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ByTristan Kennedy
Published September 25, 2023
• 9 min read
Tackling a via ferrata (Italian for ‘iron path’) is a bit like joining a circus highwire act or becoming a Hollywood stuntperson for a day. Made up of steel cables, rungs and ladders to arrest the effect of any fall, these bolted climbing routes are an undeniably thrilling, daunting and rewarding way to hike and scramble across a mountain.
Despite originating in the 19th century in the Dachstein alps of Austria, they’re often associated with the First World War, when expert Alpine troops fixed ladders and iron cables into the sheer cliffs so they could safely navigate the mountains. Today, these high-flying trails offer all the excitement of a multi-pitch rock climb, without the need for years of training.
You don’t need any technical skills to take on a via ferrata — just a harness, a set of carabiner clips and a head for heights. They’ve become more widespread in recent years and can now be found everywhere from Alaska to New Zealand, but Europe is still home to a remarkable variety. Here are five of our favourite routes to try across the continent.
1. La Via delle Bocchette, Brenta Dolomites, Italy
Arguably the most famous route in the Dolomites, the Via delle Bocchette trail is an all-time classic, taking travellers through the stunning, snaggle-toothed peaks of the Dolomiti di Brenta — the westernmost of the nine mountain groups that make up the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Starting from the ski resort town of Madonna di Campiglio, travellers can either hike or catch a lift up to the Passo Grosté at 2,500 metres, where you clip into your first cable. This opening section is named after Alfredo and Rodolfo Benini, the father-and-son mountaineering team who pioneered the route. It includes several exposed ledges but is considered a good via ferrata for first-timers. From here, things get a little more intense. The second and third sections take you up to nearly 3,000 metres above sea level, linking two high mountain passes (the Bocca del Tuckett and the Bocca di Brenta) by way of some seriously exposed ladders. The views, however, are unparalleled. Each of the three sections requires a full day out, or you can tackle the whole thing in two to three days, staying in the cosy mountain refuges en route. visittrentino.info
2. Via Ferrata Cala di Moli, Costa Brava, Spain
Although considered fairly easy, the Via Ferrata Cala di Moli, near Barcelona, is also utterly unique as it’s the only via ferrata in Europe which runs right by the sea. The rocks in this part of the Costa Brava are made up of granite and quartz, which, set against the turquoise backdrop of the Mediterranean, make for stunning photos.
The route starts in the Catalan fishing village of Sant Feliu de Guíxols, home to an idyllic harbour and an ancient Benedictine monastery. From here, you head northeast to pick up the 5.2-mile cabled route along the cliffs. While a guide is recommended, this route can be tackled without, as long as you have the correct via ferrata kit (harness, helmet, carabiners and gloves). It never takes you higher than about 66ft above the surface of the sea, and there’s an obvious point to bail out halfway if you’re feeling uncomfortable, making this an excellent via ferrata for beginners. Allow yourself three to four hours to complete the whole route. viaferratacaladelmoli.com
3. Jegihorn Via Ferrata, Saas Valley, Switzerland
The upper reaches of the Saas Valley in Switzerland are surrounded by imposing peaks, including the Dom, the highest mountain that’s fully in Switzerland. It’s perhaps unsurprising that this via ferrata, further down the valley, is also one of the highest in Europe.
Starting from the town of Saas Grund, catch the cable car up to Kreuzboden and hike to the Weissmieshütte mountain refuge. From here, there’s a flat traverse to the start of the cable where the adventure begins. Made up of more than 400 individual steps and around half a mile of steel safety line, the route takes you almost vertically upwards to the peak of Vorgipfel at 3,150 metres. From here, you descend to a saddle spanned by a vertigo-inducing hängebrücke (suspension bridge). Then it’s up again, as you climb to the highest point, the peak of the Jegihorn itself, an incredible 3,200 metres above sea level. The views from the summit are spectacular, with cascades of blue, glacial ice tumbling down from the surrounding peaks. The route should take around six to eight hours, including the approach and descent. A guide is recommended. myswitzerland.com
4. Via Ferrata Les Prises de La Bastille, Grenoble, France
The famous ski resorts of the French Alps are not short of via ferratas, but as the only ‘urban via ferrata’ anywhere in France, this route offers something a little different. It snakes up the cliffs beneath the 19th-century Bastille fort in Grenoble, offering aerial views of France’s mountain capital. You could catch the bubble lift from the town centre up to the castle, but this is a far more rewarding way to reach it.
Access to the route is easy — it’s just a 10-minute walk from Grenoble station or roughly the same distance from the city’s historic centre. Simply head to number 22, Route de Lyon and you’ll find the cable behind the esplanade. The via ferrata is relatively easy and divided into two main parts, each of which will take you about 45 to 50 minutes. You start by climbing a steep trail, which leads you across an impressive hanging bridge, before you reach the cliffs. From here, it’s straight up a series of steps and ladders until you get to the old train track beneath the castle walls. bastille-grenoble.fr
5. Ferrata al Sentiero dei Fiori, Passo Tonale, Italy
While it’s now the site of a ski resort, Passo Tonale, a few hours northeast of Milan, was the site of various battles during the First World War. Sections of this via ferrata were first mapped out during the conflict, when Austrian and Italian troops dug tunnels and fixed ladders to stop themselves from falling as they scrambled around the cliffs. Look closely and you can still see evidence of the fighting all around here — from the coils of rusting barbed wire guarding some mountain passes, to the tunnels blasted through the rocks to create machine gun posts.
The route is a relatively technical one, taking you across high, hanging bridges and along knife-edge ridges, so a guide is definitely recommended. Starting from the village of Passo Tonale, you catch the cable car up to the Passo Paradiso at 2,585 metres, and then hike for about an hour to the start of the cable. Once you’re clipped in, expect steep climbs and incredible views, as the path takes you up to heights of around 3,000 metres. It’s a long day out — allow eight or nine hours in total — but it’s one of the best via ferratas anywhere in the world. pontedilegnotonale.com
Plan your trip
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