Intermediate Alta Via della Marmotta

The Alta Via della Marmotta kicks off in the village of San Vito di Cadore, which is just a 20-minute bus ride away from Cortina d’Ampezzo, and is surrounded by famous Dolomite peaks like Antelao and Pelmo. The trail officially begins at Via Belvedere, which takes you straight into the mountains. Your first stop? Rifugio Scotter-Palatini, where you can take a breather, enjoy a snack, and refill your water bottles before diving deeper into the adventure.

The journey continues along mountain paths with great views of Antelao. After traversing Forcella Piccola, a broad saddle atop Val d’Oten, you'll reach Rifugio Galassi, perched on the northern slopes of Antelao. This rifugio, which is also part of the Alta Via 4, is your accommodation for the night.

From Rifugio Galassi, it’s a relaxed two-hour descent to Rifugio Capanna degli Alpini. Before moving on, take a quick detour—a short ten-minute walk brings you to Cascata delle Pile, a stunning waterfall that adds a little extra magic to this stage.

After that, the trail follows the Torrente Oten, a river that has shaped the Val d’Oten for centuries. It’s an easy downhill stretch before crossing the stream, where the climb begins.

The ascent leads to Rifugio Chiggiato, perched in the Marmarole Centrali. This is a perfect spot to pause, refuel with some local dishes, and soak up the views from the terrace. With the Marmarole and Antelao towering around you, it’s the kind of place where you’ll want to stay a little longer.

From here, there are two possible routes to Rifugio Baion. One is a higher-altitude trail that includes a rocky section with fixed cables along the southern wall of the Marmarole—more adventurous, but also more demanding. The other, described here, is a lower-altitude alternative that avoids the most challenging terrain. It leads towards Casera D’Aieron and continues along rugged but manageable paths. Around Casera D’Aieron, the trail is not as clearly trodden at first, but it soon becomes more defined, so don’t be surprised if the markings seem less obvious for a short while. Although the terrain still requires surefootedness, there are no exposed sections or cables.

Note: Both options are included, so if you prefer the more challenging route, you’re free to choose that one instead.

This is it, your final stretch on the Alta Via della Marmotta! It’s mostly downhill today, so take it easy on your knees and enjoy the ride. Along the trail, Rifugio Ciaréido offers a good spot for a snack or water refill before continuing north toward Rifugio Monte Agudo.

After passing Pian de la Mandra, you’ll arrive at Rifugio Monte Agudo, your last hut on the route. If you want to give your legs a rest, you can take the chairlift from here down to Auronzo. You can also hop on a bit further down at Malon Basso, just below the rifugio. The chairlift operates from mid-June to mid-September, so check the schedule here if you're hiking early or late in the season.

If you choose to continue on foot, the trail winds through valleys and forests and then follows the shoreline of Santa Caterina Lake. Take a moment to enjoy the view across the water. From there, it’s a short walk into Auronzo di Cadore, where your adventure comes to an end.