Ferrata Cascate Fanes

Overview

The equipped route at the Cascate di Fanes links three distinct via ferratas into a continuous circuit of great scenic beauty and gentle technical demands, making it ideal for a first taste of the activity. The Ferrata Giovanni Barbara, the Ferrata Lucio Delaiti, and the Ferrata alla Cengia di Mattia form a loop that unfolds mostly along ledges and slabs, with a single short four-meter vertical wall on the Delaiti representing the most challenging passage. The setting is dominated by water and the erosive morphology of the Dolomites, with a varied rhythm that alternates horizontal stretches with brief ups and downs, ensuring a pleasant, panoramic experience without excessive physical strain.

Approach

Access is from the parking lot of the Parco Naturale Dolomiti d'Ampezzo, located about six kilometers from Cortina d'Ampezzo along State Road 51 toward Dobbiaco. After the sign for "Val di Fanes," a narrow paved road descends for one kilometer to the parking area (approximately 1300 m). From here, a trail follows the stream on the right side until it meets a left-hand turn for trail marker 10 heading west. The path, wide and comfortable, crosses the bridge over the Rio Fanes and continues to the Ponte Alto (1470 m), reached in about 45 minutes. This point offers the first view of the airy development of the Ferrata Giovanni Barbara. Just beyond the bridge, on the right, a trail descends to the start of the Ferrata Giovanni Barbara, reachable in one hour total from the start. The approach winds through a wooded valley floor, with a modest elevation gain that gradually prepares you for the rocky environment.

Via Ferrata

The Ferrata Giovanni Barbara begins on a broad, exposed ledge that climbs obliquely to the left, then descends toward the waterfall. The route is characterized by a passage under a rocky roof, with the cascade flowing to the right, creating a damp, atmospheric setting. After this section, a short sandy gully equipped with a cable leads to a narrow notch; you then descend the opposite side via a trail with wooden steps. The progression is continuous and smooth until the key passage: a descent down a wall toward the stream. You tackle a slabby little face with stirrups, a traverse to the right, and a steeper section, then descend over boulders to the end-of-ferrata sign, about 20 minutes from the start. The route is horizontal and ledge-based, with the rhythm broken only by the final technical descent, which requires careful handling of exposure.

After crossing the bridge over the Rio Fanes and climbing a few easy equipped rock steps, you meet the starting plaque of the Ferrata Lucio Delaiti. The first section follows an ascending ledge to the left. After an exposed but not difficult traverse, you reach the crux of the entire itinerary: a smooth, vertical wall about four meters high. The climb, aided by good holds to the left of the cable, leads onto a long ascending ledge with a sandy base that firms up in the upper part. This ferrata ends by returning to trail 10, just before the start of the Giovanni Barbara, about 20 minutes after the end of the previous one (1 hour 40 minutes total). This section is more vertical and technical, with the short wall representing a focal point, but the overall pace remains sustained and linear.

To complete the loop, continue toward the Ferrata alla Cengia di Mattia. Stay on trail 10 to a junction, where you take the right fork following the "Scorciatoia" sign to the "Bus de l'Orso" (1507 m, 10 minutes). On the right is the starting plaque. Short sections of equipped trail lead to the distinctive feature: a ledge that passes under a waterfall. Exiting the ledge is the key passage, with an ascending traverse to the right equipped with stirrups, often wet and with slightly unstable footing. Past this point, the ledge continues beneath the waterfall; you then climb some rock steps with stirrups in the wettest sections and a final slightly pronounced step, finishing the ferrata in about 20 minutes from the start (2 hours 30 minutes total). The environment is dominated by water erosion, with polished rock and passages that require attention to foothold stability, in a panoramic and dynamic setting.

Descent

From the end of the Ferrata alla Cengia di Mattia, a small wooden bridge allows you to cross the Rio Fanes and reconnect with trail 10. For the return, take this trail to the left and follow the same route as the approach back to the parking lot, taking about one hour from the end of the last ferrata, for a total of 3 hours and 30 minutes. The descent follows the same wooded path as the approach, offering a calm, steady downhill return.

Useful Notes

All three ferratas are classified as easy and suitable for beginners. In the described itinerary, the Ferrata Giovanni Barbara is descended, a choice that slightly increases the perceived difficulty, especially on the vertical section equipped with stirrups. It is possible to reverse the direction by climbing it, using the trail that ascends the left orographic side of the Rio Fanes during the approach. This modestly demanding itinerary can be combined with other ferratas around Cortina d'Ampezzo, such as the difficult Ferrata Ettore Bovero, the Ferrata Strobel at Punta Fiames, the Ferrata alla Terza Cengia del Pomagagnon, the Ferrata Renè de Pol, or the very difficult Ferrata Sci Club 18 at Faloria.