Description: This is an easy day-hike at lower elevations, extremely suitable for a springtime day out. The starting point is the village of Aurigeno, reacheable from Locarno in 10 minutes by bus number 31. Ask the driver to let you off at the bridge in Aurigeno, then retrace your steps briefly and cross over the bridge.. turn left and go past the town and the church. From there on you follow the road that eventually will start climbing through chestnut woods. After about an hour you arrive at the top of the road and you‘ll see a tiny chapel. Go right from there and follow the path (signposted) which says: Monti di Dunzio… You‘ll pass some characteristic stone houses in the woods until you reach a tiny hamlet.. . very tiny.. about 7 houses and a „grotto". OK… this is where you could stop for lunch, provided it's open. Ask the tourist office in Locarno before setting off, or bring some water and snacks just in case.
In the afternoon you can continue your walk… now you follow the signs that say „Tegna". The path is now completely downhill… at some point you‘ll cross over an old bridge in the wood, then some 20 minutes later you‘ll reach a church… San Rocco I think… with is scenically locted over the valley and the gulf of Locano (wow it sounds really exotic)… from the church you keep walking down to the village you see at the foot of the mountains.. it‘s another 20 minutes walk. Once you reach Tegna there are three options to return to Locarno: you can take an infrequent bus from Tegna, or an infrequent bus from neighbouring Intragna.. or better walk in about and hour or 75 minutes to Locarno, by following the Maggia river. Don‘t worry if you see lots of people sunbathing and swimming in the river. It‘s a local pastime… the water‘s icy but of a lovely green colour (and tricky too… watch the warning signs)… and yes, there‘s some sand too by its banks
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