Via Alpina Red R90
HARD (3/10)Prato-Sornico → Fontana
Use this route
The walk, as far as the open data goes
Getting there
- Start: Prato Ponte bus stop, 8 m away
- Start: parking car park, 22 m away
- Start: San Martino bus stop, 369 m away
- Finish: Fontana bus stop, 48 m away
- Finish: parking car park, 61 m away
- Finish: Mondada bus stop, 485 m away
Somewhere to stop
- Rifugio Fiorasca hut, 2,086 m
Mapped within 200 m of the line. Whether they are open is not something we have read.
Height and time
- High point 2,278 m
- Low point 619 m
- Climb 1,623 m from a 30 m terrain model, smoothed
- Swiss signpost time 7 h 56 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
Prato-Sornico
Start
Route geometry · source 2026-04-11
About 0 min in
12.7 km remaining
+1623 m remaining
Climb
0 m
1500 m climb
7.5 km at 19.9% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 0 min in
12.7 km remaining
+1623 m remaining
Route note
100 m
Prato-Sornico
Village
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-11
About 3 min in
12.6 km remaining
+1623 m remaining
Route note
1.3 km
Rima di Prato
Hamlet
OpenStreetMap · source 2026-04-11
About 43 min in
11.4 km remaining
+1426 m remaining
Descent
8.8 km
958 m descent
2.6 km at 36.9% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 4h 50m in
4.0 km remaining
+76 m remaining
Descent
11.5 km
546 m descent
1.2 km at 44.0% average
OpenStreetMap route data · source 2026-04-11
About 6h 21m in
1.2 km remaining
+0 m remaining
Finish
12.7 km
Fontana
Finish
Route geometry · source 2026-04-11
About 7h 02m in
0 m remaining
Trail route lab
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Via Alpina Red R90 is a 12.7 km point-to-point hard hiking route in Switzerland, running from Prato-Sornico to Fontana. The route covers 1,623m of ascent and 1,800m of descent, with elevations ranging from 619m to 2,256m. Allow approximately 7h 02m for the full route.
The route is divided into 5 segments. The toughest stretch is the 7.0 km from Prato-Sornico to Pizzo della Vena Nuova, climbing 1,102m (allow 3h 15m for this section).
Only 49% of the route is below 15% gradient — expect to hike more than you run. Some pitches hit 60% gradient, so trekking poles are strongly recommended.
Budget roughly 4,603 kcal of energy expenditure and 4.2 L of water.
Mountain route up to 2257m. Best June–October; snow possible into June.
Trail Splits
Waypoint-to-waypoint breakdown with estimated hiking times (Naismith's Rule).
| Segment | Dist | ↑ Ascent | ↓ Descent | Time | Cum. km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
📍 Prato-Sornico → Pizzo della Vena Nuova | 7.0 km | +1102m | -44m | 3h 15m | 7.0 |
⛰️ Pizzo della Vena Nuova → Pizzo Rosso | 1.2 km | +453m | -48m | 1h 02m | 8.2 |
⛰️ Pizzo Rosso → Rifugio Fiorasca | 1.0 km | +7m | -130m | 19 min | 9.2 |
🏠 Rifugio Fiorasca → Pizzo Malora | 0.7 km | +6m | -15m | 9 min | 9.9 |
⛰️ Pizzo Malora → Fontana | 3.8 km | +105m | -1563m | 2h 14m | 13.7 |
| Total | 12.7 km | +1,623m | -1,800m | 7h 02m | 12.7 |
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
🌤️ Mixed. Sections above the treeline are open to the sky; lower sections have some canopy. Carry sun protection for the open parts.
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 R90 is usually best from June to September. Snow is likely at the high point (2278 m) in December to May.
Weather this week
Loading the forecast for low point (619 m) and high point (2,278 m)…
Weather by month
Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (619 m) and the highest point (2,278 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.
| Month | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weather | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Good | Good | Good | Good | Mixed | Poor | Poor |
| High point, day / night | -2°/-8° | -2°/-9° | 0°/-7° | 3°/-4° | 7°/0° | 12°/4° | 13°/6° | 13°/6° | 9°/3° | 6°/0° | 1°/-4° | -1°/-7° |
| Low point, day / night | 8°/0° | 8°/-1° | 12°/2° | 15°/4° | 19°/9° | 23°/13° | 24°/15° | 24°/15° | 20°/11° | 16°/8° | 11°/3° | 9°/1° |
| Rain, mm | 74 | 59 | 84 | 112 | 126 | 137 | 127 | 144 | 124 | 142 | 145 | 90 |
| Snow at high point | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | Likely | – | – | – | – | Possible | Possible | Likely |
| Daylight | 8 h 58 | 10 h 18 | 11 h 49 | 13 h 31 | 14 h 57 | 15 h 47 | 15 h 29 | 14 h 14 | 12 h 38 | 11 h | 9 h 28 | 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.
Planning ahead?
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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 12.7 km, 1623m ascent, max altitude 2256.7m, ~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. 4603 kcal burn
- 🧴 Sunscreen SPF 50+UV intensifies above 2000m
- 🧢 Sun hat / capExposed alpine terrain
- 🧥 Windbreaker / shell jacketSummit at 2256.7m — 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 poles58% steep terrain, 1623m+ ascent
- 🧊 Microspikes / light cramponsSnow risk in Jan, Feb, Mar
- 🦵 GaitersKeep snow out of boots
Logistics
This route runs from Prato-Sornico to Fontana (12.7 km by trail). You'll need to arrange transport back to your starting point.
Nearby Points of Interest
📍 Nearby Places
- Fola km 0.6 · 474m off trail
- Cort da Franzesa km 3.3 · 698m off trail
- Croadasc km 4.3 · 816m off trail
- Lovàlt km 0.7 · 830m off trail
- Zòta km 4.1 · 969m off trail
Route Details
- Network
- International Trail Network
- Sport
- hiking
- Start
- Prato-Sornico
- End
- Fontana
- Start Coordinates
- 46.39519, 8.65664
- 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.