Canyons around Sant'Antonio offer diverse natural landscapes for exploration. The region features several gorges, valleys, and river areas. These natural formations provide varied terrain, from challenging trails to more accessible paths. Sant'Antonio is characterized by its natural beauty, including historical sites and unique geological features.
Last updated: June 28, 2026
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On the slopes of Mount Gaggio there is this large and green valley.
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The path along the Franscinone River runs along a gorge with many bridges and water pipes. The river contains rocks made of gray Ceneri gneiss that are over 500 million years old. These boulders were deposited by glaciers. There are also stones made of light dolomite limestone that have slipped from the Denti della Vecchia. There used to be a canal here that carried water to the mills further downstream. There were also various ponds that were used to macerate Hnaf, from which fibers were obtained.
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Suggestive valley that descends from the Gaggio. In winter the snow usually clogs the gully making it difficult to cross, exposed, until Spring. In summer conditions the transition is trivial. During the summer season of 2022, work began to make the hiking trail safe
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Often you have to overcome passages on foot, but it is definitely worth it as the pictures show.
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Due to the dangerous landslide nearby there are no signs for this so it's easy to get lost take your map to find the right way because it's worth it
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River that runs down the mountain in a dreamlike way over white rocks. Follow the hiking path straight down, the other path is practically no longer available and leads through thorn bushes and over slippery rocks without path marking.
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Around Sant'Antonio, you can explore a variety of gorges and natural monuments. These include the scenic Stuello Valley, the historically rich Franscinone Gorge and Historic Ruins, the unique Riale Valegion White Rocks, and the challenging Singletrack Through Ticino Gorge.
Yes, the Stuello Valley is noted as family-friendly, offering a suggestive descent that is trivial to cross in summer conditions.
The Stuello Valley is listed as dog-friendly, making it a good option for exploring with your canine companion.
The difficulty levels vary. The Stuello Valley is considered challenging, while the Franscinone Gorge and Historic Ruins and Singletrack Through Ticino Gorge are intermediate. The Riale Valegion White Rocks is also challenging.
Yes, the Franscinone Gorge and Historic Ruins features a path along the Franscinone River with historic ruins, including remnants of canals and ponds used for macerating hemp.
You can see ancient geological formations, such as gray Ceneri gneiss rocks over 500 million years old in the Franscinone Gorge. The Riale Valegion White Rocks offers a dreamlike river flowing over distinctive white rocks.
For the Stuello Valley, summer conditions make the crossing trivial. In winter, snow can make the gully difficult and exposed until spring. Generally, warmer months are ideal for exploring the gorges.
Beyond exploring the gorges, you can find various outdoor activities. There are numerous hiking routes, including challenging options like the "Via del Ferro - Gesero Peaks Loop" and easier trails like "Trail to the Dam." For cyclists, there are traffic-free bike rides and touring bicycle routes, such as the "Val Calanca to Rossa Cycle Route" or the "Tenero–Bellinzona Cycle Path." You can find more details on these activities in the hiking guide, traffic-free bike rides guide, and cycling guide for Sant'Antonio.
When visiting the Riale Valegion White Rocks, it's advised to follow the hiking path straight down. Due to a dangerous landslide nearby, signs may be absent, so it's crucial to bring a map to find the correct way and avoid getting lost.
The Singletrack Through Ticino Gorge is an intermediate trail where you may often need to overcome passages on foot. Despite this, visitors find the scenic views well worth the effort.
The Franscinone Gorge is particularly notable for its geological history, featuring rocks made of gray Ceneri gneiss that are over 500 million years old, deposited by glaciers. You can also find lighter dolomite limestone from the Denti della Vecchia.


Already discovered everything in this region? See additional gorges around Sant'Antonio for your next adventure: