Sentiero Attrezzato della Cresta Sinigaglia

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato della Cresta Sinigaglia offers a less-traveled and more physically demanding route up Grigna Meridionale compared to the popular Cresta Cermenati, while still maintaining a moderate overall level of alpine difficulty. The itinerary runs from Piani Resinelli toward the summit through a wilder, more rugged environment characterized by notable exposure-especially in the final section-which contrasts with the relative technical simplicity of the individual moves. The route alternates between steep trail sections and short but significant equipped passages along the ridge, delivering a continuous and engaging climbing experience.

Approach

The start is at Piani dei Resinelli, above Ballabio in the province of Lecco. From Ballabio, follow the narrow paved road with numerous switchbacks, passing the large brown welcome sign. After one more uphill switchback, keep left at the next junction. The road gradually narrows until it opens into a large parking area near a barrier.

From the parking lot, it's a five-minute walk to the Rifugio Carlo Porta. From here, take trail 1 (initially coinciding with trail 2), which heads into the woods. Ignore the first junction to the right for Rifugio Soldanella. Once out of the forest cover, you'll encounter another junction: to the left, trail 2 climbs the Canalone Porta, while you continue straight on trail 1 for the Cresta Sinigaglia, tackling a steep ascent heading northeast. The well-defined path continues, ignoring turnoffs for side alpine routes, until it emerges at a helicopter landing pad. Cross it and continue northeast, disregarding any branches to the left and also ignoring trail 3, which descends toward the Canalone Porta. After about two hours of walking from the parking lot, you reach the start of the first fixed equipment. This approach, a steady uphill on a well-marked trail, physically prepares you for the effort ahead, gradually introducing hikers to the rocky landscape of the Lombard Prealps.

Via Ferrata

The equipped section begins with a highly exposed traverse known as the Salto del Gatto. Here, a sturdy black-sheathed steel cable provides a secure handhold to safely negotiate the passage, which runs along a suspended rocky ledge. This traverse deposits hikers at the mouth of a rocky gully; climbing it on solid, well-stepped rock leads to the Bocca del Vento at 2065 meters, offering the first direct view of the summit of Grigna Meridionale.

Continue along the ridge following trail 1 westward, ignoring the deviation to the right that plunges into the steep Canalino della Federazione. After this junction, about ten minutes remain to the summit. The final stretch involves climbing a series of rock steps and a last exposed little wall, aided by large chains. This passage, on compact vertical rock, culminates at the Bivacco Ferrario and the summit cross. The actual equipped section takes about 45 minutes from the Salto del Gatto, for a total ascent time of roughly 2 hours and 45 minutes from the parking lot. The pace is sustained and continuous, with exposure building progressively, balancing physical effort and technical attention in a distinctly panoramic setting.

Descent

The most common descent route from Grigna Meridionale back to Rifugio Carlo Porta is trail 7 along the Cresta Cermenati. This technically simple path can be quite crowded and, on some sections of gravel or polished rock, is a bit slippery. Descending the Cresta Cermenati takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes, bringing the total hike time to around 4 hours. The contrast with the ascent is stark: you move from an exposed, wild itinerary to a more touristy, frequented route, but one that is still pleasant and quick.

Useful Notes

Although it does not present high technical difficulties, two passages of the Sentiero Attrezzato della Cresta Sinigaglia deserve special attention due to their exposure: the aforementioned Salto del Gatto at the start and the final equipped section below the summit. A minimum of experience and familiarity with the equipped alpine environment is therefore advisable to handle these moments of exposure calmly.

This itinerary can be incorporated into a larger hiking loop by combining other equipped trails in the area, such as the Sentiero Attrezzato Cecilia toward Rifugio Rosalba, then descending to Piani Resinelli via the Sentiero Attrezzato delle Foppe or the Sentiero Attrezzato dei Morti. For those planning a multi-day excursion toward Grigna Settentrionale, the Ferrata del CAI Mandello is an option worth considering to complete the exploration of the massif.