The Forni glacier trail
An educational trail in front of the Forni glacier, one of the largest valley glaciers in Italy, with signs marking where the ice reached in past years.
- Difficulty
- E Hiking
- Length
- 4.1 km
- Elevation gain
- +460 m / −160 m
- Time
- 3 hours
- Route
- Point to point
- Altitude
- 2198–2575 m
- Season
- Summer
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The story
In the mid-19th century the Forni glacier's tongue reached almost to the present hut; since then it has retreated by more than two kilometres, and melting has accelerated in recent decades. The trail, maintained by the Stelvio National Park and glaciologists, lets you read the moraines the glacier left behind on the ground.
Why go
Because it is the clearest way to see with your own eyes what is happening to the glaciers of the Alps, in one of Lombardy's grandest landscapes.
Practical information
- Start
- Above Rifugio Forni (Valfurva), on trail 524
- Finish
- Back on trail 524, which returns to Rifugio Forni
- Best time
- July–September
- Parking
- Car park below Rifugio Forni, at the end of the road from Santa Caterina Valfurva.
- By public transport
- Bus from Bormio to Santa Caterina; from there you need a car or the summer shuttle.
- Water
- At the huts and in the glacial streams (not drinkable).
- Shade
- None.
- Huts and refreshments
- Rifugio Forni and Rifugio Branca (seasonal).
- With children
- Yes, with children used to altitude.
Weather at the start
The forecast for the next 7 days at this spot: sky, temperatures, rain and wind.
Forecast by Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), from the models of national weather services. Your browser downloads it directly from Open-Meteo, and only when you ask. In the mountains and at sea the weather changes quickly: check the official forecast as well before you set off.
What to see on the route and nearby
More hikes in Lombardy
- 1Sentiero del Viandante, Lierna–VarennaE 7.4 km · +580 m · 3–3.5 hours · point to point
- 2★ Codera, the village you can only reach on footE 6.2 km · +570 m · 3–3.5 hours · out and back
- 3★ The Earth Pyramids of ZoneE 2.1 km · +170 m · 1–1.5 hours · loop
- 4★ Monte Isola, the climb to the Madonna della CeriolaE 5.5 km · +470 m · 2.5–3 hours · out and back
- 6Lake Como Greenway, from Colonno to CadenabbiaT 11 km · +170 m · 3–3.5 hours · point to point
- 7The Via Sacra of the Sacred Mountain of VareseT 3.4 km · +200 m · 1.5–2 hours round trip · out and back
- 8Val di Mello to Cascina PianaT 6.8 km · +160 m · 2.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 9Rifugio Curò and Lago del Barbellino from ValbondioneE 9.8 km · +960 m · 5–5.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 10Laghi Gemelli from CaronaE 10.6 km · +860 m · 5 hours round trip · out and back
- 11Corni di Canzo: from Fonti di Gajum to Rifugio SEVE 10.3 km · +770 m · 4.5 hours round trip · out and back
- 12Lago Palù from San Giuseppe in ValmalencoE 7.9 km · +520 m · 3–3.5 hours round trip · out and back
Routes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), via Waymarked Trails and BRouter; elevations from a digital terrain model. Times and elevation gains are indicative: waymarks on the ground and closure orders always take precedence.