Pizzo Lucendro
2,963 m
Switzerland
Also known as პიცო-ლუჩენდროAlso known as
პიცო-ლუჩენდრო
- Elevation
- 2,963 m
- Prominence
- 350 m
- Difficulty
- 4/10
- Alpine hike
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: T3+ (hikr.org report (2012), in good conditions) · T5, II if the direct gullies east of the firn are taken instead of the marked line (hikr.org report (2025))
A long but straightforward alpine walk from the Gotthard Pass (2,091 m): along the Lucendro reservoir to the Passo di Lucendro (2,532 m), then a white-blue-white marked line over block fields and a short rock step (I) to the summit cross and antenna. About 900 m of ascent and 3 hours up.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 7.8 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +930 m
- −76 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,963 m
- Time Up
- 4h 14m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 3h 05m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the Gotthard Pass summit (2,091 m, PostBus stop and car parks) follow the signed path or the quiet side road west past San Carlo and the car park below the Lucendro dam (about 2,078 m). A gravel track runs along the north-west shore of Lago di Lucendro to Alpe di Lucendro (2,181 m) at the head of the lake. A white-red-white path then climbs past the source of the Gotthard Reuss (about 2,481 m) to the Passo di Lucendro (2,532 m), reached in about 1¾ hours from the pass. At the col an arrow marks the start of the summit path, which is marked white-blue-white and with cairns (they do not always agree). Up to about 2,750 m it is easy block terrain; at around 2,800 m the marked line bears left onto the east ridge, which is followed over blocks and short steps of UIAA I to the summit, with a cross, a summit register and a large antenna. Allow 1–1½ hours from the col. The small remnant of the Lucendro glacier below the summit holds hard snow into summer; one report notes a small icy snowfield to climb, and the Camptocamp description advises keeping to the rocks on its left (south) side, both to avoid the ice and the rockfall from the north ridge. Direct gullies at the east end of the firn are loose and harder (T5, II). Descend the same way in about 2–2½ hours. Combining the climb with Fibbia or a traverse to the Rotondo hut is possible, but the trackless south flank down to the Passo di Cavanna is loose scree and not recommended. The Gotthard pass road and the PostBus line are only open in summer.
Start
Passo del San Gottardo2,108 m
- Train to Airolo or Andermatt, then PostBus line 62.110 Airolo – San Gottardo – Andermatt to Gotthard Passhöhe (summer only; 20 June – 4 October in 2026)
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Passo del San Gottardo → Pizzo Lucendro | 7.8 | 930 | 76 | 4h 14m |
Waypoints
- Trailhead: Passo del San Gottardo2,108 m
PostBus stop Gotthard Passhöhe and car parks
- Parking: Diga del Lucendro2,093 m
Car park below the dam at about 2,078 m
- Col: Passo di Lucendro2,533 m
- Summit: Pizzo Lucendro2,963 m
Key Passages
- Passo di Lucendro
- Block field above the col (white-blue-white markings)
- Short UIAA I rock steps on the east ridge
- Glacier remnant below the summit (snow and rockfall)
Equipment
0/7 packedDownloads
Route confidence 75%Overview
A granite summit of 2,963 m in the Gotthard massif, 4 km south-west of the Gotthard Pass, where Uri and Ticino meet. A marked T4 alpine walk from the pass road along the Lucendro reservoir, with a short scramble on blocks at the top.
Pizzo Lucendro rises above the Lago di Lucendro reservoir on the west side of the Gotthard Pass, at the point where the municipalities of Airolo, Bedretto (Ticino) and Realp (Uri) meet. Its flanks are granite blocks and slabs, with a small and shrinking glacier remnant tucked under the north-east face. The summit carries a cross, a register and a large antenna, and looks down into the Val Bedretto, the Leventina and across to the Urner Alps.
Because the pass road starts at 2,091 m, the summit is only about 900 m above the trailhead and is a popular day tour for alpine walkers with public transport in summer. The lower half, to the Passo di Lucendro (2,532 m), is an ordinary mountain path; above it a white-blue-white marked line crosses block fields and finishes on the east ridge with easy rock steps. In winter and spring it is one of the classic ski tours of the Gotthard area, from the pass, Realp or the Val Bedretto.
Climbing Notes
Fitness for a 5–6 hour day with about 900 m of ascent is enough, plus sure-footedness on large blocks and a few moves of easy scrambling. The route is marked, but in fog the block field above the col is easy to lose, and markings and cairns do not always agree. In early summer the glacier remnant below the summit holds hard snow: an ice axe (and crampons if you cross it) is useful, or keep to the rocks on its left side, which also avoids rockfall from the north ridge.
The usual plan is a day trip from the Gotthard Pass using the summer PostBus from Airolo or Andermatt; check the last bus back before setting off. Longer options link Fibbia or continue to the SAC Rotondo hut, but the trackless south-flank descent to the Passo di Cavanna is loose and not recommended. In winter the pass road is closed and the peak is reached on ski touring routes (around PD, ski 2.2 from the pass), which need avalanche equipment and judgement.
History
The first ascent is not recorded. The first recorded passage of the north-west face was a descent on 24 August 1871 by Hermann Zähringer with the guide Franz Senn, during a crossing from the Gotthard to the Furka Pass.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Possible
- April: Possible
- May: Possible
- June: Possible
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Pass road closed; ski touring only, avalanche terrain
- Feb
- Ski touring only
- Mar
- Ski tours from Realp or the Ticino side for experienced parties
- Apr
- Classic spring ski tour season
- May
- Spring ski touring; pass road usually still closed
- Jun
- PostBus from 20 June (2026); much snow above the col
- Jul
- Snowfields and firn below the summit possible into late July
- Aug
- Usually snow-free; afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Often stable weather and few people above the col
- Oct
- PostBus ends early October (4 October in 2026); early snow
- Nov
- Winter conditions
- Dec
- Winter conditions
Access & Permits
- Fees
- Parking at the Gotthard Pass and below the Lucendro dam
- Rules
- The Gotthard pass road is closed in winter; the summer PostBus runs only from late June to early October
- Getting There
Airolo (Ticino) and Andermatt (Uri)
Zurich (ZRH) or Milan Malpensa (MXP)
- Train to Airolo (Gotthard line) or Andermatt, then PostBus 62.110 to Gotthard Passhöhe (20 June – 4 October 2026; first bus from Airolo 07:10, about 20 minutes)
- By car over the Gotthard pass road (summer only) to the pass or the car park below the Lucendro dam
Hazards
- Rockfall
- Weather