Sentiero Attrezzato Chiesa

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato Chiesa is a highly rewarding alpine hiking route set in the wild, narrow confines of Val Scura, near Levico Terme. The classic approach is a loop that combines the via ferrata with the panoramic Sentiero del Menador for the return. The difficulty is moderate, but the route demands a solid comfort level with mountain terrain: the ground is often variable and unstable, with gravelly and scree-filled sections that affect progress. The setting, dominated by the Rio Bianco and its waterfalls, is especially spectacular in spring and autumn, when the water flow is at its peak.

Approach

Access begins from the town of Levico Terme, heading south toward Lochere to the Albergo Paoli, where there is a large parking area. From here, follow the paved road uphill to the first switchback. At the curve, a signpost and a red plaque mark the entrance to the forest trail on the left. Take a clear, continuous ascending path that stays on the left orographic side of Val Scura, with Monte Pegolara to the right and Monte Calmo to the left. The route gradually penetrates deeper into the valley, requiring six crossings of the Rio Bianco before reaching the start of the via ferrata. The surroundings become increasingly dramatic, with towering rock spires framing the way. After about an hour of hiking and 850 meters of elevation gain from the parking lot, you reach the first section of fixed cables.

Via Ferrata

The climb begins with a cable-assisted ascent up to a saddle. Once over it, you traverse a scree ledge, easy but often slippery, then drop slightly in elevation via a metal ladder toward the stream. Here, a rocky pinnacle seems to block the valley. After another crossing of the Rio Bianco, you tackle a second metal ladder that allows you to get past a large boulder, followed shortly by a third ladder. Continue along a ledge at the stream's edge, where caution is needed: the steel cable tends to push you outward, and the ground is often damp and slick. After another ladder, the trail becomes more comfortable and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, waterfalls, and streams. Following this easier stretch, the gradient steepens over loose, unstable soil until you reach a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the Valsugana.

Here begins the second part of the route, which immediately presents an exposed but not difficult traverse, equipped with support stirrups. This is followed by a comfortable ledge and another metal ladder. The trail then continues on unsecured path, descends into a scree gully, and tackles what is likely the most challenging section of the route: climbing a sloping wall formed by natural steps, requiring concentration. You then reach two metal ladders to be climbed in succession. After them, the trail continues to a rather demanding descent over scree. The ascent resumes on unstable but non-technical ground, where you encounter the metal plaque dedicated to Clemente Chiesa, after whom the via ferrata is named. Once the scree section is completed, you pass near a beautiful waterfall and take a rocky ledge to the right. Follow it all the way, climb a final ladder leaning against a boulder, and cross the stream between some rocks. A last metal ladder concludes the via ferrata, leading to a plateau at 1247 meters in elevation. The travel time from the start is about 2 hours and 45 minutes, with 1 hour and 45 minutes dedicated to the ferrata itself.

Descent

After finishing the ferrata, take the forest trail heading south toward the Seghetta area. At the first junction, keep left, following marker 201 toward Baita Cangi. Although not the fastest route, the recommended return is via the Sentiero del Menador, which runs through the nearby Val Pisciavacca. At the next junction, keep left again to join this pleasant and varied trail, which with constant ups and downs, some slippery sections on scree, small bridges, and stream crossings, leads back down the valley. At the end of the Sentiero del Menador, about 2 hours and 30 minutes after finishing the ferrata, keep left to follow Via delle Valli, which brings you back to the provincial road used for the drive in. Keeping left once more, you quickly reach the parking lot at Albergo Paoli. The entire loop takes about 5 hours and 30 minutes of total walking time.

Useful Notes

The Sentiero Attrezzato Chiesa, which by pure technical standards would be classified as easy, currently presents some challenges. Following maintenance work that began in 2017, some sections lack equipment or have not been fully restored. This situation significantly raises the actual difficulty level of the route. To proceed safely, it is therefore essential to have a very steady foot and, for rope teams, to bring a rope for possible belay maneuvers on the more demanding passages. Despite this, the environment of Val Scura remains extremely evocative and, thanks to its low elevation, is a route suitable even for the shoulder seasons. The main objective difficulty comes from the often unstable, gravelly, and crumbly ground, so using telescopic trekking poles can be a great help in improving stability. For maps, the Alta Valsugana map is recommended.