Sentiero Attrezzato delle Palete

Overview

The Sentiero Attrezzato delle Palete is a demanding high-level link between Passo del Grostè and Rifugio Peller, offering a long alpine route through the severe terrain of the Brenta Group. The itinerary forms a logical loop: starting from Grostè, it descends toward Val Gelada, climbs the via ferrata of the same name, joins the Sentiero Costanzi, and finishes the return along the Sentiero Attrezzato Vidi. The sequence alternates approach sections, equipped gullies, long traverses, and exposed passages, providing a complete synthesis of Dolomitic morphology.

Approach

The ideal starting point is the top station of the Madonna di Campiglio-Rifugio Stoppani cable car at Passo Grostè. After reaching Madonna di Campiglio, continue toward Folgarida to Passo Campo Carlo Magno, which has ample parking for the lifts. Using the cable car is strongly recommended to conserve energy, reducing the access to a short ten-minute walk from Rifugio Stoppani to the pass. The on-foot alternative involves climbing from the pass along trail CAI 301, which gains about 800 meters of elevation on a hiking path with no technical difficulty, but is not recommended in combination with the long via ferrata day.

Via Ferrata

From Passo Grostè (2442 m), take trail CAI 306 heading north, leaving the Sentiero Attrezzato Vidi on your left for the return. The initial environment is broad and majestic, with the route gently descending along the eastern flank of Pietra Grande and Cima Vagliana over open, obstacle-free terrain. After about an hour of walking, you reach the junction at Val delle Giare (2177 m).

The landscape gradually transforms, becoming more rugged and enclosed. The trail approaches rocky ridges and introduces the first exposed traverses, some of which are equipped with fixed ropes. The ground is often gravelly and loose, requiring very secure footing and constant concentration. After these passages, the true equipped section begins, tackling the ascent of a steep gully and a chimney of modest technical difficulty. The exposure is significant, but the main challenge lies in the discontinuity of the protections and the instability of the terrain. The strenuous climb culminates at Passo delle Palete (2319 m), the hinge point of the route. From here, descend a gravelly, slippery gully to reach Livezza Grande (2184 m), about three hours from the start.

At this junction, leave the Sentiero Attrezzato delle Palete and turn left onto CAI 380, which climbs Val Gelada. This section is physically demanding, with nearly 500 meters of elevation gain to recover. The valley progressively narrows, dominated by the imposing rock bastion at its head, overcome via short equipped sections inside a small gully. The route winds through a grand, vertical landscape framed by the dizzying walls of Cima Paradiso, Cima Sassara, and Sasso Alto. A final roped passage leads to Passo di Val Gelada (2686 m), reached in about two hours from Livezza Grande. These equipped sections constitute the Ferrata della Val Gelada.

From the pass, keeping left, take the Sentiero Alpinistico Costanzi (CAI 336) toward Bocchetta dei Tre Sassi. This sector features some vertical passages equipped with ropes and metal ladders, requiring the use of safety devices. After these, a less demanding but still exposed and panoramic trail section leads to Bocchetta dei Tre Sassi (2613 m), reached in about 45 minutes from Passo di Val Gelada.

Descent

From Bocchetta dei Tre Sassi, two options are available. The first, and more complete, is to continue on the Sentiero Costanzi (CAI 336). This trail runs along the mountainside with exposed sections and occasional fixed ropes up to Sperone degli Orti (2520 m), reachable in about one hour and fifteen minutes. From here, complete the loop by descending the Sentiero Attrezzato Vidi back to Passo Grostè in about one hour and thirty minutes. The second option, for those wanting to shorten the exposed sections, is to descend directly along trail CAI 334 to Malga Mondifrà (1632 m) and then via a wide path to Passo Campo Carlo Magno, in about one hour and thirty minutes from the bocchetta.

Useful Notes

This itinerary is decidedly alpine in character and takes place in a remote, little-frequented environment. Do not be misled by the moderate technical difficulty of the equipped sections: the exposed and unroped passages, often on unstable ground, require constant concentration and extensive hiking experience. It is an excellent choice for those seeking solitude and adventure in the Dolomiti di Brenta, far from the more crowded routes. Weather conditions are critical: bad weather can make the gravelly sections and gullies extremely slippery, significantly increasing the risk. The equipment along the Sentiero delle Palete, where present, is generally in excellent condition and recently renewed. Thorough physical preparation and a complete via ferrata kit are recommended.