Ferrata Knott

Overview

The Knott Via Ferrata, located above Naturno in the province of Bolzano, is an integrated system linking several different routes. The climbing is predominantly easy, with a single variant featuring some moderately difficult sections. Access is extremely convenient thanks to the cable car, which quickly brings you to the starting altitude.

Approach

The starting point is the valley station of the Unterstell cable car in Naturno. From Bolzano, take the expressway toward Merano, continue on the state road toward the Stelvio Pass, and exit at Naturno, following signs for the cable car parking lot. From here, the cable car ride up to the mountain station saves about an hour and thirty minutes of hiking along trail 10. From the mountain station, a sign points to trail 24 heading toward the panoramic platform; in fifteen minutes you reach the start of the Knott Via Ferrata. The approach from the mountain station takes a total of twenty minutes, while hiking from the parking lot requires about an hour and forty-five minutes.

Via Ferrata

The Knott Via Ferrata is divided into four main routes, with three internal escape routes. The first route you encounter is the "Katharina" itinerary, which climbs the left edge of a wall about fifty meters high. It consists of a succession of short rock steps, with individual moves that are never demanding and are well-equipped, ending near the suspension bridge.

From the lowest access point, the "Sally" route develops, overcoming a height difference of fifty meters. After the first twenty meters, the Sally route splits into three options. To the right, you take an intermediate path, characterized by a short difficult section and the rest moderately challenging: you tackle two more demanding rock steps, some short ledges and connecting ramps, including a slightly overhanging section that can be overcome with the help of metal stirrups. Once this section is completed, you emerge to the right of the suspension bridge and platform, or to the left of an escape route that can also serve as an alternative access to the bridge, bypassing the Sally section. To the left, you reach a long metal ladder, beyond which some easy passages lead to the end of the route, near the suspension bridge. In the center, a very challenging variant branches off, with brief extremely difficult sections in steep overhangs, requiring considerable arm strength and agility.

The Big Foot Bridge is a suspension bridge about twenty meters long, equipped with wide treads that make crossing easy. It is very stable and presents no difficulty. Beyond the bridge, you have three options to finish the route: Turtle, Affele, and Rocky.

The Turtle variant is the easiest and climbs with a few easy rock steps equipped with solid metal stirrups to the exit. From the bridge, continuing always on a slight ascent toward Turtle, you can take the Affele variant. This immediately climbs a short metal ladder, followed by two rock steps that are not difficult and are well-assisted by characteristic round stirrups. To increase the difficulty, after leaving the bridge you can immediately keep right to follow the exposed Ocherle traverse, then head toward an unmarked dihedral to climb, eventually joining the described section leading to the ladder.

The final section is Rocky. After the bridge and the Ocherle traverse, you stay at roughly the same level, following a series of traverses that are not difficult but are exposed. You climb a first steep metal ladder, continue on a series of traverses, round a corner, and via easy rock steps, finish the excursion to the right of the panoramic platform.

It is also possible to climb the right-hand wall from the lowest point, following the "Spitzbaum Steig," which starts beyond the start of the Katharina and Sally routes. This itinerary presents greater difficulties, with at least one very difficult or extremely difficult section. After the first fifty meters, ranging from moderately difficult to difficult, you can choose to climb the Daniel route to the right, which tackles rock steps and a clear overhang in the final meters, or traverse left to reach the Affele route.

Descent

From the end of the via ferrata, you can access the panoramic platform for a well-deserved rest and to admire the Val Senales below. From there, in twenty minutes you return to the mountain station of the cable car for the descent to the parking lot.

Useful Notes

The Knott Via Ferrata is an ideal route for getting into the world of via ferratas. It has no particularly difficult passages, but offers a very varied series of situations that allow you to become familiar with progression techniques, perhaps minimizing pulling on the cable. It can be conveniently combined, on the ascent, with the Hoachwool Via Ferrata, though the latter is difficult and physically demanding, therefore reserved for experienced hikers. For inexperienced people who want to try equipped routes nearby, in Merano there are the Heini Holzer Via Ferrata, moderately difficult, and the Ziel Via Ferrata, installed in 2020. Other options nearby include the Olberg Via Ferrata near Vipiteno, the Larix Via Ferrata in Val Senales (both inaugurated in 2022), and the Trafoi Via Ferrata along the Stelvio state road. Staying at an easy difficulty level and moving toward Trento, you can consider the Mendola Via Ferrata on Monte Roen or the Favogna Via Ferrata, both of medium difficulty.