the local fellow in Campello. 

This alternate trail meant we spent more time at a higher elevation before descending, and that's always nice. 

On our way down now toward Rossura, we can see the church ahead of us. 

Close-up view of the rooftops of Rossura. 

We could have gone directly into the village of Rossura, but had enough time to make a detour to a neighbouring village first, called Figgione. (From there it was only another 10 minutes to Rossura). 

Heading through the village of Figgione from North to South. 

Pretty flowers!

More pretty flowers!

Beautiful dark Valais-Style houses here. 

There was a little church in this village of Figgione as well, but it was locked. It is called Oratorio di San Rocco. The sign next to the door indicates it was built in 1750, restored in 1929 and the 1990's. 

Continuing on now toward Rossura, with a look behind us at the village of Figgione, which we had just walked through. 

This trail we are on now is part of what is called the Strada Alta (High Road), and also National Trail no.2: "Trans Swiss Trail". We have walked this section of trail once before, a long time ago in 2014, having started in Rossura and headed north, also through Figgione. 

By 1:35 p.m. we have reached Rossura, with plenty of time to look around before the 14:00 bus back down to Faido. 

From the south end of Rossura, the view of the beautiful church building.The church is called "Chiesa dei Santi Lorenzo e Agata", and first mention of a church here was in 1247, although at the time the building would only have been a quarter the size of this one. 

Back in the village, we pass some nice paintings / frescoes on private homes. 

The village fountain.... and a cat is just having a drink!

Guarding the village fountain! The cat didn't stick around for some petting times. 

Most of the houses here in this village were in this style. 

Another cat showed up for some attention!

Now we are headed to the bus stop right here on the road. We still had 15 minutes before the 14:00 bus, and I wanted to have a look inside the church, but Urs did not. So he waited on that bench while I walked over to the church. 

The building in this form is from the 15th Century, and the stations of the cross (smaller shrines) are from the 17th Century. 

Heading up to the church entrance. As it turns out, the church was locked. 

This is the only artwork I got to enjoy! The main door was locked, and I couldn't find any other entrances. Too late I saw there is a phone number you have to called (Convent in Faido) for a code to the key box. But by then I had no time any more to work it out, and communication in Italian would have been difficult. So we have to plan it for another time. 

Looking back at the houses in the village of Rossura. And Urs sitting on the bench. (In retrospect, had he come with me, he could have called the number, as he speaks Italian, and maybe they would have given us the code right away!)

From the church steps, a view up the Leventina Valley. 

Well-groomed cemetery

At exactly 2 p.m., the bus showed up, for the short (20-minute) trip down to Faido train station. 

We had to wait 20 minutes at the Faido train station, and from there it was a two-hour trip home. 

What our hike looks like on Google Satellite Maps. Starting in Predèlp, via Campello, down to Rossura. In July 2025 we did the blue hike from the summit of the chair-lift and down to Molare. The red line is the bus line on this hillside, from Faido to Cari/Predelp, and via Rossura on the way back down. 

All the hikes we have done in this upper part of the Leventina Valley. 

Location of the upper Leventina Valley within Switzerland.