Vogorno is a village in the Verzasca Valley in the Swiss canton of Ticino. At 491 m above sea level, it lies on the artificial Lago di Vogorno. Its setting brings together a reservoir, historic village centres and several distinct themes: the easy Sentierone, the Val Porta Forest Reserve, the Monti and the history of the church, dam and traditional use of the mountain region. When planning your trip, it helps to keep in mind the details of each route and its own time frame or theme.
Reservoir and local history
Lago di Vogorno is an artificial reservoir. Its dam was built between 1961 and 1965 and is one of the highest in Switzerland. At the same time, the historic village centres of the different districts were left untouched by the reservoir. The valley’s technical transformation thus stands alongside its preserved village centres. Mött Caslásc, an archaeologically significant site, is also located on the artificial lake. Initial assessments dated settlement there from at least the 9th century BC to the Roman period; definitive results were not yet available at the time.
Trails around Vogorno
The Sentierone della Valle Verzasca in Vogorno is considered an easy route. It follows an old mule track and passes through chapels. Bus stops are easy to access along the Sentierone. If you include the trail in your day’s plans, check local connections in advance. A well-marked trail above the artificial Lago di Vogorno also leads as far as Corippo (Bivio).
Forest reserve and Monti
The Val Porta Forest Reserve contains mixed broadleaf forests, beech forests and extensive pioneer birch forests. The reserve can be reached from Vogorno via a historic trail. A round-trip hike leads to the Monti, which lie at no more than 1,400 m above sea level; the stated time for the return hike is 4½ hours. This time refers to the entire round trip. Check trail conditions before your hike, as they can vary.
The Vogorno–Odro–Bardüghé–Vogorno ethnographic route passes through chestnut and beech forests to the Monti. It is 11 km long, with an elevation difference of 1,158 m. The Monti were inhabited until the 1950s, when people lived there with cows and goats and mowed and gathered wild hay. The route thus connects the forest landscape with a specific chapter in the former use of the mountain region.
Church, museum and another activity
San Bartolomeo is a small district of Vogorno. It is home to the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo, the oldest church in the Verzasca Valley, documented since 1234. In Odro, a small residential house now serves as the Museo del fieno. If you are planning a visit, check the opening arrangements. Golden Eye Bungee Jumping in Vogorno is described as 220 metres high. Check the operating conditions for this activity before travelling.
You can explore Vogorno through different points of interest: the reservoir and its local history, the trails and forests, or the church and former mountain farming. When planning, it is worth taking account of the specific trail duration where stated and checking the relevant visiting conditions in advance.
Discover more destinations: Ascona, Orselina, Rasa, Onsernone, Piazzogna, Intragna, Palagnedra, Caviano.
For the broader travel overview: Locarno.
