Summer in the Tourist District of the Lakes between beaches, trekking, biking and events
The Ossola Lakes, Mountains and Valleys Tourist District is preparing for summer 2026 with a travel proposal that combines nature, sport, relaxation and culture. Between Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta, Lake Mergozzo and Alpine valleys, the destination offers award-winning beaches, trekking routes, cycling itineraries, adventure parks, festivals and sporting events for families, couples and active travellers.
The season opens with the reconfirmation of four Blue Flags: Cannobio, Cannero Riviera and Verbania Fondotoce-Isolino on Lake Maggiore, and Lido di Gozzano on Lake Orta. The recognition enhances the quality of the water, the services available and the attention to environmental protection, making these locations ideal for those looking for a seaside holiday among lakes, green landscapes and historic villages.
On Lake Maggiore, the itinerary between water and history starts from the upper Verbano with the Castles of Cannero, ancient fortifications suspended over the water reopened to the public after a ten-year restoration. Today they house an immersive and digital museum, offering visitors an experience that combines panorama, historical memory and new technologies.
Continuing southwards, the beach of Verbania Fondotoce-Isolino allows you to combine relaxation and walks. From the shore you can reach the Torre di Feriolo, a pink granite fortification overlooking the lower Toce valley. On Lake Orta, Lido di Gozzano becomes the starting point to discover the Torre di Buccione, a historical symbol of the Riviera di San Giulio, 23 meters high and immersed in the surrounding nature reserve.
Among the most scenic experiences of the summer is also the Toce Waterfall, in Alta Val Formazza. From June to September, the 143-meter water jump returns to attract visitors and nature enthusiasts, confirming itself as one of the most evocative attractions in the Ossola valleys.
For families and those looking for outdoor activities, the Lake District offers numerous adventure parks. At the Aquadventure Park in Baveno there are paths, sports activities, paintball, e-bikes, falconry and lake view spaces. On the heights of Lake Orta, the Lake Orta Adventure Park "Le Pigne" offers suspension bridges up to 17 meters and special events such as the Festa del Sole, from 19 to 21 June, and "Waiting for the stars" on 9 August.
On Mottarone, Alpyland offers a 1,200-metre-long bobsleigh track on rails, with panoramic views of the Alps and lakes. A short distance away, the Mottarone Adventure Park and the e-bike routes allow you to experience the mountains in a sporty way. In Trarego Viggiona, Wonderwood offers the interactive path Peanuts - Lake Explorer, designed for children with quizzes and nature games.
For those looking for stronger thrills, the Lago Maggiore Zipline in Valle Intrasca allows you to fly for 1,850 meters, choosing between the Free Style and the Falcon Style, with speeds that can reach 120 km/h. In the Ossola Valleys, the Praudina Adventure Park in Santa Maria Maggiore, the Piana di Vigezzo, Domobianca 365 and San Domenico Ski complete the summer offer with adventure parks, bike parks, trekking, dinners at high altitude, nights in tents and digital detox proposals.
The area is also an ideal destination for trekking.
Among the most interesting itineraries are the Orridi di Uriezzo, canyons carved by glaciers and now walkable between walls up to 30 meters high. The route starts from Baceno, near the Monumental Church of San Gaudenzio, and leads through woods, panoramic bridges and the Marmitte dei Giganti on the Toce river.
In the Bognanco Valley, the tour of the three refuges offers a circular itinerary also suitable for families. The route starts from the Oratory of San Bernardo, at 1,630 meters, crosses larch forests, the Gattascosa peat bog and Lake Ragozza, up to the Monscera Pass, at 2,103 meters. The route takes up a stretch of the historic Via Stockalper, an ancient trade route between Switzerland and Domodossola.
More accessible is the tour of Lake Antrona, with 6.5 kilometers of path between paths, dirt sections, picnic areas and metal walkways next to the Sajont Waterfall. The lake, born from a landslide in 1642, offers an itinerary also suitable for families with children and for those looking for a day in nature without facing challenging differences in height.
Summer 2026 is also rich for cycling and mountain biking enthusiasts. Mottarone remains a symbolic destination for those who love road bikes, even for the historic passages of the Giro d'Italia.
The territory has recorded 12 passages of the Corsa Rosa from the post-war period to today, the last on 22 May 2026 with the thirteenth stage Alessandria-Verbania.
For those who prefer gravel and mountain biking, the route between Montecrestese and the Isorno Valley crosses stone hamlets, churches, frescoes and rural landscapes. On the upper Verbano, the Cadorna Line offers an itinerary that combines sport, historical memory and nature, along former military paths transformed into panoramic routes.
Alongside the outdoors, the summer calendar offers cultural and musical events. From 13 June to 23 August, Baveno and Feriolo d'Incanto return, with holographic fountains, light shows on the lake and, for the night of San Lorenzo, a piano concert on the water.
From 26 June to 6 September, Tones on the Stones celebrates twenty years by transforming the former quarry of Oira di Crevoladossola into a natural theatre of music, dance, digital projections and performances.
The Stresa Festival, from 16 July to 9 September, celebrates its 65th edition with jazz, world music, electronic, songwriting, international orchestras and soloists of classical and contemporary music. From 20 to 26 July, Malesco hosts the 26th edition of Malescorto, an international short film festival in the heart of Val Vigezzo.
There is no shortage of sporting events. On 7 June, the 50th Valle Intrasca Marathon will be run, with two routes between Lake Maggiore and the Verbano valleys. From 12 to 14 June, Lake Orta welcomes Oceanman, an international open water swimming circuit. On 13 and 14 June the Rally Valli Ossolane returns, while on 11 July the BUT Formazza brings trail running between alpine lakes, passes and the Toce Waterfall. Finally, on August 1st, Macugnaga hosts the Monte Rosa Est Himalayan Trail, at the foot of the east face of Monte Rosa.
The Lakes Tourist District thus confirms itself as a complete summer destination, capable of combining swimming lakes, mountains, villages, sport, culture and major events. For the traveler, the strength of the territory is the possibility of building a tailor-made holiday: relaxing on the shores of the lake, active between paths and bike trails, cultural between festivals and historical places, or adrenaline-pumping between ziplines, adventure parks and outdoor competitions.
