A 500 km Journey Through the Wildlands
Born Along the Edge
The Ticino 500 route was born by following the border of Canton Ticino. We didn’t want to “add” anything to make it more extreme: its toughness is authentic, carved by the mountain itself.
This path is a journey through the valleys, passes, and ridges of Ticino - territories with a thousand faces, but one they do not have: that of the plain.
Drawn by Nature, Perfect in Its Rawness
The elevation profile speaks for itself. It was nature that drew this line; we merely followed it. Whoever takes it on will understand: there’s no need to add or remove anything. It’s already perfect as it is - 500 km and 40,000 meters of elevation gain.
The Ticino 500 is an approximately 500-kilometre route with 40,000 metres of elevation gain, to be covered on foot along the alpine and pre-alpine trails bordering the Canton of Ticino. It is a self-supported challenge between control points, with no direct external assistance, requiring strong skills in self-management, endurance, and adaptability.
The goal is to experience adventure, exploration, self-discovery, and respect for the mountain environment. Each participant takes on the challenge under their own responsibility, fully aware of the risks associated with the natural surroundings. The Ticino Wildlands 500 is a private sporting raid, not a competitive race.
Details
Dates 08 Aug - 18 Aug 2026
Trip Duration 10 days
Number of Aid Stations 10
Distance 500 km
Time Limit 250 h
Elevation Gain/Loss 40’000m
Longest ascent 2’100m
Longest descent 2’500m
Max/Min. elevation 2’772m/193m