Located about 4km northeast of Locarno, this rugged 26km valley snakes north past the impressive Vogorno dam, fed by the gushing Verzasca (Waters) river. Just beyond Lake Vogorno, look to the left and you will see the picture-postcard hamlet of Corripo seemingly pasted on to the thickly wooded mountain flank. To reach it you cross the Gola Verzasca, a scintillating gorge. About 5km upstream, Lavertezzo is known for its narrow, double-humped, Romanesque bridge (rebuilt from scratch after the 1951 floods destroyed it) and natural pools in the icy stream. Be careful, as storms upstream can turn the river into a raging torrent in no time. Another 12km takes you to Sonogno, a once abandoned hamlet at the head of the valley that has been resuscitated largely due to tourism.
