Formazza: Winter Trails, Walser Culture and Cascata del Toce

Cross-Country Skiing and Snowshoe Route

The Centro del Fondo di Riale has a total of 12 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, groomed for both beginners and professional cross-country skiers. The Riale–Rifugio Maria Luisa snowshoe route leads to the Rifugio Maria Luisa at an altitude of 2,157 metres in 1 hour and 40 minutes. If you plan your winter day around cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, you should not treat the two routes as the same activity. The cross-country ski trail represents a route for different target groups, while the snowshoe route is defined by a specific duration and a named elevation destination. For planning a single winter day, the 12 kilometres of the trail and the 1 hour and 40 minutes of the snowshoe route are separate time and distance figures.

Cross-Country Ski Trails in Riale

The cross-country ski trails in Riale comprise 3 kilometres of green trail for beginners, 5 kilometres of red or black trail, and a 12-kilometre red or black trail recommended only for experienced skiers. When planning a day of cross-country skiing, you can consider the beginner section and the longer red or black trails as separate distances.

Cascata del Toce and Località Frua

The Cascata del Toce is located in Località Frua and has a drop of 143 metres. A path from the hamlet of Sotto Frua leads to the bridge below the Cascata del Toce in approximately 10 minutes. The panoramic terrace offers a view of the Cascata del Toce. If you plan the waterfall as a day-trip destination, you can consider the location in Località Frua, the path from Sotto Frua and the view from the panoramic terrace separately.

Casa Forte

Casa Forte was built in 1569 by Antonio Zur Schmitten as his own official residence, warehouse and commercial checkpoint.

Walser Houses in Riale and Ponte

Walser houses in villages such as Riale and Ponte use the log-building technique and roofs made of stone slabs. Characteristic supports made of stone and wood serve the grain stores; these are called “funghi” or “mushrooms”. In the houses in Riale and Ponte, the building style, roofing material and supports of the grain stores thus form shared architectural features.

Walser Festivals and Regional Specialty

Pomattertag takes place in August in Ponte as a Walser festival and is dedicated to the traditions and costumes of the Swiss colonists. The Walser Häpfla Fest takes place in September as part of the Sagre Ossola and celebrates the traditional potato from Formazza with handmade Walser potato gnocchi. The two events have different focuses: in August, Pomattertag centres on traditions and costumes, while in September the Walser Häpfla Fest combines the traditional potato from Formazza with a handmade specialty.

Comazzi Line and SS659

The Domodossola–Cascata del Toce Comazzi Line connects Domodossola with the Cascata del Toce. The SS659 leads into the Formazza Valley.

Other destinations: Baveno, Valstrona, Stresa, Arizzano, Cavaglio-Spoccia, Macugnaga, Miazzina, Arizzano, Brovello-Carpugnino

For the overarching travel overview: Verbano-Cusio-Ossola.