Nature Reserve Guide
Riserva Naturale Mont Mars, a nature reserve in Italy's Aosta Valley, encompasses 300 hectares at the head of the Pacoulla stream valley. Established in 1994, it is recognized as the largest nature reserve in the Aosta Valley, featuring a diverse landscape that ranges from dense larch forests and expansive grasslands to rocky terrains, wetlands, and glacial lakes. This varied alpine environment, shaped by its glacial origins, provides a suitable setting for several sports like hiking, jogging, road cycling, touring cycling,…
121
Routes
4.6
(515)
Average rating
4259
People visited

4.6
(95)
411
hikers
15.8km
07:30
1,230m
1,230m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.7
(60)
262
hikers
14.9km
07:04
1,190m
1,190m
Hard hike. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.5
(29)
285
hikers
7.83km
03:35
610m
620m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

4.4
(37)
158
hikers
5.82km
02:17
370m
380m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.
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15
runners
7.88km
01:15
430m
420m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

121
runners
10.7km
02:00
710m
710m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

53
runners
10.5km
01:42
470m
470m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

33
runners
6.64km
02:05
950m
940m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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5.0
(2)
112
riders
41.1km
03:07
920m
920m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
47
riders
31.0km
02:16
700m
710m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
40
riders
51.3km
03:35
940m
940m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

31
riders
30.2km
02:36
920m
920m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(14)
238
riders
64.3km
03:55
1,650m
1,650m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

5.0
(2)
57
riders
49.3km
02:37
920m
920m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.

33
riders
69.4km
04:11
1,730m
1,730m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

4.4
(7)
38
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Some segments of this route may be unpaved and difficult to ride.
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4.7
(3)
15
riders
35.6km
04:05
1,490m
1,480m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

4.2
(6)
17
riders
16.2km
02:17
850m
840m
Hard mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(5)
24
riders
34.0km
03:37
1,340m
1,340m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.

5.0
(3)
14
riders
41.9km
03:59
1,400m
1,400m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.8
(6)
46
riders
39.7km
03:04
1,130m
1,130m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(1)
14
riders
31.0km
02:35
950m
950m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

18
riders
34.5km
02:36
960m
960m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
riders
37.3km
02:30
460m
460m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.0
(3)
14
hikers
13.1km
06:38
1,090m
1,090m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

4.5
(2)
12
hikers
13.1km
06:34
1,090m
1,090m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

9
hikers
11.7km
06:44
1,070m
1,070m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.

5.0
(1)
7
hikers
13.6km
07:28
1,280m
1,280m
Hard mountaineering route. Very good fitness required. Sure-footedness, sturdy shoes and alpine experience required.
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Riserva Naturale Mont Mars is a nature reserve in Italy's Aosta Valley, established in 1994. It covers 300 hectares (about 740 acres) at the head of the Pacoulla stream valley. The reserve is known for its diverse alpine environment, including forests, grasslands, rocky terrains, wetlands, and glacial lakes.
Riserva Naturale Mont Mars offers a variety of outdoor activities, including Hiking, Jogging, Road cycling, Touring cycling, Mountain biking, Gravel biking, and Mountaineering. There are 88 routes available for exploration. The routes have an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 270 ratings.
Popular hiking trails include the Historic Fontainemore to Oropa pilgrimage trail, which is 9.8 miles (15.8 km) long and rated Difficult. Another option is the Pian Coumarial to Lago Vargno Trail, a 5.7-mile (9.2 km) route rated Moderate. For more options, consult the Hiking in Riserva Naturale Mont Mars guide.
Yes, the reserve offers routes suitable for various skill levels. Hikers can find easier paths through forests and around some lakes. A dedicated guide for Easy hikes in Riserva Naturale Mont Mars is available.
Road cyclists can explore routes such as the Zegna Panoramic Road – Bocchetta di Margosio loop from Pollone, a 48.0-mile (77.3 km) difficult route. Another option is the Oropa Climb – Pantani Mountain – Oropa Sanctuary loop from Pollone, which is 17.4 miles (28.0 km) and rated Moderate. More routes are detailed in the Road Cycling Routes in Riserva Naturale Mont Mars guide.
The reserve features diverse alpine environments, including dense larch forests, grasslands, and rocky terrains. Notable natural features include several glacial lakes such as Lago Vargno, Lac de Barme, Lago Bonnel, and Lago Long. Remnants of ancient glaciers are also visible at the foot of Mont Mars' northern face.
Yes, mountain biking is an available activity within the reserve. Trails like the Liet Pass – Colle Giassit loop from Lillianes offer a challenging 22.1-mile (35.6 km) ride. The MTB Trails in Riserva Naturale Mont Mars guide provides additional options.
The reserve is home to diverse flora and fauna. Visitors may observe wildlife typical of subalpine, alpine, and river plains, including marmots, chamois, hares, and foxes. Bird species like golden eagles, ptarmigans, and alpine finches are also present.
Komoot offers several guides for the area, including Hiking in Riserva Naturale Mont Mars, Running Trails in Riserva Naturale Mont Mars, and Road Cycling Routes in Riserva Naturale Mont Mars. Other guides cover easy hikes, MTB trails, mountain hikes, gravel biking, attractions, and lakes.
Riserva Naturale Mont Mars is a popular destination, with more than 3,000 visitors having shared their experiences on komoot. The 88 routes in the area have received over 270 ratings, averaging 4.6 out of 5 stars.
The official website for Riserva Naturale Mont Mars is montmars.it. For direct inquiries, the visitor center can be reached by phone at +39 0125 832700.
The reserve extends up to the 2,600-meter (approximately 8,530 feet) summit of Mont Mars. A challenging route to the summit is the Monte Mars Summit Trail, which is 4.0 miles (6.5 km) long and rated Difficult.

