Merlin, the marmot, shares stories about his family along the Marmot Trail, which leads to Lake Rio Verde above Chienes
Image gallery: Hike on the Marmot Trail
We reach the starting point of this hike via the mountain road that branches off the Val Pusteria Sun Road at Corti and leads to the Aschbach-Höfe farms. This is the "Gelenke" hikers' car park at the end of the road, at an altitude of about 1,592 metres. We set off along forest road no. 65 for a gentle walk through the woods. A shortcut leads over a steeper woodland path.
This route takes us to the Moarhof Hut, a popular stop with an alpine restaurant. The forest track then continues up to the Rio Verde Huts, or Grünbach-Almen. The path ends at the Upper Rio Verde Hut near the tree line, at 2,100 metres above sea level. Here we follow path no. 65 further uphill. This ascends to the summit of the Cima di Pozzo at an altitude of 2,438 metres.
The trail is particularly attractive in June and July when it leads past blooming alpine roses. However, we do not intend to climb quite that high. Our destination is Lake Rio Verde at 2,252 metres a.s.l. Along the Marmot Trail, information boards provide details about the life of these alpine ground squirrels. The blue-green mountain lake and the alpine flora are visually striking.
The view is equally impressive: Directly opposite, we see numerous peaks of the Dolomites, with the valley below us. The descent follows the same route. We arrive back at the "Gelenke" hikers' car park near the Aschbach-Höfe farms after more than four hours of walking.
Author: AT
Experienced: May 2020
Last updated: 2026
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- Starting point:
- "Gelenke" hikers' car park near the farms of Corti (1,592 m a.s.l.)
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- Overall time:
- 04:20 h
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- Total route length:
- 11,7 km
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- Altitude:
- from 1.592 m to 2.252 m
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- Altitude difference (uphill | downhill):
- +661 m | -661 m
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- Route:
- "Gelenke" forest path - Moarhof Hut - Rio Verde Huts - Lake Rio Verde
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- Signposts:
- no. 65, "Murmeltierweg"
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- Destination:
- Lake Rio Verde (2,252 m a.s.l.)
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- Resting points:
- Moarhof Hut (May to October)
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- Recommended time of year:
- Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
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- Download GPX track:
- Hike on the Marmot Trail
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- More information:
- The total time indicated above refers to the walking time only, excluding breaks. The section up to the Moarhof Hut is easy and suitable for pushchairs, whilst the final section to Lake Rio Verde follows a narrow path - in addition to good walking boots (which are essential for any hike), walking poles are also recommended.
If you want to undertake this hike, we recommend checking the weather and trail conditions in advance and on site before starting this hike!
