Monte Generoso: a hike from Italy into Switzerland
Localita' Alpe Grande, Como · Lombardia•1 day · Saturday•Hiking · 1,704 m
Experience
Day hikes
Difficulty ?
INTERMEDIATE
Where?
Como, Lombardia
On your own?
No problem
Points
+18
Community photos
Overview
The experience
Difficulty
What's included
Itinerary
Carpooling
What to bring
Guiddy Experience
Reviews
Questions
WHY THIS HIKE
A border summit with four lakes at your feet
Monte Generoso is the mountain that divides and connects at once: we start in Italy, we arrive in Switzerland, and from the top at 1,704 metres the view takes in the lakes of Lugano, Como, Varese and Maggiore, with Milan and the Po plain behind them on clear days.
Group chat a couple of days before
Come alone, leave with new friends
The experience
We set off from Alpe Grande, above Centro Valle Intelvi, where we leave the cars in a large car park. The first stretch is a trail through cool woodland up to Orimento; from there an easy mule track leads towards Alpe Squadrina, the summit already in sight ahead of us. The last part climbs across open pastures to the border ridge, where the Fiore di pietra appears, the building designed by Mario Botta that marks the Swiss summit.
Fifteen kilometres and 800 metres of ascent: a full day on well-marked trails with no technical difficulty. On the way down we stop at Baita di Orimento for lunch, before closing the loop at Alpe Grande.
This is an intermediate hike: 800 metres of ascent and five hours of walking call for a bit of training, but there are no exposed or equipped sections. Bring your ID card: the summit is on Swiss soil.
Come with the Guidders: book your place and let's climb the Generoso together.
GOOD TO KNOW
Group chat
It opens a couple of days before: that's where the meeting point is confirmed and carpooling is arranged.
Free cancellation up to 3 days before
For the selected date: by 6 October, 23:59. You pay nothing when you book.
Guiddy accident insurance
Included in the price.
+18 Guiddy points
Your points grow with every outing, level you up and unlock discounts, exclusive outings and goodies.
Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
Included in the price.
Not suitable for dogs
This time your dog stays at home.
How hard is it, really
Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
800 m D+ · 15 km · 5 h
Easy
Perfect for those who want to enjoy nature without too much effort. Short, well-marked trails with gentle slopes. No technical difficulties, just a desire to walk, breathe in the fresh air, and share the day with a group.
Ideal for: Beginners, families, those who want to take their first steps in trekking.
Easy Plus
A little faster pace, but still accessible. Slightly longer routes or with a few more hills, requiring some walking experience. The terrain is always easy and safe.
Ideal for: Those who walk regularly and want to challenge themselves a little.
Intermediate — this outing
Here we enter the world of true trekking. Steeper climbs, stretches on uneven or longer trails that require stamina. The physical effort is medium to high, and the fatigue is noticeable... but so is the satisfaction!
Ideal for: Those who already have experience and a good level of physical fitness.
Intermediate Plus
When the mountains begin to take their toll. More challenging routes in terms of gradient or duration, with technical sections or uneven terrain. Even a medium elevation gain can be tough if concentrated in just a few kilometers
Ideal for: Trained hikers, accustomed to walking on mountain paths
Difficult
Level suitable for experienced hikers with excellent stamina and surefootedness. The physical challenge is high, and there may be steep sections or possible exposure, which is always noted in the hike description. Perfect for those who enjoy pushing their limits and conquering significant peaks.
Ideal for: Those who already have experience in an Alpine environment and want to challenge themselves.
Difficult Plus
Only for true Guidders with their Wild Spirit at its peak Long routes, significant elevation gain (over 1,100 m), and technical or exposed terrain. Excellent physical preparation, sure-footedness, and the ability to manage fatigue at high altitude are required.
Ideal for: Highly trained and experienced hikers in the mountains.
Exposure and exposed sections
NONE
No exposed sections reported on the route.
VERTIGO RISK
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 5 h and 800 m of ascent ahead, if you go to the mountains a couple of times a month, you're fit enough
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, 1.5 litres of water and a headlamp: the days are getting shorter, plus poles. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish
What's included in the price
✓INCLUDED
✓Guiddy accident insurance
✓Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
✕NOT INCLUDED
✕Packed lunch or lunch at the hut
✕Parking
✕Travel to Localita' Alpe Grande
To get there, there's Guiddy carpooling, below.
Itinerary
One day, approximate times. The final details come in the group chat.
Elevation gain
800 m
Max altitude
1,704 m
Distance
15 km
Duration
5 h
Saturday
10 Oct
15 km · D+ 800 m · 5 h
The stops · 15 km
Meeting point 9:30approximate
Partenza escursione, Localita' Alpe Grande 2, 22023 Centro Valle Intelvi provincia di Como, Italia. The exact time is confirmed in the group chat. We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
We meet the Guidders at the Alpe Grande car park, above Centro Valle Intelvi (CO). Introductions, a quick backpack check and off towards the woods. The time is indicative: the exact one is shared in the outing's Telegram group. Remember your ID card, today we cross the border.
12:00SUMMIT
On the summit of Monte Generoso (1,704 m)
From the woods we climb to Orimento and take the mule track towards Alpe Squadrina, the summit already in view. The last open pastures bring us onto the border ridge: from here the view spans the lakes of Lugano, Como, Varese and Maggiore, and just below the top stands Mario Botta's Fiore di pietra.
13:15MOUNTAIN HUT
Lunch at Baita di Orimento
We drop down to Baita di Orimento for the lunch break: at the table with the house dishes, or a packed lunch outside on the pasture. This is when the group swaps stories about the climb, unhurried.
15:00RETURN
Back to Alpe Grande
We close the loop back at Alpe Grande along the panoramic trail, through woods and glimpses over Valle Intelvi. At the cars we take the time for a toast before saying goodbye.
How do you get to Localita' Alpe Grande? By carpooling.
You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group. Contacts and costs are agreed between you: a seat isn't guaranteed.
WHO'S ALREADY GOING
for the selected date
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.
What to bring
A list made for this hike. No technical gear: just good shoes and a well-packed backpack.
Trekking poles
REQUIRED
Packed lunch
REQUIRED
Water supply
REQUIRED
Trekking boots
REQUIRED
Backpack
REQUIRED
Guiddy Experience
Saturday 10 October
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We only ask for feedback from people who were really there.
After your outing, you can share your story too.
Questions?
I've only done easy trails, can I come?
⌄
Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding. You need to be fit enough to walk for 5 h with 800 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
Can I join on my own?
⌄
How does carpooling work?
⌄
What happens if the weather is bad?
⌄
What if the group doesn't reach the minimum?
⌄
Until when can I cancel?
⌄
Book now, pay only if it goes ahead
MOST POPULAR
✓No charge now: the amount is only held on your card
✓Free cancellation up to 3 days before (for this date: 6 October, 23:59)
✓You're only charged once the group is confirmed, at 7 pm the evening before departure
✓Minimum not reached? No charge, nothing to do
Or pay straight away by card, PayPal, Satispay or Revolut. With Klarna you can also pay in interest-free instalments.
Still have questions? Message Ibex
Ibex is Guiddy's virtual ibex: it answers everything, 24/7. In two messages it tells you whether this outing is for you, how to get there and what to pack.
Monte Generoso: a hike from Italy into Switzerland
Localita' Alpe Grande, Centro Valle Intelvi (CO) · Lombardia
1 day · Hiking · 1,704 m
61 Guidders have already done it
Elevation gain
800 m
Max altitude
1,704 m
Distance
15 km
Exposed sections
None
Duration
5 h
Guiddy points
+18
▣ 2 photos
WHY THIS HIKE
A border summit with four lakes at your feet
Monte Generoso is the mountain that divides and connects at once: we start in Italy, we arrive in Switzerland, and from the top at 1,704 metres the view takes in the lakes of Lugano, Como, Varese and Maggiore, with Milan and the Po plain behind them on clear days.
Come alone, leave with new friends
The experience
We set off from Alpe Grande, above Centro Valle Intelvi, where we leave the cars in a large car park. The first stretch is a trail through cool woodland up to Orimento; from there an easy mule track leads towards Alpe Squadrina, the summit already in sight ahead of us. The last part climbs across open pastures to the border ridge, where the Fiore di pietra appears, the building designed by Mario Botta that marks the Swiss summit.
Fifteen kilometres and 800 metres of ascent: a full day on well-marked trails with no technical difficulty. On the way down we stop at Baita di Orimento for lunch, before closing the loop at Alpe Grande.
This is an intermediate hike: 800 metres of ascent and five hours of walking call for a bit of training, but there are no exposed or equipped sections. Bring your ID card: the summit is on Swiss soil.
Come with the Guidders: book your place and let's climb the Generoso together.
How hard is it
Guiddy scale
INTERMEDIATE
F
F+
I
I+
D
D+
800 m D+ · 15 km · 5 h
Easy
Perfect for those who want to enjoy nature without too much effort. Short, well-marked trails with gentle slopes. No technical difficulties, just a desire to walk, breathe in the fresh air, and share the day with a group.
Ideal for: Beginners, families, those who want to take their first steps in trekking.
Easy Plus
A little faster pace, but still accessible. Slightly longer routes or with a few more hills, requiring some walking experience. The terrain is always easy and safe.
Ideal for: Those who walk regularly and want to challenge themselves a little.
Intermediate — this outing
Here we enter the world of true trekking. Steeper climbs, stretches on uneven or longer trails that require stamina. The physical effort is medium to high, and the fatigue is noticeable... but so is the satisfaction!
Ideal for: Those who already have experience and a good level of physical fitness.
Intermediate Plus
When the mountains begin to take their toll. More challenging routes in terms of gradient or duration, with technical sections or uneven terrain. Even a medium elevation gain can be tough if concentrated in just a few kilometers
Ideal for: Trained hikers, accustomed to walking on mountain paths
Difficult
Level suitable for experienced hikers with excellent stamina and surefootedness. The physical challenge is high, and there may be steep sections or possible exposure, which is always noted in the hike description. Perfect for those who enjoy pushing their limits and conquering significant peaks.
Ideal for: Those who already have experience in an Alpine environment and want to challenge themselves.
Difficult Plus
Only for true Guidders with their Wild Spirit at its peak Long routes, significant elevation gain (over 1,100 m), and technical or exposed terrain. Excellent physical preparation, sure-footedness, and the ability to manage fatigue at high altitude are required.
Ideal for: Highly trained and experienced hikers in the mountains.
WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU GO
✓
BEFORE YOU GO
Go to bed early, have a good breakfast and drink before you set off: you've got 5 h and 800 m of ascent ahead, if you go to the mountains a couple of times a month, you're fit enough
✓
IN YOUR BACKPACK
Warm layers, a windproof jacket, 1.5 litres of water and a headlamp: the days are getting shorter, plus poles. Always with you: a plaster, an antiseptic wipe and a small bag for rubbish
What's included
INCLUDED
✓Guiddy accident insurance
✓Guiddy Coordinator (runs the group, Telegram included)
NOT INCLUDED
✕Packed lunch or lunch at the hut
✕Parking
✕Travel to Localita' Alpe Grande
Itinerary
Saturday · approximate times
Stops · 15 km
Meeting point 9:30Partenza escursione
We usually meet a little earlier for breakfast together, when possible.
We meet the Guidders at the Alpe Grande car park, above Centro Valle Intelvi (CO). Introductions, a quick backpack check and off towards the woods. The time is indicative: the exact one is shared in the outing's Telegram group. Remember your ID card, today we cross the border.
12:00SUMMIT
On the summit of Monte Generoso (1,704 m)
From the woods we climb to Orimento and take the mule track towards Alpe Squadrina, the summit already in view. The last open pastures bring us onto the border ridge: from here the view spans the lakes of Lugano, Como, Varese and Maggiore, and just below the top stands Mario Botta's Fiore di pietra.
13:15MOUNTAIN HUT
Lunch at Baita di Orimento
We drop down to Baita di Orimento for the lunch break: at the table with the house dishes, or a packed lunch outside on the pasture. This is when the group swaps stories about the climb, unhurried.
15:00RETURN
Back to Alpe Grande
We close the loop back at Alpe Grande along the panoramic trail, through woods and glimpses over Valle Intelvi. At the cars we take the time for a toast before saying goodbye.
How do you get to Localita' Alpe Grande? By carpooling.
You say so when booking, then you get organised in the Telegram group.
WHO'S ALREADY GOING
for this date
Offering a seat Looking for a seat
Cars are added in the last few days, once the group is confirmed.
Flat or slightly inclined sections with short stretches on steep slopes and rocks, not tiring or demanding. You need to be fit enough to walk for 5 h with 800 m of ascent. If in doubt, message Ibex on WhatsApp.
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