Looking for Pozze in the Valle Verzasca

September 6, 2017 -- Our regular Wednesday off, nice weather only in the South, so off we go again, to one of our favourite places ever, the Verzasca Valley. It is stunning and never boring, no matter how often we go.

This time we were looking for secluded mountain pools (Pozze, in Italien) created by waterfalls, of which there are many here, but to reach them you have to climb steep hills, and if you want to find really secluded ones, you have to find the unofficial trails, some of them so unofficial they don't even exist (in other words, straight up slippery leaf-strewn slopes with little hope of getting back down!)

So with two uphill hikes, one on each side of the Verzasca River, we discovered so many lovely pools, some too cold and too mighty to attempt to enter, others smaller and "warmer" (relatively speaking) and worth the freezing dip. And most of all, sunshine and no rain!

The Verzasca River at Motta. We ended up hiking on each side to look for waterfall pools.

First a "photo shoot" beside the clear turquoise waters of the Verzasca River

Heading South to the first waterfall in the gap ahead. Our first 200m uphill hike was straight up throught the forest parallel to the river.

Straight up through the forest (no trail) to the first set of pools (Luckily we saw the "unofficial" trail on the map, for the way down)

Finally found the first pool. I was here 30 years ago. But there was less water at the time.

The spray from the waterfall was too cold so we decided not to stay long.

As beautiful as this was, we were a little wary about trying to go in for a swim. Also, IT WAS COLD!

Over hundreds (thousands?) of years, the water carves out these rock-cut basins. This is fascinating.

Back down at the Verzasca River, I tried the river water.... also too cold! In the background is Motta, we are headed up above there, 250m straight up.

Back down at the Verzasca River before heading back across the bridge and up above Motta.

200m uphill above the road was a second pool we knew of. We actually covered the height in only 30 minutes. Because it's so steep, you gain altitude quickly.

Along the steep narrow trail above Motta, heading to the second set of pools.

We knew of this pool from a previous hike we did here in the spring.

This one was slightly less cold, so we gave it a try. But only slightly less cold!

Slightly higher was another set of waterfalls and pools, so we also checked that out.

Here is a series of terraces, pools and waterfalls.

300 m almost straight up from the road are a series of waterfalls and pools, which we also checked out.

300 m almost straight up from the road are a series of waterfalls and pools, which we also checked out.

300 m almost straight up from the road are a series of waterfalls and pools, which we also checked out.

What a wonderful location for a vacation home. 

Time to head back to the Verzasca River to catch the bus back out of the valley. The sunny spot in the back, that's where we went up to find the first pool.

Back down at the river in Motta, where we can catch the bus back out of the valley.

A last glimpse way up to the peaks from which come the waters for that last set of pools.

Along the Crystal-Clear Waters of the Verzasca River

Wednesday April 5, 2017 -- On this Wednesday we headed back to the Tessin, one of our favourite places to be. The plan was to finish hiking the Verzasca Valley, of which we had previously done two portions.

We rode the bus to the very last stop in the North of the valley, to the village of Sonogno, another quaint Rustici village of which there are myriads in the Tessin. There's a waterfall just a couple of kilometers up a side valley from there, so we did a detour to visit that first, before heading back and southwards, always following the beautiful Verzasca River to Brione about one-third down the valley. 

Brione having been the starting point of one of our previous hikes in this valley, we decided to leave the popular "Sentiero Verzasca" (Verzasca Trail) and head up the hill on the East of the valley for more afternoon sun. The mountains in the Verzasca Valley are very steep, but there are clusters of homes hidden all over the place higher up, something one is rarely aware of down below. Other treasures up here are more waterfalls which descend from the high peaks in series of lovely secluded pools, something to remember on some hot summer day.

The name "Verzasca" comes from "Green Waters" and truly the colour is marvelous and unique. Other highlights of this valley, which we only passed by bus this time, are the massive dam at the entrance of the valley (featured in a James Bond film) and the popular double-arched Roman bridge in Lavertezzo called "Ponte dei Salti"... i.e. the "Bridges of Jumps", which fittingly is a popular place to take the 14m plunge into the icy crystal-clear waters below.

Heading northwards into the Verzasca Valley by bus

Checking out the village of Sonogno before heading to the waterfall in the Redorta Valley. We started here at about 10:30.

Another quaint Ticino village: Sonogno

A little detour into the Redorta Valley to see the waterfall

In the Redorta Valley, looking East toward Sonogno

Crossing the Redorta River, looking up the valley to the West

The waterfall in the Redorta Valley near Sonogno.

Our little 2.5-km detour via the waterfall near Sonogno

Our little 2.5-km detour via the waterfall near Sonogno

Heading back East to Sonogno along the hillside, then South into the Verzasca Valley

After the 2.5-km detour to the waterfall, we headed South and walked another 8 km to Brione, and then another 3 km to Motta via the uphill route.

Hiking along the Verzasca "Green" River

Scattering of villages along the Verzasca Valley

This is a special breed of goats called "Nera Verzasca" (Black Verzasca), an old breed from this area, robust, freedom-loving, acclimatized to both cold and heat, searches its own food in the wild hillsides, beloved for its shiny fur and high milk volume.

Stop for lunch on the banks of the Verzasca River. It was overcast and cold until early afternoon.

Always there are stone walls and stone buildings along the way.

Along the Verzasca Valley Trail "Sentiero Verzasca". It was getting warmer....

Along the Verzasca Valley Trail "Sentiero Verzasca"

(As a side note: About 30 years years ago I walked up those mountains starting at the base of the hill in the center, across its flank to the left, across the ridge top left, behind the central peak to the saddle on the right, and down the dip to the valley bottom on the right. It was a grueling approx. 10-hour hike completed in the dark by moonlight, and I would never attempt this again in one day... or maybe ever)

A lovely spot to take a break, across the river from the village of Brione. It was now 2:15, and the day had gotten warm!

The beautiful Verzasca River near Brione. It was here that we headed up the mountain on the left, instead of continuing along the valley bottom trail. 

Heading up the hillside on the East side of the valley near Brione.

Heading up the hillside on the East side of the valley near Brione.

Looking down into the Verzasca Valley

Up here there is more sunshine and lots of hidden treasures

A waterfall descends in a series of crystal-clear pools.

A waterfall descends in a series of crystal-clear pools.

Back down in the valley bottom in Motta, after 4.5 hours / 13 km of walking, we catch the bus back out toward Locarno

A last look northwards toward Brione and the Verzasca Valley to the right.

Hikes we have done in this area around Locarno in the last 4 years.