Ferrata Orrido di Foresto

Overview

The Ferrata dell'Orrido di Foresto offers an exciting and scenic route through the heart of a deep limestone gorge in the Val di Susa. The itinerary, of moderate commitment, alternates two vertical walls with overhanging sections with three suspension bridges, two of which are particularly long and swaying. The setting is of rare beauty, with the route following the ledges and walls of the gorge, delivering strong sensations. Pay attention to the river's flow: high water levels, typical of spring snowmelt or after heavy rain, can significantly complicate the fords and make the passages near the second and third waterfalls challenging and slippery, transforming the nature of the excursion.

Approach

The itinerary begins from the village of Foresto, in the Val di Susa, province of Turin. It is recommended to park near the church. From the parking area, follow the signs to take a road climbing to the right, also marked for the adjacent historic rock climbing crag. The road, first paved and then dirt, gradually enters the Orrido di Foresto, penetrating the narrow valley. After a first crossing of the stream on a bridge, you briefly ascend its pebbly riverbed, then make a second ford that leads to the start of the Ferrata dell'Orrido di Foresto. The approach time from the parking area is about 15 minutes.

Via Ferrata

The ascent begins with a short slab tackled diagonally, followed by an easy traverse that immediately introduces the character of the environment. After a connecting section, you climb a wall that is initially vertical which, veering to the right, quickly gains exposure over the stream below, offering the first views of the gorge. Continuing diagonally, you spot the first suspension bridge, the longest and most swaying of the three. Crossing it, with the side cable rather low, requires calm and control, delivering a great adrenaline rush and a unique perspective on the depth of the gorge.

Once past the bridge, an easy horizontal traverse equipped with stirrups leads quickly to the second suspension bridge, shorter and more stable. Crossing it, you return to the right orographic side of the stream. You then tackle a traverse that, first horizontal and then slightly descending, introduces the key and most spectacular passage of the entire route. You find yourself alongside a beautiful waterfall, with the path skirting the cascade on a ledge: depending on the flow, getting wet is almost certain. The wall, about thirty meters high, features some overhanging meters, but the presence of abundant stirrups and, in the upper part, a double row of handlines, greatly facilitates progression, making this section more physical than technical.

After this demanding climb, you make a ford whose difficulty varies significantly with the season (maximum flow in spring). The route continues with another interesting section: a traverse to the left leads, after a final vertical and slightly overhanging section, to the third and last suspension bridge. Once across, a traverse to the right skirts a new waterfall in a magnificent and damp environment. Now begins the final significant section: a long vertical wall heavily assisted by stirrups that allows you to definitively rise above the gorge, with continuous and panoramic progression. After the final rock passages, beautiful and climbable, you follow a few minutes of equipped sections until reaching the end of the difficulties. The rhythm of the itinerary is well punctuated by the alternation of vertical climbs, bridges, and traverses, with constant exposure. The time to complete the via ferrata is about 2 hours from the start, for a total of 2 hours and 15 minutes from the beginning of the excursion.

Descent

From the end of the via ferrata, take the return trail indicated to the left. The path, well-marked and without particular problems, descends easily with some switchbacks through the woods towards Foresto. The descent takes about 30 minutes, bringing the total time of the excursion to about 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Useful Notes

The via ferrata, closed in 2016 due to a landslide near the first bridge, was restored and reopened in October 2017. The instability of the rock (stratified limestone) requires maximum attention and makes a helmet absolutely necessary. It is essential to assess the river's flow: high water levels make the fords and passages near the waterfalls dangerous, making the itinerary inadvisable. It can be useful to equip yourself with sandals for the crossings and a rain jacket for the wet sections. The route, originally equipped in the 1960s by the CAI and in use for two decades, was rebuilt in 2003 and enriched with the three suspension bridges in 2010, making it today more accessible and, in some respects, less technical than the original, while still maintaining an adventurous and scenic character.