01.03 Gavirate - Sesto Calende

Note: The following text is no longer entirely up to date; see the "Update" below.

First, take the main road to Bardello. Following the new trail markers along Lake Varese, the route continues to Biandronno, where there are plenty of places to stay.

The route continues away from the lake toward Casinetta Rizzone, then over small hills – the landscape now loses its alpine character – and then follows an asphalt road for quite some time to Osmate, where the Ticino Nature Park begins. The trail now runs along the side of a hill at roughly the same elevation for quite some time.

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Update from August 16, 2018, by Rainer Minnerop

This section is no longer passable as it is. I walked it yesterday and today, taking a slightly different route.

After passing Gavirate, you eventually come to Biandronno. The trail used to run between two quarries. These have since been expanded, and the E1 trail was blown up in the process. The area is fenced off with high fences; we were only able to get in because a tree had knocked down the fence. But we had a very hard time getting back out. This section needs to be completely re-routed.

Further along, you’ll reach Tichino Nature Park. Here, the path is completely overgrown with prickly bushes and blackberry vines and is no longer passable. A detailed report with photos can be found here, as well as in the following blog post: Link to the detailed report

Last text update: 15.05.2026

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