Sentiero Attrezzato del Gronton

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato del Gronton is a high-altitude route accessible without specific climbing skills, though safety depends on solid mountain familiarity due to constant exposure. This loop trail starts from Passo Lusia, follows the Gronton ridge, reaches Forcella delle Bocche, and descends past the scenic Laghi di Lusia. It's a medium-length hike where historical interest blends with sweeping panoramas.

Approach

The starting point is Passo Lusia (2055 m), reachable by car from Moena in the Val di Fassa. Driving along the Passo San Pellegrino state road, shortly after Moena you'll spot the ski lifts of the Lusia resort. After crossing the overpass over the slopes, a gravel road on the right climbs for a few kilometers to the Rifugio al Passo Lusia, the base for this itinerary.

From the refuge, take the CAI trail 633 heading south toward Cima Bocche. The path, with no technical difficulty, rises at a steady gradient through wide pastures to Sella Lusia at 2360 meters. From this saddle, you get an excellent view of the entire route: the Gronton crest to the left, Cima Bocche ahead, and the Laghi di Lusia below, which you'll skirt on the descent. From the saddle, the trail continues with a slight descent along the hillside to the Bivacco Redolf (2335 m). At this junction, leave trail 633 (which will be your return route) and bear left onto CAI 634, which leads to the start of the via ferrata at Forcella Cajerin (2365 m). The approach from the refuge takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes of easy walking at a steady but not strenuous pace.

Via Ferrata

From Forcella Cajerin, the Sentiero Attrezzato del Gronton begins, following an Austrian defensive line from World War I. The route runs mostly just below the ridge crest, with continuous protection from steel cables on the more exposed sections. After a short initial stretch, you tackle an exposed ledge with the cable on your right, followed by a series of passages over large boulders alternating with stepped sections-clear remnants of military positions.

The rock, typical Dolomite, is compact and blocky, making for secure progress. The pace of the route is uneven: near-horizontal traverses on ledges alternate with short vertical rises and ridge passages, maintaining constant but never extreme exposure. After another equipped ledge and a distinctive suspended footbridge, you reach a clearly visible saddle. Cross it and lose a bit of elevation along another exposed but safe ledge. The climb resumes at a moderate gradient until you hit the main ridge, where you can look back at the route you've covered and the Laghi di Lusia below. The most spectacular and photogenic part of the hike is the ridge walk itself, which includes an airy passage around a rocky spur, offering a sense of great freedom in a panoramic setting.

After a final ridge section, you arrive at a marked junction on a boulder: to the right, descend toward Forcella delle Bocche; to the left, a side trail climbs to the summit of Gronton in about an hour round trip, an option that reveals more wartime relics. Continuing toward the saddle, just before reaching it, a trail on the left branches off to the summit of Cima Bocche (2745 m), a recommended ascent for the views (about 1 hour round trip). You then arrive at Forcella delle Bocche (2543 m) after roughly 1 hour on the via ferrata and 2 hours and 30 minutes total from the refuge.

Descent

From Forcella delle Bocche, take CAI trail 633 for the return. The path descends decisively into the valley that holds the scenic Laghi di Lusia, a glacial landscape where it's not uncommon to encounter herds of wild horses. The descent flows at a smoother, more continuous pace on a well-defined trail that skirts the lakes, then climbs with moderate gradient back to Sella Lusia and from there to the Rifugio al Passo Lusia. The descent from the saddle to the refuge takes about 2 hours, for a total of 4 hours and 30 minutes for the base loop. Adding the ascent of Cima Bocche brings the time to roughly 5 hours and 30 minutes.

Useful Notes

The Sentiero Attrezzato del Gronton is technically accessible, with no true climbing passages. Its appeal lies in the blend of historical interest, continuous views, and the distinctive atmosphere of the Laghi di Lusia. It's generally less crowded than other via ferratas in the area. The route's character is more panoramic and historical than technical, though the pace is set by a series of exposed sections that demand constant attention. The only real difficulty is the significant exposure, constant throughout the route, which requires an absolute absence of vertigo. For planning, it's advisable to have detailed maps of the area, such as those dedicated to the Val di Fassa.