Via Alpina Red R87
HARD (3.9/10)Biasca → Efra
Use this route
The walk, as far as the open data goes
Getting there
- Start: Parco Emma bus stop, 38 m away
- Start: parking car park, 250 m away
- Start: Centro/Borgo bus stop, 255 m away
Height and time
- High point 2,200 m
- Low point 291 m
- Climb 2,055 m from a 30 m terrain model, smoothed
- Swiss signpost time 8 h 04 the official method, on our line
Computed on 2026-09-20 from OpenStreetMap, the terrain model and the federal route layer — not read from the operator's own page, and not checked on the ground. Hikes we have reviewed say who published each fact and when.
Explore the route
Read the topography, inspect the climb, or preview the route over real terrain.
Route briefing
What comes next
Climbs, descents and decisive places in route order. Not listed does not mean absent: it may not be mapped.
Start
0 m
Biasca
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-11
About 0 min in
15.1 km remaining
+2055 m remaining
Route note
200 m
Biasca
Village
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-11
About 6 min in
14.9 km remaining
+2054 m remaining
Climb
1.8 km
584 m climb
5.5 km at 10.7% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 54 min in
13.3 km remaining
+2052 m remaining
Route note
5.2 km
Personico
Village
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-11
About 2h 34m in
9.9 km remaining
+1847 m remaining
Climb
9.3 km
1305 m climb
4.9 km at 26.4% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 4h 35m in
5.9 km remaining
+1323 m remaining
Descent
14.2 km
169 m descent
0.9 km at 18.0% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 7h 02m in
940 m remaining
+7 m remaining
Finish
15.1 km
Efra
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-11
About 7h 30m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Via Alpina Red R87 is a 15.1 km point-to-point hard hiking route in Switzerland, running from Biasca to Efra. The route covers 2,055m of ascent and 383m of descent, with elevations ranging from 291m to 2,196m. Allow approximately 7h 29m for the full route.
About 73% of the trail is runnable, but the remaining steep sections will push most people into power-hiking mode. Some pitches hit 60% gradient, so trekking poles are strongly recommended.
Budget roughly 5,355 kcal of energy expenditure and 4.5 L of water. No confirmed water sources along the route — carry all the water you need.
Mid-altitude route up to 2196m. Accessible May–October.
Segment Breakdown
Auto-analyzed from the elevation profile. Each segment shows the dominant character for planning your effort.
| Segment | Dist | ↑ / ↓ | Time | Character |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Biasca → km 5.0 (471m) 292–471m | 5 km | +186m / -17m | 1h 30m | 📈 Climbing |
km 5.0 (471m) → km 10.0 (949m) 471–949m | 5 km | +601m / -123m | 2h 21m | 🔺 Steep Climb |
km 10.0 (949m) → Efra 949–2,194m | 5.1 km | +1244m / -172m | 3h 38m | 🔺 Steep Climb |
| Total | 15.1 km | +2,055m / -383m | 7h 29m |
Pace & Fuel Calculator
Adjust your flat 10K pace to see personalized finish time, calorie burn, and hydration needs.
Terrain Analysis
Surface & Technicality
Gradient describes steepness, not exposure, scrambling, footing or current conditions. Technical difficulty is unknown where no mapped rating is available.
Tree cover and UV
🌲 Largely under trees. Good canopy at lower elevations, so the open sections are the ones to plan for.
Canopy is inferred from elevation against a 2000 m Alpine treeline and from gradient below it, not from observed tree data — treat it as an estimate. It is a different question from the terrain shade above, which is about whether a mountain is between you and the sun at a given time.
Current Conditions
Based on 1991–2020 climate averages, the weather on Via Alpina Red R87 is usually best from May to September. Snow is likely at the high point (2200 m) in December to April.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (291 m) and high point (2,200 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (291 m) and the highest point (2,200 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor | Poor |
| High point, day / night | 0°/-7° | 0°/-8° | 2°/-6° | 4°/-3° | 8°/1° | 12°/5° | 14°/7° | 14°/7° | 10°/4° | 6°/1° | 3°/-3° | 1°/-6° |
| Low point, day / night | 9°/0° | 10°/0° | 14°/3° | 18°/6° | 21°/11° | 25°/15° | 27°/16° | 26°/16° | 22°/13° | 17°/9° | 12°/4° | 9°/1° |
| Rain, mm | 73 | 59 | 83 | 127 | 143 | 158 | 138 | 166 | 144 | 159 | 160 | 90 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Frost | – | – | – | – | Possible | Possible | Likely |
| Daylight | 8 h 59 | 10 h 19 | 11 h 49 | 13 h 31 | 14 h 57 | 15 h 46 | 15 h 28 | 14 h 14 | 12 h 38 | 11 h | 9 h 29 | 8 h 38 |
Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. These values describe the whole trail's lowest and highest points. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.
Averages cannot establish current trail conditions. Check recent local reports, the forecast and restrictions before departure. Snow and ice can persist on shaded sections or arrive outside the usual season.
Current snow conditions
Insufficient evidence
Enable “Current snow map” in the route map’s Map layers to see the surrounding snow evidence. Current conditions do not describe a future departure date.
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Safety & Bailouts
We do not have a verified emergency exit plan for this route. A nearby settlement, hut or route endpoint is not necessarily reachable or open. Do not leave the trail based on a straight-line distance or compass direction.
Review possible exits against current local information before your trip. In an emergency, contact local rescue services; this page is not live rescue guidance.
Suggested Gear List
Auto-generated based on 15.1 km, 2055m ascent, max altitude 2196m, ~7h duration.
- 👟 Trail running shoes / hiking bootsRequired for any trail
- 📱 Phone (charged) + offline mapNavigation & emergency contact
- 💧 3L hydration vestWater source information is incomplete; plan supplies before departure
- 🍫 Trail mix, bars & sandwichEst. 5355 kcal burn
- 🧴 Sunscreen SPF 50+UV intensifies above 2000m
- 🧢 Sun hat / capExposed alpine terrain
- 🧥 Windbreaker / shell jacketSummit at 2196m — wind chill
- 🆘 Emergency space blanketCritical for preventing hypothermia if you stop moving
- 🕶️ Sunglasses (cat 3+)Snow & rock glare at altitude
- 🧤 Warm mid-layer (fleece)Temps drop ~6°C per 1000m
- 🔦 Headlamp7h route — plan for delays
- 🩹 Mini first aid kitBlister plasters, tape, antiseptic
- 🥢 Trekking poles34% steep terrain, 2055m+ ascent
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Biasca to Efra (15.1 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
📍 Nearby Places
- Ronco sopra la Riva km 0.2 · 565m off trail
- Stornett 627m off trail
- Bedra del Vent 768m off trail
- Cantoi 1.1 km off trail
- Monte del Tredas km 0.2 · 1.2 km off trail
Route Details
- Network
- International Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Biasca
- End
- Efra
- Start Coordinates
- 46.35827, 8.97213
- OpenStreetMap
- View on OSM →
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Route resources
Specialist links and source details for this route. Everyday actions are kept in the route rail above.