Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites Volume 1

Discover the dramatic peaks and ridgelines of the Italian Dolomites, home to the world’s greatest concentration of legendary via ferratas, ‘iron way’ climbs that trace airy ledges and vertical walls across this UNESCO World Heritage landscape. From the iconic spires of Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the mighty Marmolada, Sella, and Catinaccio ranges, each route promises adventure amid scenery famed for explosive rock formations, ever-changing colours, and a unique blend of cultures.

Ideal for adventurous walkers, scramblers, and climbers with a head for heights, this comprehensive Cicerone guidebook details 75 outstanding via ferratas spanning the northern, central, and eastern Dolomites. Routes range from short, accessible outings to long, technical challenges, offering a wide selection of grades and styles to suit both novices and seasoned ferratisti. Each via ferrata is meticulously described, with distances from 3 to 29km (2–18 miles) and durations of 2 to 12 hours, ensuring you’ll find the perfect challenge for your ambitions.

• Explore celebrated Dolomite areas, including Val di Fassa/Canazei, Selva, Badia/La Villa, Corvara, Arabba, Falzarego, Cortina, Misurina, Sesto, and Auronzo, each a gateway to unforgettable mountain adventures.
• All routes require a helmet, harness, and via ferrata lanyard, and are best enjoyed between June and September, when the Dolomites are at their most accessible.
• The guidebook features 1:50,000 mapping and detailed colour photo topos for every via ferrata route (with select routes at 1:40,000), making navigation straightforward and route-finding clear even on complex terrain in the Dolomites.
• Practical advice covers essential equipment, safety, accommodation, getting there, getting around, and route planning, ensuring you embark on your via ferrata journey in the Dolomites with the confidence and knowledge needed for a rewarding experience.
• Each route description is accompanied by an at-a-glance information box detailing start and finish points, distance, ascent and descent, estimated time, technical grade, seriousness, wire length, and GPS coordinates for parking, perfect for planning your days in the Italian Dolomites.
• In the Italian Dolomites, the via ferrata routes featured in this guide are graded using the widely adopted Smith/Fletcher dual system, offering consistent guidance on both technical difficulty and seriousness unique to this spectacular region.
• Designed specifically for the Italian Dolomites, the guide includes summary tables for quick route comparison and covers everything from short, scenic routes for beginners to demanding, exposed climbs for experienced adventurers tackling the region’s most iconic via ferratas.
• Also available from Cicerone is Via Ferratas of the Italian Dolomites: Volume 2, which explores the southern Dolomites, Pala, Brenta, and Garda regions.

Plan your via ferrata adventure in the Italian Dolomites with confidence using the definitive Cicerone guidebook, and discover the untamed beauty, rich history, and unique alpine culture of Italy’s most celebrated mountain range.

Seasons

Season runs from June until late September, though arguably the best conditions coincide with the lift opening dates - late June to mid September.

Centres

Arabba, Auronzo, Badia, Bolzano, Brunico, Canazei, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Corvara, La Villa, Misurina, Moena, Ortisei, Pozza, San Cassiano, Santa Cristina, Selva, Sesto.

Difficulty

Via ferrata will appeal to walkers, scramblers and climbers with a good head for heights; routes graded by difficulty and seriousness, with something for every ability; via ferrata kit (helmet, harness and VF lanyard) required for all routes in this guide.

Must See

Some of the most unique and magnificent mountain scenery on the planet; Corvara, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Selva, Alta Badia, Falzarego, Giau, Sella, Marmolada, Tre Cime (Drei Zinnen), Tofana, Lagazuoi, Val Gardena, Via Ferrata Tridentina, Fanis, Fanes, Passo Fedaia, Lago di Sorapiss, Croda da Lago, Sassolungo, Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa, Langkofel, Catinaccio (Rosengarten).

Overview map

Map key

Route summary table

Foreword

Introduction

What is a via ferrata?

Using this guide

When to go

Getting there

Getting around

Accommodation

Telecommunications

Maps and place names

Weather

Route gradings

Equipment

Cable etiquette

What to wear

Accidents and mountain rescue

A brief history

Geology

Plant life

Wildlife

Val di Fassa/Canazei

Route 1 Sentiero Massimiliano

Route 2 Via Ferrata Laurenzi

Route 3 Via Ferrata Passo Santner

Route 4 Via Ferrata Roda di Vaèl

Route 5 Via Ferrata Masare

Route 6 Via Ferrata Catinaccio d’Antermoia

Route 7 Via Ferrata Franco Gadotti

Route 8 Via Ferrata I Magnifici Quattro

Route 9 Via Ferrata Kaiserjäger

Route 10 Sentiero Attrezzato Bepi Zac

Route 11 Via Ferrata Paolin-Piccolin

Route 12 Via Ferrata dei Finanzieri

Route 13 Via Ferrata Hans Seyffert

Route 14 Via Ferrata Eterna Brigata Cadore

Selva

Route 15 Via Ferrata Sass Rigais Est/Sud

Route 16 Sentiero Attrezzato Piz Duledes

Route 17 Via Ferrata Sandro Pertini (closed and wire removed)

Route 18 Via Ferrata Oskar Schuster

Route 19 Via Ferrata Col Rodella

Route 20 Via Ferrata Mesules (Pössnecker)

Badia/La Villa

Route 21 Sentiero Attrezzato Günther Messner

Route 22 Sentiero Attrezzato Sass de Putia

Route 23 Via Ferrata Sasso Santa Croce

Route 24 Sentiero Attrezzato Piz de les Conturines

Route 25 Via Ferrata Furcia Rossa

Corvara

Route 26 Via Ferrata Piz da Cir V

Route 27 Sentiero Attrezzato Gran Cir

Route 28 Via Ferrata Brigata Tridentina

Route 29 Via Ferrata Vallon

Route 30 Via Ferrata Piz da Lech

Route 31 Sentiero Attrezzato Sassongher

Arabba

Route 32 Via Ferrata Cesare Piazzetta

Route 33 Via Ferrata delle Trincee

Route 34 Via Ferrata Sass de Rocia

Route 35 Sentiero Attrezzato Col di Lana

Falzarego

Route 36 Sentiero Attrezzato Sass de Stria

Route 37 Via Ferrata Cesco Tomaselli

Route 38 Sentiero dei Kaiserjäger

Route 39 Sentiero Attrezzato Galleria del Lagazuoi

Route 40 Via Ferrata degli Alpini al Col dei Bos

Route 41 Via Ferrata Averau

Route 42 Via Ferrata Ra Gusela

Cortina

Route 43 Via Ferrata Scala del Menighel

Route 44 Via Ferrata Giovanni Lipella

Route 45 Sentiero Attrezzato Grotta di Tofana

Route 46 Sentiero Astaldi

Route 47 Via Ferrata Punta Anna and Gianni Aglio

Route 48 Via Ferrata Lamon and Formenton

Route 49 Sentiero Giuseppe Olivieri

Route 50 Via Ferrata Maria e Andrea Ferrari

Route 51 Sentiero Attrezzato Giovanni Barbara/Lucio Dalaiti/Cengia de Mattia

Route 52 Via Ferrata Ettore Bovero

Route 53 Via Ferrata Michielli Strobel

Route 54 Sentiero Attrezzato Terza Cengia del Pomagagnon

Route 55 Sentiero Attrezzato Renè de Pol

Route 56 Via Ferrata Ivano Dibona

Route 57 Via Ferrata Marino Bianchi

Route 58 Via Ferrata Sci Club 18

Route 59 Via Ferrata Giro del Sorapiss

Misurina

Route 60 Sentiero Attrezzato Capitano Bilgeri/Monte Piana/Monte Piano

Route 61 Via Ferrata Merlone

Route 62 Sentiero Attrezzato Alberto Bonacossa

Route 63 Sentiero delle Forcelle

Route 64 Via Ferrata De Luca/Innerkofler

Route 65 Via Ferrata delle Scalette/Curato Militare Hosp

Sesto

Route 66 Via Ferrata Strada degli Alpini

Route 67 Via Ferrata Nord

Route 68 Via Ferrata Mario Zandonella

Route 69 Via Ferrata Aldo Roghel/Cengia Gabriella

Route 70 Via Ferrata Mazzetta

Auronzo

Route 71 Sentiero Cengia del Doge

Route 72 Sentiero degli Alpini

Route 73 Sentiero Attrezzato Amalio da Pra

Route 74 Via Ferrata Sartor

Route 75 Via Ferrata Via di Guerra/CAI Portogruaro

Appendix A Useful contacts

Appendix B Glossary of mountain terms

Appendix C Further reading