Ferrata al Canalone Belasa

Overview

The Ferrata del Canalone Belasa is a challenging and atypical route, unfolding in an isolated and wild setting on the slopes of Mount Moregallo. The technical difficulty of the equipped sections is moderate, but the excursion combines slabs, ramps, and rocky ledges with chains over long stretches of trail within the gully, interspersed with free-climbing passages up to grade III. These latter sections require alpine competence and should not be underestimated. The isolation and lack of tourist features along the route heighten its overall commitment.

The environment is dominated by a deeply incised, enclosed gully, giving the route a discontinuous rhythm: phases of horizontal progress over scree alternate with vertical steps on compact rock. The character is predominantly alpine, with an emphasis on climbing technique rather than simple progression along a cable. Exposure is generally contained thanks to the gully's morphology, but the key passages are nonetheless significant in terms of physical and mental effort.

Approach

The starting point is the hamlet of Belvedere, in the municipality of Valmadrera (CO). Once you reach the village, head toward a road closed to traffic, where you'll need to park nearby. From here, the trail begins. Follow the road uphill until you encounter a chapel with a signpost; take Trail 7, which branches right and leads to the Sambrosera Spring. At this point, some signs indicate the direction for the EE Trail of the Canalone Belasa to the right. The approach time to the spring is about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the parking area.

The approach initially follows a forest trail with a steady but not excessive gradient, offering a gradual progression into the more rugged sector. The morphology is typical of the pre-Alpine slopes, with the valley gradually narrowing, foreshadowing the entrance into the gully itself.

Via Ferrata

From the Sambrosera Spring, continue along an easy trail that is occasionally overgrown with vegetation, following some red paint marks. The entrance to the Canalone Belasa is marked by a first chain that helps overcome a sloping rock slab. The route then unfolds as a succession of short trail sections and rocky steps, only partially equipped.

You'll soon reach the first of the two most challenging passages: a vertical wall about ten meters high that requires climbing. The exit from the wall is slightly more complex than the start and demands attention for those who wish to avoid using the support chain. The rock, often polished by erosion, offers decent holds but requires precise movement.

Shortly after, you tackle the second key passage, a chimney with a chain on the left side. The final section of this chimney is slightly overhanging, with polished rock that makes finding natural holds difficult, increasing the temptation to pull on the chain. This section represents the technical climax of the route, demanding good management of strength and body position in an exposed environment.

Once past this obstacle, the passages become progressively less demanding. You'll encounter in succession a ramp, another short wall, and a pillar, until you reach the terminal section of the gully, with the summit of Mount Moregallo clearly visible. Here, two more vertical passages allow you to climb using natural holds and footholds. The rhythm in this final section becomes more fluid, with shorter passages and less exposure, while still maintaining a decidedly vertical character.

Upon reaching the end of the Canalone Belasa, you have two options to reach the summit of Mount Moregallo:

1. Follow a sign to the left, which indicates a small mid-slope trail. This connects to the West Ridge trail coming from the right (east). Take this trail and complete the last two equipped passages, one of which is not trivial.
2. Ignore the sign and continue to the right toward the OSA alpine route. Locate a steep grassy gully to ascend toward a notch (the grass, if wet, is very dangerous). Just before the rocks, intercept a trail that cuts across the slope below the summit. Taking it to the right, you'll join the final meters of the West Ridge trail, just below the summit.

Both variants lead to the summit of Mount Moregallo in about 1 hour and 30 minutes from the end of the approach, for a total of about 2 hours and 45 minutes from the parking area.

Exiting the gully marks a sharp transition: you move from the enclosed, vertical environment to an open landscape of ridges and ledges. The choice between the two variants influences the final character: the first option maintains a more alpine profile with short equipped passages, while the second introduces an element of risk related to the instability of the grassy terrain.

Descent

From the summit of Mount Moregallo, decide on the descent direction, east or west. Descending toward the east, you'll reach the Bocchetta di Sambrosera in 10 minutes. Here, you can descend to the right directly toward the spring, or continue straight toward the next Bocchetta di Preguda, then turn left along the Paolo ed Eliana Trail. This latter option, which rejoins the trail to the spring just before reaching it, offers particularly impressive views. Descending instead toward the west, in the direction of the Bocche di Moregge, after the first rocky step below the summit, you'll encounter a fork: you can continue along an equipped ridge trail or opt for a simpler route that passes below it. In both cases, you'll arrive at the Bocche di Moregge, from where, keeping left, you descend toward the Sambrosera Spring. From the spring, return to the parking area by retracing the approach trail. The descent from the summit takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, for a total hiking time of about 4 hours and 15 minutes.

The descent options offer different experiences: the eastern side provides a more panoramic and airy route along the ledges, while the western side can maintain an alpine character with the equipped ridge trail. In both cases, the rhythm becomes more regular, and the elevation loss is handled continuously.

Useful Notes

This route, wild and little-frequented, offers a surprising experience despite its modest altitude. The trail is steep and narrow, with sections equipped with chains that provide security on grade II and III climbing passages. Exposure is generally modest, being within a gully. The free-climbing sections are usually between 3 and 5 meters high; when they exceed this height, they are still protected by a chain. The summit meadow is extremely steep, and the grass can become treacherous, especially after periods of rain, during which it is advisable to avoid it. The route is classified as difficult mainly due to the presence of several free-climbing sections (up to grade III), a crucial aspect to consider even for experienced via ferrata climbers. The Ferrata del Canalone Belasa can be combined, on the ascent or descent, with the Sentiero Attrezzato al Moregallo along the West Ridge, forming a long loop with significant elevation gain. For those who want to stay at altitude, there are connections to other via ferratas in the area, such as the difficult Ferrata del Venticinquennale al Corno Occidentale or the Ferrata 30° OSA al Corno RAT, while for an easier option, you can consider the Sentiero Attrezzato della Vasche.

The route is characterized by a discontinuous progression, alternating phases of route-finding with moments of concentrated technical effort. The rock, limestone in nature, has polished sections that require careful choice of footholds. The overall experience is closer to a short alpine route than a traditional via ferrata, rewarding those seeking a physical and technical ascent in a remote setting.