Length: 25 km

Duration: 6 – 8 h

Starting point: Žiogeliai village

End point: Merkinė centre by Merkinė Regional Museum

The course of the route: Žiogeliai – Utieka – Krušonys – Maksimai – Česukai – Merkinė

Road surface: small forest and country roads, gravel roads, in a short section – trails and asphalt (Merkinė), by the castle mounds – stairs.

Difficulty: Medium

Obstacles: there is a small stream behind the Utieka, over which there is no bridge.

Danger points: The Merkys river must be crossed via the A4 road bridge. You have to cross the road and walk along the side of the road for a few hundred metres. Be careful!
There are hogweeds in the vicinity of the Utieka, which must not be touched, because they cause burns!

Good to know! There are no shops or catering sites from Žiogeliai to Merkinė. In the section from Krušonys to Merkinė the Forest Trail coincides with the cycling route of the Dzūkija National Park, marked with similar signs and colors, therefore the marking of the Forest Trail in Dzūkija National Park is supplemented with a hiker sign.