Sentiero Attrezzato da Prà

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato da Prà traces a loop around Monte Ciareido in the rugged and remote Marmarole group. While classifiable as a route of moderate difficulty, the itinerary features several technical protected passages and exposed, unprotected sections that define its commitment level. The overall length is contained, making it an ideal choice for an intense but moderately long day, where technical challenge combines with a highly scenic environmental exploration.

Approach

The starting point is the Parco alla Memoria di Pian dei Buoi, reachable by car from Lozzo di Cadore. Just before the intersection of SS 52 and SS 51, turn left onto an ascending road marked for Ciareido and Marmarole. This narrow dirt road, which operates with alternating traffic in high season (check the municipality's website for times), runs for several kilometers to the main parking area (about 100 spaces), near the Rifugio Ciareido.

From here, a short 15-minute climb on a dirt track leads to the rifugio itself (1969 m). Continuing on the trail, you soon reach a junction: take the right fork following the CAI 272 trail marker north. The path runs flat to a second junction, where you turn left onto the trail heading toward the obvious saddle between Ciareido and a rocky pinnacle. Following red markers, you ascend a scree slope, gaining elevation quickly. The start of the Sentiero Attrezzato da Prà is located right at this saddle, reachable in about an hour from the parking area. The approach unfolds in a high-altitude environment, with the scree leading to the threshold of the actual alpine activity.

Via Ferrata

From the saddle, the route turns left into a descent, where a steel cable handrail soon appears. This first protected section allows you to safely bypass the Torre Pian dei Buoi and the eastern flank of Monte Ciareido. A characteristic passage sees the cable running along a diagonal groove carved into the rock face. The trail, quite steep, then bends sharply left, beginning to wind along a series of ledges, mostly protected.

Here begins the most technical and engaging section. You tackle a downclimbing descent on the eastern walls of Ciareido, followed by an exposed, protected passage that leads to an ascent of a vertical wall. This last section represents the most challenging passage of the entire route, though still within moderate levels. The rhythm of the itinerary is discontinuous: short stretches of walking on ledges alternate with concentrated vertical sequences that require a methodical approach. After overcoming a final narrow gully with a few steps, the metal protections end. You then continue on a well-marked mid-slope trail that leads to Forcella San Pietro on the southern side, the endpoint of the ferrata. The travel time from the starting saddle is about 1 hour and 30 minutes (2 hours and 30 minutes total from the parking area). The route develops mainly on solid rock, unfolding across ledges and short walls, offering continuous panoramic views of the rugged Marmarole cirque.

Descent

From Forcella San Pietro (erroneously called San Lorenzo in some reports), leaving behind the distinctive pinnacle known as "Il Pupo," you skirt the southern wall of Ciareido in a particularly evocative setting. Descending toward the rifugio, you encounter a junction: turning right leads down to Rifugio Baion-Boni (1828 m, 45 minutes from the end of the ferrata). Continuing straight, however, the trail loops around the mountain, returning to the Rifugio Ciareido from the approach and, from there, along the approach trail to the parking area (about 1 hour and 15 minutes from the end of the ferrata, for a total of 3 hours and 45 minutes). The descent is a long, downward traverse that completes the loop around the mountain, offering a different perspective on the group.

Useful Notes

Although it is a simple protected trail in its secured sections, the presence of exposed, unprotected stretches raises its overall difficulty, requiring a steady foot and a head for heights. The downclimbing passages and the vertical wall demand attention. Caution in the unsecured sections is essential. The character of the route is technical and scenic, with moderate physical effort concentrated in the key passages. Additionally, some sections of the trail may feature persistent snowfields even late in the season; under these conditions, equipment with an ice axe and crampons is strongly recommended to avoid risky situations. The route unfolds in the heart of the Marmarole, a less-frequented Dolomite group of great wild appeal, where the itinerary threads between towers and gullies, offering a deeply immersive experience.