Pizzo Centrale
2,999 m
Switzerland
Also known as პიცო-ჩენტრალეAlso known as
პიცო-ჩენტრალე
- Elevation
- 2,999 m
- Prominence
- 451 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T4- (alpineg.ch) · T3 (T4 only above the Guspissattel) (gipfelbuch.ch report 2020)
The normal route: from the Gotthard Pass hospice (2,091 m) along the road to the Lago della Sella dam, then a blue-white marked alpine path over the polished granite slabs of the Sasso di Paisgion to the Guspissattel (2,888 m) and a short scramble to the summit cairn, 70 cm short of 3,000 m. About 900 m of ascent and 5–5½ hours round trip.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 6.1 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +923 m
- start → summit
- High Point
- 2,999 m
- Time Up
- 3h 52m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 2h 40m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Gotthard Pass (bus stop 'Gotthard Passhöhe', 2,091 m) follow the asphalt road east to the Lago della Sella reservoir (2,256 m, 35–40 minutes). Shortly after the dam, about halfway along the lake, a blue-and-white marked path signed 'Gemsstock, Pizzo Centrale' branches off left, at first a broad alp track. At about 2,480 m, below a rock step, signage is poor: keep right and follow cairns and red-white marks through the rock step (marked with a prominent arrow) onto the plateau of the Sasso di Paisgion, mostly polished granite with regular cairns, up to P. 2759. Continue to the Guspissattel (2,888 m), keeping right of the Gamsspitz. The final climb from the ridge to the summit is pathless in places, with several small paths and some easy use of hands; this is the T4 part. The summit cairn stands at 2,999 m. Descend by the same route. The tour is 12 km with 893–922 m of ascent and takes 5–5½ hours in total. Steep snowfields can linger on the upper slopes, and thunderstorms build quickly over the Gotthard in summer.
Start
Gotthard Passhöhe2,094 m
- Train to Andermatt or Airolo, then the summer Postauto to the Gotthard Pass.
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gotthard Passhöhe → Pizzo Centrale | 6.1 | 923 | 18 | 3h 52m |
Waypoints
- Station: Gotthard Passhöhe2,094 m
- Feature: Lago della Sella2,241 m
Leave the road after the dam onto the path signed 'Gemsstock, Pizzo Centrale'
- Feature: Sasso di Paisgion2,579 m
Polished granite plateau with cairns
- Col: Guspissattel2,880 m
not on route line
- Summit: Pizzo Centrale2,999 m
Key Passages
- Poorly signed junction and rock step at about 2,480 m
- Polished granite of the Sasso di Paisgion
- Pathless final climb from the Guspissattel (T4)
Equipment
0/4 packedDownloads
Route confidence 70%Overview
A 2,999 m granite summit between the Gotthard Pass and Andermatt, a few metres short of 3,000 m. A popular T4 hike from the Gotthard hospice via the Lago della Sella, with the steepest part only on the last 110 m above the Guspissattel.
Pizzo Centrale rises north-east of the Gotthard Pass on the boundary between Ticino and Uri, just south of the Gemsstock above Andermatt. The south side above the Lago della Sella reservoir is a world of polished granite slabs and cairned paths; the north side drops towards the Guspistal and Hospental. The surveyed height is 2,999 m, and standing on the summit cairn makes up the missing 70 cm, as one guide puts it.
The normal route from the Gotthard Pass is essentially a T3 mountain hike with a short T4 finish: about 900 m of ascent and 5–5½ hours round trip on a mix of asphalt, alp track and cairned granite. The NW ridge over the Gamsspitz (PD-, II) and a T5 ridge from the Val Prevat are harder alternatives. In winter and spring Pizzo Centrale is a ski-touring objective from the Gemsstock cable car or the Gotthard.
Because the start is at 2,091 m and served by summer buses, the summit is within reach of fit hikers in a day from much of Switzerland.
Climbing Notes
Requirements: sure-footedness on slabs and blocks, basic route-finding with cairns, and fitness for about 900 m of ascent at 2,100–3,000 m. No technical gear is needed in dry summer conditions.
Typical itinerary: summer Postauto from Andermatt or Airolo to the Gotthard Pass, walk to the Lago della Sella, up to the Guspissattel and the summit, and back the same way in 5–5½ hours; check the last bus. Start early, as thunderstorms often break out over the Gotthard in the afternoon.
The season follows the opening of the Gotthard Pass road, usually from June to October. Steep snowfields can remain on the upper slopes early and late in the season.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Not advisable
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Good
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Pass road closed; ski tours only
- Feb
- Pass road closed; ski tours from the Gemsstock
- Mar
- Ski tours for experienced parties
- Apr
- Spring ski tours
- May
- Pass road usually still closed
- Jun
- Pass road opens; lingering snow
- Jul
- Main hiking season; afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Main hiking season
- Sep
- Stable autumn weather
- Oct
- Possible snowfields; buses end in October
- Nov
- Pass road closes; winter
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Getting There
Airolo
Zurich (ZRH) or Lugano (LUG) by train
- Train to Andermatt or Airolo, then the summer Postauto to the Gotthard Pass (stop 'Gotthard Passhöhe')
- By car over the Gotthard Pass road (closed in winter); parking at the pass
Hazards
- Weather
- Exposure