Sentiero Attrezzato del Moregallo

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato del Moregallo is an easy-grade route that climbs the entire west ridge of Monte Moregallo, a pre-Alpine peak in the Como group. Although the trail tackles significant elevation gain, it alternates walking along the ridge with short equipped sections with fixed cables where the terrain becomes steeper and more exposed.

The setting is classic pre-Alpine, with a well-defined ridge developing on compact limestone, punctuated by rock spurs and gendarmes. The route stays mostly on the crest, offering a continuous, airy experience with progressively increasing exposure that culminates in the final sections. The character is primarily hiking, with brief mountaineering inserts that add appeal without pushing technical difficulty too high.

Approach

The route starts from the hamlet of Belvedere (municipality of Valmadrera, Como province). Once there, park near the entrance of a dirt road closed to traffic, finding a spot in the vicinity. From here, the approach trail begins.

Climb from the village toward the San Tomaso area, marked by a chapel with a signpost and numerous trail markers. Take the trail 6-7 to the right, heading for the Sambrosera spring, a crucial junction where multiple routes branch off toward Moregallo and the Corni di Canzo. At the next fork, keep left, ascending the Valle di Sant'Antonio toward the Bocchette di Moregge. Once at this pass, the view opens up to the Corni di Canzo on the left and the Moregallo ridge on the right. At the junction, turn right (east) and soon intercept the start of the Sentiero Attrezzato del Moregallo along the west ridge. The approach from the parking area takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes.

The approach starts on an easy forest trail, then moves into a more rugged valley. The pace is steady and progressive, with no technical passages, preparing you physically for the main route. The environment gradually shifts from coppice woodland to high pastures, then to the open, windy scenery of the Bocchette.

Via Ferrata

The equipped trail starts wide and easy, then gradually narrows and becomes more exposed, leading to a small saddle with steep slopes on both sides. On the right, you can see the start of the Canalone Belasa. Continue uphill to the first cable sections. This stretch follows a slight downhill traverse to a fork, which offers an escape route for those who don't want to tackle the upcoming equipped sections: taking the right leads onto the easy Tavoulera trail, which runs parallel but lower than the ridge. To continue on the via ferrata, take the left, climbing up and then descending along the ridge crest toward the summit.

Follow the route downhill to a series of equipped passages: you'll tackle sloping ramps, short walls with rock steps, and sections on ledges, up to the final vertical stretch. This last section is more airy and demanding than the previous ones, but the rock offers excellent holds and edges. Once past this, you reach the summit of Moregallo. The via ferrata from the Bocchette di Moregge takes about 40 minutes, for a total of 3 hours from the start.

The pace of the via ferrata is discontinuous, characterized by walking along the ridge interspersed with short but intense technical passages. The route is mostly horizontal, with ups and downs following the ridge line. The exposure is constant and increasing, but always well-protected, making the experience thrilling but not intimidating. The limestone rock is solid and offers good grip.

Descent

For the return, decide whether to retrace the west ridge or make a loop along the east ridge. Descent via the west ridge: you can either go back down the Sentiero Attrezzato del Moregallo or opt for the easier Tavoulera trail. From the Bocchette di Moregge, retrace the approach trail to the parking area (about 1 hour and 45 minutes from the summit, for a total of 4 hours and 45 minutes). An alternative is to continue straight from the Bocchette di Moregge toward the Corni di Canzo and, at the first junction, turn left to reach the saddle between Corno Centrale and Corno Orientale, from where a descending trail leads back to San Tomaso (about 2 hours and 15 minutes from the summit, total 5 hours and 15 minutes). Descent via the east ridge: descend to the Bocchetta Sambrosera. Here, take the descending trail to the right that reaches the Forcellina and then the Sambrosera spring, returning to the parking area. A very scenic alternative is to continue past the Bocchetta di Sambrosera toward the Bocchetta di Preguda and take the Paolo ed Eliana trail downhill to the Sambrosera spring. Both options bring you back to the parking area in about 2 hours from the summit (total 5 hours).

The descent via the east ridge completes the loop, offering a different perspective on the massif. The trail is more walked and less technical, allowing for a more relaxed and continuous pace, ideal for enjoying the views toward Lake Como. The terrain is gentler, with passages through meadows and among boulders.

Useful Notes

The Sentiero Attrezzato del Moregallo is an easy route that climbs the west ridge, overcoming a few rocky gendarmes. It's suitable for everyone and offers an alternative route at the start for those who don't want to tackle the equipped sections. For experienced hikers, it's possible to combine this climb with the ascent of the Canalone Belasa, an equipped mountaineering route with free-climbing passages up to grade III. From the summit of Moregallo, you can take on other routes, carefully assessing fatigue and difficulty: the Ferrata del Venticinquennale ai Corni di Canzo, the Ferrata del 30° OSA al Corno RAT, or the easy Sentiero Attrezzato delle Vasche.

The route stands out for its versatility, serving both as a standalone goal for a first via ferrata experience and as a springboard for more challenging traverses. Its dominant position over Brianza and the lake makes it a highly scenic route, where the landscape blends with a moderate but stimulating technical challenge.