Hike Someo-Maggia

One of the most spectacular floodplain landscapes in Switzerland is the valley floor of the Maggia. The section between Someo and Maggia is particularly beautiful and also ideal for a hike. At the end of the route about 1km is on asphalt surface, otherwise outside inhabited areas there are nature trails throughout.

Would you like an espresso before the hike? Someo is a small, but pretty village, so you will pass through it quickly. The osteria and bar is just a few steps above the bus stop. The hiking route through the Maggia floodplain forest starts on the opposite side of the main road.
The river landscape presents itself as an extremely varied mosaic: extensive stone deserts, cozy little woods, and the watercourse, which is divided into several arms, merge into a contrasting whole. It is an eternal alternation between destruction and regeneration: alluvial forests are flooded time and again, and are therefore particularly valuable habitats.
The balance between dynamics and permanence is subtle, however. On many other river courses in Switzerland, hydraulic engineering such as dams and protective walls have destroyed the floodplain forests. It is true that the Maggia has also been profoundly influenced by the construction of reservoirs in its catchment area. Nevertheless, the valuable ecosystem of the alluvial forests on its valley floor has been preserved practically undiminished, as straightening and other destructive interventions have been avoided.
The intact character of this magnificent natural landscape benefits not only the flora and fauna. So do people: in summer, the unspoilt riverbed offers an abundance of sunny bathing spots and numerous pools suitable for swimming.
To get started, a visit of the educational trail "Il fiume Maggia" is recommended. The short course leads through the woods on wooden footbridges and is equipped with a series of boards on which short texts inform about the diverse flora and fauna, as well as the interaction between water balance and ecology.
This way, you will be prepared for a dive into the unique river landscape of the Maggia Valley. Here, the mountain river has created a gravel bed several hundred metres wide through thousands of years of erosion and sedimentation. In many places trees have taken root, while in other places the constant action of the water has repeatedly undermined forestation.
The tour begins with a drumbeat: the suspension bridge, which spans across the floodplain landscape, is 340 metres long. The lattice floor is only a few metres above ground, but the structure starts to vibrate considerably, so that there is no reason to think about a fast transgression. The riverside path on the western side of the riverbed runs alternately close to the water and over roots and stone slabs through the floodplain forest. Hamlets and other buildings in the Da l'Ovi area line the route.
At the height of Giumaglio you will pass another suspension bridge, no less long. The riverbed here offers a colourful variety of bathing places: there are areas with knee-deep water, where children can swim safely, but also large pools suitable for intensive swimming and shallow areas with warm water that are ideal for splashing and playing.
Passing through the hamlet of Ronchi and beautiful old vineyards, you will reach Lodano. The village has an osteria, a parish church, and a number of chapels. From now on the hike runs mainly in the woods, well above the river bed. In between you can enjoy beautiful views to the opposite side of the valley, where the village of Maggia will soon be the focus of attention. The river is crossed again on a futuristically shaped, arched bridge suspended from only one pillar. Here, too, there are cozy pebble beaches and bathing places in the immediate vicinity of the hiking trail.