Ferrata Tridentina al Pisciadu

Overview

The celebrated Ferrata Tridentina al Pisciadù is a high-altitude route of immense emotional impact, unfolding across the towering, vertical northern walls of the Sella Group. While classified as a route of moderate technical difficulty, it offers a complete experience, characterized by continuous progression and expansive spaces. The return follows the marked, steep, and debris-filled gully of the Val Setus, creating a loop with a striking environmental contrast.

Approach

The starting point is located along the Passo Gardena road, descending toward Colfosco in Val Badia. At the sixth hairpin turn, a large parking area near a quarry on the right serves as the logistical base. From here, with the majestic Dolomite walls of the Sella Group towering to the south, ignore trail 650 and follow the signs for the via ferrata. These lead eastward along an easy, moderately sloping path that gradually gains elevation. You'll reach the first metal structures in about 15 minutes of walking-a short approach that quickly immerses you in the vertical environment.

Via Ferrata

The equipped route begins with a traverse to the left across solid, well-articulated slabs, followed by a series of stirrups that ease the ascent of an initial smooth step. A subsequent traverse, exposed but on rock with excellent holds, leads to a few meters of vertical wall. This passage brings you to a damp dihedral, the upper section of which is overcome with the help of specific metal stirrups. Exiting this feature, you complete the first equipped section and intersect a mid-slope trail coming from Passo Gardena, which serves as a clear escape route. Continuing east on a trail with ups and downs and a passage through a crack, you reach the new anchor points placed just above the official start plaque of the Ferrata Tridentina (2070 m, about 40 minutes from the start). From here, the main ascent begins, unfolding beneath a broad wall. The progression takes place on well-stepped, hold-rich rock, with the aid of stirrups and fixed anchors on the smoother sections. You climb steadily up beautiful vertical slabs in a continuous, pleasant rhythm until you reach the equipped passages that approach the Rio Pisciadù waterfall. After rounding an exposed corner, you ascend easier rock before tackling an exposed traverse on pegs, which ends at another potential exit point. The section ascending the Torre Exner is the most challenging part of the entire via ferrata. You immediately face a vertical wall with less obvious holds, followed by stirrups and a dihedral with the cable on the right and stirrups on the left. This passage can be climbed by patiently using the natural holds on the right for a smoother progression. Exiting the dihedral, an easy traverse to the right leads to a metal ladder. Climbing left over rock slabs and rounding a shoulder, you arrive at the iconic suspended walkway that connects the Torre Exner to the final section. The structure is stable but extremely exposed over a void of hundreds of meters, offering a moment of pure verticality. Beyond the walkway, a final vertical wall leads to a trail that ends at the Rifugio Cavazza al Pisciadù (2587 m). The via ferrata concludes here, after about 3 hours total of climbing, in a spacious, panoramic high-altitude environment.

Descent

After a possible visit to Lago Pisciadù, the return follows the Alta Via 2 trail along the CAI trail 66 in the Val de Setus. The descent is steep and takes place entirely within a steep, debris-filled gully, with some sections equipped with cables or chains that require attention. You descend into the gully to a junction (to the left, you climb to Passo Gardena), then continue descending all the way to the starting parking area. The descent takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, for a total hike of approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes.

Useful Notes

The Ferrata Tridentina is one of the most famous and iconic equipped routes in the Dolomites. Its low-to-moderate technical difficulty and short approach make it very popular, especially during July and August, when there is a high risk of encountering queues and crowded passages. For navigation, the use of detailed maps of the Sella Group, Val Badia, or the surrounding valleys is recommended. The route was built on July 10, 1960, on the initiative of mountain guide Germano Kostner with the support of the Alpini of the Tridentina division, to whom it is dedicated. The characteristic suspension bridge was added seven years later. The via ferrata lies in an area rich with other equipped routes for all levels, such as the Ferrata del Vallon, the Ferrata Piz de Lech in Val Badia, or the Ferrata delle Mesules and Ferrata Piazzetta toward Passo Sella and Passo Pordoi.