Family Guide to Squitty the Squirrel Treasure Hunt in Cardada and Cimetta
- Family Fun Factor
- Apr 28
- 7 min read
Family destination at Cardada, with playgrounds, play areas and a treasure hunt
Optional chairlift ride to Cimetta viewpoint and swing-the-world swing.
Locarno | Canton Ticino | Switzerland
Now open for the 2026 summer season!
🏆 Part of our Family Adventure Map featuring top themed hikes in Switzerland. 🏆
The "it" factor
Family destination packed with fun playgrounds and play stations
Treasure hunt with a mission to find 7 out of 10 animal footprints
Easy to get to by public transport
Bonus chair ride to an amazing geological observatory in Cimetta
What needs to be considered:
Treasure hunt style: This is designed as a true discovery adventure rather than a fixed step-by-step trail. There is no strictly marked route or required sequence, so families can choose their own path between stations, following the map. We found ourselves going back and forth a little, which made the full experience around 3.3 km for us.
Don't feel like reading? Watch a video instead!
Squitty the Squirrel Treasure Hunt Walk-Through Video
Plan your visit:Â Quick overview
Squitty the Squirrel Treasure Hunt at a glance
đź“Ť Location:Â Cardada (near Locarno)
🥾 Hike type: Treasure Hunt with cable car access
🎉 Fun Factor: Squirrel themed treasure hunt, playgrounds and play areas
🍽️ Food factor:
Near Cardada:
Albergo Ristorante Cardada – right by the main Cardada arrival area
Casa Colmanicchio – delicious food and our favourite restaurant in the area
Near Cimetta (bonus chairlift / summit):
Capanna Cimetta – ideal if you continue to Cimetta for bigger views.
Short walking from Cimetta:
Capanna Lo Stallone
La Capanna Cardada
⚡ Fitness Factor: This treasure hunt-style route can vary depending on the path you choose
👶 Stroller friendliness: Partially.
Yes around Cardada
No on the chairlift
Could be challenging on the Forest Play Path
đź’° Value factor:Â Cable car & chairlift tickets (2026 updated) - Prices vary by route option and discount cards:
Adults:16 CHF - 39 CHF
Kids (from 6 years old): 16 CHF - 19.50 CHF
Prices indicative, check official website
Plan your visit: Practical info
Arrival by car: You can park either in Locarno in one of the city's car parks and take the funicular from Locarno to Orselina (you get 50% off the parking fee in the Largo Zorzi and Piazza Stazione car parks if you get your ticket stamped at the funicular's office) or park directly in Orselina (very limited parking available). Then take the cable car to CardadaÂ
Arrival by public transport: Take the train to Locarno, the funicular or bus number 3 from Locarno to Orselina and the cable car to CardadaÂ
Cable car and chairlift timetables
Tip: Ask at the cable car ticket office for the free Squitty the Squirrel treasure hunt map
Start & end: Cardada cable car station (1'340 m)
There is no official route and no signposted trail. This is a treasure hunt, so you get to choose your own path - which is part of the fun. The goal is to find the animal footprints marked on the map with little squirrel symbols. We've done it twice and took slightly different routes each time — both are described here
If you're staying overnight, here are our recommendations.
Plan your visit:Â Detailed guide
Squitty the Squirrel Treasure Hunt in Cardada & Cimetta -Â Everything else parents will want to know
The fun factor
Cardada is a family destination packed with fun, designed as a true discovery adventure rather than a classic follow-the-path trail. The mountain is filled with playgrounds, play stations, and interactive surprises throughout, making the journey itself part of the experience.
Guided by a treasure map marked with little squirrels, families solve clues, follow hints, and figure out how to reach each location themselves. Special puzzles add an extra layer of challenge, while the physical play stations along the way make the whole adventure feel even more interactive and rewarding for kids.
Here are our top 4 Fun Factors of Cardada Family Destination
Embark on a Treasure Hunt
Meet your treasure hunt guide: Squitty the Squirrel, Cardada’s playful local guide who helps lead families to fun spots around the mountain. Pick up the free Squitty treasure map at the cable car ticket office to begin your adventure.
Your mission: Find at least 7 out of 10 animal footprints hidden around the mountain and tick them off on your map. Look for wooden carved animals — each one reveals a different footprint. Complete 7 (like we did) and you can collect a small prize at the ticket office after your hike.
Have fun at the play stations
As you follow the treasure map, solve clues, and search for footprints, the adventure also doubles as one giant outdoor play experience. Along the way, you’ll find an incredible number of playgrounds and play areas — honestly some of the most we’ve found in one mountain destination.
Around the stroller friendly area, there’s a foot sole massage path, new sensory playground, Noah’s Ark-themed play area, giant chess, swings and plenty more, making the whole mountain feel like an interactive family playground. Plus, there are lots of benches and relaxing spots for parents to unwind while kids explore.
Explore the Play Path at the forest
You can also explore a connected 1.2 km forest play trail filled with sensory and sound-based experiences — and you’ll also find some of the treasure hunt animal footprints along this path.
Kids can experiment with parabolic mirrors to hear echoes and discover new sounds, try communicating columns, play on a unique “sound seesaw” with moving planks that create noise, and enjoy other interactive installations that turn the forest into one big sensory playground.
Take the chairlift up to Cimetta (optional)
If you’d like to add a bonus adventure with even bigger views, you can continue up to Cimetta either by chairlift or on foot.
If you chose chairlift, it’s a fun experience on its own, with unique sideways-facing seats designed so you can enjoy the panoramic views.
If you choose to go on foot, it’s 2.3 km one way with 340 m ascent/descent — there are no play stations along the route, but you will pass a heart-shaped lake.
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At the top, you'll find a mountain hut, the popular Swing the World swing, and a geological platform featuring different types of rocks along with information boards explaining them and possibly even another treasure hunt footprint… but that’s for you to figure out. Just note: this extra step is optional and not needed to complete the main treasure hunt mission.
The views factor
Even though Cardada is "only" at 1'340 meters high, the views are spectacular. You see Locarno, Lake Maggiore and all the surrounding green mountains. It is definitely worth the visit just for that. The walk around Cardada is mostly on paved roads through the forest but you do get quite a few spots (including the Cardada viewing platform) where you can admire the area.
If you decide to go up to Cimetta, you will find yourself at 1'671 meters. The chairlifts up and down offer amazing views. As the chairs are facing sideways, on your way up you get to admire the lake and on your way down - the forest-covered mountains.
There you also find Cimetta’s highest point, the geological observatory offers stunning 360° views over the region while information boards help families discover how the Alps were formed and where the famous Insubric fault line divides the northern and southern Alps.
The fitness factor
This is a treasure hunt-style adventure where you search for animal footprints using a map, so the total distance depends on the route you choose. There is no fixed trail and no signposted route.
Option 1: Cardada Explorer (stroller-friendly)
Stay in the main Cardada area and search for the animal footprints around the top station. This option is fully stroller-friendly and includes the playgrounds, viewpoints and other attractions. Most families will walk around 1–2 km while exploring.
You can also add a return ride on the Cimetta chairlift for extra fun (the chairlift itself is not stroller-friendly).
Option 2: Forest Adventure (partially stroller-friendly)
Start with the Cardada Explorer route and add the Forest Play Path. This 1.2 km forest path includes some uphill and downhill sections, roots and uneven terrain.
This is the version we did when our daughter was 3.5 years old. Including the Cardada section, our total walk was around 3.2 km with approximately 90 m of ascent and descent (excluding cable car and chairlift elevation gain). A strong off-road stroller with large wheels could manage it with some effort, but we’d personally class this section as no strollers.
Option 3: Mountain Challenge (not stroller-friendly)
For the longest version of the adventure, add the hike between Cardada and Cimetta instead of taking the chairlift (one or both ways). Each way adds approximately 2.3 km one way with 340 m ascent/descent.
The food factor
Around the area there are five restaurants:
Casa Colmanicchio, at the bottom of Cimetta chairlift,
Capanna Cimetta, at the top of the chairlift.
Albergo Ristorante Cardada, just next to the cable car station.
Plus two more restaurants accessible with a short hike from Cimetta.
Our favourite was Casa Colmanicchio in Cardada just next to the bottom chairlift station. It offers a dedicated kids' menu, plenty of healthy options for adults, and a beautiful terrace with stunning views. As an added bonus, it's located right next to a playground, making it an easy choice for families.
The comfort factor
If you're travelling from further away and would like to stay overnight, we can recommend three options:
Casa Colmanicchio – Stay right at the top of the mountain and enjoy the unique experience of having all the Cardada attractions on your doorstep once the day visitors have gone home.
Albergo Losone – One of our favourite family hotels in Switzerland. It offers kids' clubs, pony rides, swimming pools, playgrounds and plenty more to keep children entertained.
Campofelice Camping Village – A great budget-friendly option by the lake. We stayed in one of their pods, which came with our own kitchen and bathroom, and found it very comfortable. During the season, they also offer family activities, bouncy castles and other entertainment for kids.
The value factor
In 2026 prices were as follows.
Cardada cable car return ticket:
Adults: 32 CHF
Adults with SBB Half Fare / GA: 16 CHF
Kids (from 6 years old): 16 CHF
Cardada cable car + Cimetta chair lift return ticket:
Adults: 39 CHF
Adults with SBB Half Fare / GA: 19.50 CHF
Kids (from 6 years old): 19.50 CHF
Note: Prices are indicative. Always check official webiste for the most up to date info.
Top Family Hike in Switzerland!
This hike is featured on our Adventure Map: Top themed hikes for families — part of our curated collection of the best family hikes in Switzerland.
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More info: Official Website | Webcams
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