Lai Blau

Access

Entering Switzerland on the motorway from Como in the direction of Lugano, continue over the Gotthard. Exit at Biasca and take the Blenio Valley, following the signs for Olivone. Once in the village, continue towards the Lucomagno pass. When you reach the pass, continue past the tunnel that runs alongside the lake until you reach the dam. It is possible to leave your car in a small lay-by on the left of the road.
Alternatively, you can park in the large lay-by near the hut before the tunnel and take the path along the lake. In this case, the hike is about 4 km longer (A/R). 

Introduction

Easy hike that from Lake Santa Maria 1917m takes us first to visit Lai Blau 2409m and then four other 'nameless' but truly beautiful glacial lakes at 2442m.

Description

Starting at the dam, cross it and take the path along the lake. When you come to an animal shelter, keep to the right and take the path up the mountain. Climb up through the meadows of Alp Rondadura, crossing the occasional stream that forms beautiful little waterfalls, and in about an hour and a half, including photo breaks, you arrive at Lai Blau. The signs indicate 2 hours but an averagely trained person will easily take less than the indicated time. After visiting the lake, it is possible to continue on to four other beautiful lakes located further up. Looking at the Lai Blau, you walk along its left bank and then continue on to the rocky area just above it. Here you find 4 beautiful lakes in succession, the first 3 are practically in a straight line with each other and clearly visible, while the fourth is on the right bank of the last lake at the foot of a snowfield with a beautiful waterfall behind it. Despite the fact that the day on which my friend Giuseppe and I visited the lakes was not the best as the sun was only visible for a couple of hours throughout the day, the colours of the lakes were truly breathtaking. Once back at the first of the four small lakes, it is possible to cut back down to the orographic right of the stream that forms at the exit of the lake so as to take the path taken during the ascent to Lai Blau on the plateau below. Now simply follow the path taken on the way up to return to the starting point.