The little village of Vernago al Lago is located at 1,700 metres above sea level in the Val Senales valley. After having reached the village, we proceed about three kilometres along the emerald green lake towards Maso Corto. Shortly after the end of the lake, there is a little path branching off from the main road on the left, where we park our car. After a few steps only, we see the signpost "Seerundweg" (lake circular trail) and follow the indication.

We keep walking close to the lakeside, past waterfalls and llamas on the fields and enjoy the great view of the lake and the mountains of the Val Senales. The path can easily be walked. The artificial lake has already been established in the 1950s, when a 65-metre high dam was constructed. It is fed by the Rio Senales stream, which we also see during our walk.

After a walk of about two hours (according to the signs about 100 minutes), we reach our starting point again. Strengthened by a picnic and enriched by the impressions of the valley landscape, we start our journey back home. Still today you can see the ancient church soaring from the lake, when the water level is low. When Lake Vernago was established, eight farmsteads were flooded!

If you don't have enough, you can also do a mountain tour. In about 3.5 hours from the lake, you reach the Similaun Mountain Hut at 3,019 metres a.s.l., and from it you can proceed to the place of discovery of Oetzi near the Passo di Tisa (Hauslabjoch) at 3,200 metres above sea level.

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Author: DG

Experienced: August 2009
Last updated: 2026

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