Pizzo Paglia

2,593 m

Switzerland

Elevation: 2,593 m
Prominence: 498 m
Difficulty: 4/10; Alpine hike
Best Season: Jul–Sep
Routes: 1

Routes

3D Preview

SACT4HikeNormal route

Sources differ: T3+ (Hikr (Califfo, 2016; also WS- on the alpine scale)) · T4+ (Hikr (2013, with UIAA I on the summit ridge))

A long, lonely ascent of the highest peak around the Val Cama: steps and forest from Cama (about 360 m) to the lake at Lagh de Cama, a poorly maintained path past Alp de Vazzola to the Passo del Segnale di Vazzola (2,108 m), then trackless glacier-polished slabs, scree and a short ridge to the top. About 2,250 m of ascent; usually split with a night by the lake.

Elevation Profile

approximate line

Distance: 10.3 km; one way
Ascent: +2,344 m; −102 m lost on the way up
High Point: 2,593 m
Time Up: 9h 18m; DIN 33466
Time Down: 6h 19m; DIN 33466 · same way back

From the car park at the foot of the Val Cama in Cama (about 360 m), a stepped path climbs steeply through forest past the Rifugio Alp di Besarden to the Lagh de Cama (about 1,265 m), where Capanna Miralago and Capanna Righetti-Fibbioli stand by the lake; allow about 1¾–2 hours. The huts offer food and beds in summer, which makes a two-day trip practical. From the lake a steep, at times faint and overgrown path with old waymarks climbs past Alp de Vazzola (about 1,800 m) to a junction at about 1,950 m, where the path to Alp di Agnon branches off. Continue on a rough, little-maintained line through alder scrub to the Passo del Segnale di Vazzola (2,108 m), about an hour from Alp de Vazzola; a signpost here points towards Pizzo Paglia but there is no path or marking beyond. Descend slightly, traverse south below the west flank of Piz di Agnon and climb the broad north-west flank of Pizzo Paglia on glacier-polished slabs, scree and grass, choosing your own line. The last 200 m are on blocks and steeper ground; finish by the north-west ridge (easiest) or the narrower north ridge to the summit, where a summit box holds registers back to 1972. Allow about 4 hours from the lake. Descend the same way; the scrub section below the pass needs care to stay on the line.

Start

Cama347 m

Public transport runs along the Mesolcina (Hikr reports use it from Grono); the Val Cama has no road and is reached only on foot.
Parking at the trailhead

Stages

Day	Stage	km	m ascent	m descent	Time
1	Cama → Capanna Miralago	6.1	939	12	3h 55m
2	Capanna Miralago → Pizzo Paglia	4.2	1,402	83	5h 22m

Waypoints

Parking:
Cama347 m
Turn right after the petrol station in Cama and cross the Moesa and the motorway to the car park
Hut:
Capanna Miralago1,269 m
Hut:
Alp de Vazzola1,803 m
Renovated alp hut (rifugio)
Col:
Passo del Segnale di Vazzola2,119 m
Summit:
Pizzo Paglia2,593 m

Key Passages

Steep stepped path from Cama to the Lagh de Cama
Faint, overgrown path between Alp de Vazzola and the Passo del Segnale di Vazzola
Trackless slabs and scree on the north-west flank
Final blocky ridge to the summit

Equipment

0/6 packed

Safety

Headlamplong day if done from CamaRecommended

Footwear

Mountain boots with good gripslabs and blocks; slippery when wetRequired

Clothing

Waterproof and warm layersRequired
Long trousersalder scrub and overgrown sectionsRecommended

Navigation

Map (Swiss 1:25,000 sheets 1294 Grono and 1314 Passo San Jorio) or GPS trackno path above the Passo del Segnale di Vazzola; faint path belowRequired

Other

Plenty of waterRecommended

Downloads

Route confidence 55%

Download GPX Download KML

Overview

The 2,593 m high point above the roadless Val Cama in the Swiss Mesolcina, 300 m from the Italian border. A long, trackless walk over glacier-polished slabs, with views down to Lake Como.

Pizzo Paglia is the highest summit around the Val Cama, a side valley of the Mesolcina (Misox) in Italian-speaking Graubünden. The Italian border runs about 300 m south of the summit, and the view takes in Lake Como to the south. Its south side falls to the Valle del Dosso above Lake Como; on the Swiss side it sends broad slabby flanks down towards the Val Cama and the Val Grono.

The Val Cama has no road. A stepped path climbs from Cama to the Lagh de Cama, where small huts and a cheese-making alp make a good base. Above, the paths are faint and poorly maintained, and the final 500 m to the summit are trackless: easy slabs, scree and blocks with a short ridge at the top. In clear weather it is technically straightforward (T3–T4), but route-finding in fog on the open flank is not trivial.

The peak sees few visitors. There are alternative approaches from the Val Grono and Val Leggia, from the Italian Valle del Dosso by the SSE ridge (T5, with grade II climbing), and in winter on ski or snowshoes from Cama.

Climbing Notes

Needs good fitness: about 2,250 m of ascent from Cama, or 1,300 m from the lake if you sleep at the Lagh de Cama huts. Experience on trackless alpine terrain and good navigation are more important than climbing skill; the summit ridge involves easy scrambling (I). Do not attempt it in fog or when the slabs are wet.

Typical itinerary: walk up from Cama to the Lagh de Cama (about 2 hours) and stay at Capanna Miralago or Capanna Righetti-Fibbioli; next day climb the peak (about 4 hours) and return to Cama (about 1,300 m down to the lake and another 900 m to the valley). Doing it in a day is possible for very fit parties (about 11–12 hours round trip). Expect fallen trees and alder scrub on the paths above the lake.

History

The first ascent is unknown, probably by hunters or Swiss topographers. The SSE ridge was first climbed in October 1897 by Adolfo Andina and Rodolfo Ferrari with the guide Giovanni Rasella, traversing from Punta Michele and descending the north-west side.

Season

Best Jul–Sep

January: Not advisable
February: Not advisable
March: Possible
April: Possible
May: Possible
June: Good
July: Best (best window)
August: Best (best window)
September: Best (best window)
October: Good
November: Not advisable
December: Not advisable

Jan: Winter; ski or snowshoe ascents only for experienced parties
Feb: Winter conditions; avalanche risk on the flank
Mar: Ski-touring from Cama in good snow years
Apr: Spring snow; snowshoe and ski ascents
May: Snow on the upper flank
Jun: Mostly snow-free by late June
Jul: Lake huts open; thunderstorms possible
Aug: Lake huts open; thunderstorms possible
Sep: Good conditions; huts may close
Oct: Often clear; shorter days; first snow possible
Nov: Early winter
Dec: Winter conditions

Access & Permits

Hut Booking

Capanna Miralago and Capanna Righetti-Fibbioli at the Lagh de Cama offer food and beds in summer (reports mention July–August); contact the huts before going.

Rules

The Val Cama is reachable only on foot; there is no road

Getting There

Cama and Grono (Mesolcina, Graubünden); Bellinzona

Milan Malpensa (MXP)

By car to Cama: turn right after the petrol station, cross the Moesa and the motorway to the car park at the foot of the Val Cama
Public transport runs along the Mesolcina to Cama and Grono

Hazards

Remoteness
Weather

Huts & Shelters

Capanna MiralagoHutStaffed
Summer; one report gives July and August only
1,265 m
Alp de VazzolaRefuge
Renovated alp hut; status and opening not confirmed
1,804 m