Covering approximately 570 km², Vallemaggia is the largest district in the Canton of Ticino: a broad, branching valley that winds from Ponte Brolla into the Alpine heartland, passing through diverse ecosystems, stone villages, and high-mountain landscapes. It is a territory defined by powerful nature, where time seems to move at a different pace.

In this unique setting, bouldering has found fertile ground. The valley’s gneiss offers an extraordinary variety of shapes, movements, and climbing styles—from technical slabs to physically demanding overhangs, and from aesthetic lines on isolated boulders to sectors nestled within the woods. Each area possesses its own distinct identity.

This guide covers nine different areas. It begins in Arcegno, near Locarno, before venturing into the valley proper. Avegno and Giumaglio serve as the two main sectors, boasting the highest concentration of boulders and a wide variety of routes. Cevio stands out for its high average difficulty and demanding lines capable of challenging even the strongest climbers. Bignasco is home to some of the most famous and iconic lines, frequented over the years by leading figures of the international climbing scene. Further north, Prato Sornico offers a small but precious area in the Lavizzara region, making it an ideal spot even during the summer months. The Mognola region provides an experience that feels almost timeless, set within an idyllic Alpine environment.

The journey concludes at an altitude of over 2,000 meters in the enchanting Naret Pass region, right where Vallemaggia comes to an end. Here, overlooking the clear waters of the Sassolo tarn, lies a newly developed bouldering area; set in an Alpine landscape of rare beauty, it is accessible only during the summer season.

In total, approximately 400 boulders have been documented across the full range of grades, with a notable concentration of problems in the intermediate range. This guide aims to provide the tools needed to explore one of the Alpine region’s most fascinating areas through bouldering. Discovering Vallemaggia means allowing yourself to be surprised by a valley that is at once rugged and welcoming.

Born in 1979, Egon Bernasconi is a mathematician by training and a qualified climbing instructor. He teaches mathematics part-time at the Locarno high school while also working as a climbing guide and instructor. For over twenty years, he has dedicated himself to exploring and developing the climbing scene in Ticino, focusing much of his activity on Vallemaggia.