After spending significant time in the heart of the famous Tre Cime Nature Park in the Italian Dolomites, I felt compelled to explore its other corners, especially the eastern one. Home to the distinct peak Croda Dei Toni (Zwölferkofel) and a few famous via ferrata routes, there is one that grabbed my attention, particularly after seeing photos of it online – Strada Degli Alpini.
7 things to know about Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini (Alpinisteig)
Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini (in German: Alpinisteig) is an incredible traverse underneath the western slopes of Cima Undici. The route is characterized by a long approach, a technically straightforward via ferrata (albeit with lots of cable time), and jaw-dropping vistas of Croda Dei Toni accompanying you most of the way.
Via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini is one of my favourite beginner-level via ferratas in the Dolomites, and I’d recommend it to anyone who is a sucker for beautiful mountain views.
1. The stats for Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini (Alpinisteig)
- Distance: 16 km / 10 mi
- Time required: 7-9 h
- Elevation gain: 1134 m / 3722 ft
- Elevation loss: 1600 m / 5254 ft
- Via ferrata difficulty: beginner
- When to go: July to October
- Map required: Tabacco Map no 10 (Dolomiti Di Sesto)
2. Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini – the map
Click on the icon in the top left corner of the map to view the route details. I marked bus stops, parking, and huts. This map is for visualization purposes only.
I highly recommend purchasing the Tabacco Map no 10 (Dolomiti Di Sesto) for a detailed route. A map or a GPS is something you should always have with you when heading out into the mountains.
3. Getting to the trailhead of Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini
This article initially described the route going counterclockwise, but after completing Alpinisteig twice, I concluded that going clockwise makes more sense. By going clockwise, you will gain less elevation, making it slightly easier. Most importantly, though, you will have the views in front of you.
The route starts at the top of the Croda Rossa Gondola station near Sesto. The bottom of the station is located in the scenic Fiscalina Valley.
By car (watch out for seasonal restrictions)
The authorities introduced seasonal road restrictions to limit vehicle traffic in Val Fiscalina. You can only travel to Val Fiscalina by bus during certain summer months. You can check the exact dates for when traffic is restricted here.
By bus
The gondola’s bus stop name is Moso (Sesto) Cabinovia Croda Rossa. Lines 440 and 446 operate along this route. You can check the schedule and the bus stop nearest your hotel on the Sued Tirol Mobil website.
Since the route ends in a different location from where it starts, you will also need to catch the bus back to Sesto from the Pian Di Val Fiscalina bus stop.
TIP: Keep up a good pace if you are doing the Alpinisteig in a day and don’t want to miss the last bus.
Croda Rossa Gondola
During summer, Croda Rossa Gondola usually operates from the end of May until the start of November. It runs daily from 8:30 AM until 5:30 PM. You will only need to buy a one-way ticket.
4. Where to stay in Sesto
Sesto (also known as Sexten in German) is a small town in the province of South Tyrol and close to the Puster Valley. It’s an excellent place for a base to explore some of the hikes and via ferrata routes in Tre Cime Nature Park.
5. Turning Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini into an overnight adventure
Since it’s quite a long route, there is a possibility to break it up with an overnight stay in either of these three alpine huts: Rifugio Comici (Zsigmondyhütte), Rifugio Pian di Cengia (Büllelejochhütte) or Rifugio Carducci.
The first one – Rifugio Comici, lies directly en route. The other two require a slight detour, approximately + 1 hour. I marked all three huts on the map.
TIP: I also designed two hut-to-hut traverses that include via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini:
6. Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini: stages breakdown
The entire route is marked with white and red paint marks or red arrows painted on rocks. Nevertheless, pack the Tobacco map No. 10. and study it before heading out.
Stage 1: Croda Rossa Gondola to Forcella Undici
- Time required: 2.5 – 3 hours
Starting at the top of the gondola station, you will follow a wide gravel path across the high alpine pasture. Monte Croda Rossa (Rotwandspitze) raises straight ahead.
After about twenty minutes, the path veers right and starts climbing into the thick larch forest. Keep following path no. 100 . Around 40 minutes from leaving the gondola station, you will reach a fork with signs pointing to Forcella Undici and Strada Degli Alpini.
Soon after, the path climbs gently and zigzags until it reaches the first cables. It’s time to put on your gear. For the rest of stage 1, you will scramble up a steep wall using the wires until you reach the Undici saddle. This part of the route is arguably the toughest, as it’s where most of the elevation is gained.
Stage 2: Forcella Undici to Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici
- Time required: 2.5 – 3 hours
From Forcella Undici, continue climbing until, once again, you reach a fork with signs pointing to Alpinisteig. The views in your direction of travel (south) grow in grandeur, and the twelve jagged peaks of Croda Dei Toni (Zwölferkofel) become ever closer.
Most of this stage is just a hike with cables placed in the most exposed sections. The trail passes under impressive overhangs before a short protected snowfield traverse (see photo above) brings you to narrow ledges.
To the east, you will see the Zsigmondy hut. This is the most fun and impressive part of the route. Even though you won’t be climbing, only walking along the ledges, the exposure is significant, so use those cables well.
My favourite part along this stage of the route was crossing the crack in the wall, which required dunking for a bit. Watch your head! Once you cross the ledges, you can put away your gear.
TIP: I did this route at the start of July and once at the end of September. In September, there was no more snowfield to cross.
The last section of stage two goes uphill to a small alpine lake (Lago Ghiacciao). The route continues downhill on a scree slope directly underneath Croda Dei Toni. You can see the Zsigmondy hut from afar.
Stage 3: Rifugio Zsigmondy Comici to Hotel Dolomitenhof
- Time required: 2-2.5 hours
It’s a 2-hour downhill hike to the Fiscalina Valley from Zsigmondy hut. The route finishes as a flat jaunt on path 102 alongside picturesque fields. Make sure to look back and admire the view. The last alpine hut you will come across is Rifugio Fondovalle (Talschlusshütte), where you can have a celebratory beer.
TIP: It’s also possible to follow the route in reverse to what was described in my article, starting the approach from the Pian Di Val Fiscalina bus stop near Hotel Dolomitenhof and finishing at the top of the Croda Rossa Gondola.
Shop my via ferrata gear essentials
Black Diamond Helmet
Rockfall is a significant concern on via ferrata routes. Unbeknownst to you, other climbing groups above you may accidentally dislodge a small rock and send it down the mountain. If it hits you on the head, it could have serious consequences. A helmet on your head (not inside your backpack) is necessary.
Shop on: Amazon (Worldwide) / Backcountry (US)
Black Diamond Momentum Harness
Another must-have on a via ferrata route is a climbing harness. A harness works as an anchor point for your via ferrata lanyard. Try it before your trip to ensure it fits snugly without limiting your movements. Aim for a lightweight harness that will be comfortable to wear between the cable-protected sections when hiking.
- Shop Women’s on Amazon (Worldwide) / Backcountry (US)
- Shop Men’s on Amazon (Worldwide) / Backcountry (US)
Edelrid, Camp or Black Diamond Via Ferrata Lanyard
A via ferrata lanyard connects the climber and their harness to the cables along the route. Its two arms and a hidden extra coil work as an energy absorption system in case of a fall. The two carabiners at the end of the lanyard clip into the cable. Make sure the carabiners are equipped with the palm squeeze mechanism. It’s the safest and most comfortable.
Shop on Amazon (Worldwide) / Backcountry (US)
Black Diamond Crag Gloves
The gloves protect your hands from cuts and scratches you may otherwise get if you haul yourself on the cable without them. I prefer full-finger gloves for extra protection against blisters. If your hands sweat quickly, go for the fingerless version.
Shop on: Amazon (Worldwide) / Backcountry (US)
Salewa Wildfire Edge Approach Shoes
This is my go-to pair of hiking shoes for more accessible trails or via ferrata, where I don’t need extra ankle support. They provide excellent grip on the rock and are very durable.
Shop on: Amazon (Worldwide) / Backcountry (US)
Reeloq Smartphone Securing System
If you want to take great photos on a via ferrata without worrying about losing your phone, Reeloq is the best tool for it. It’s a smartphone-securing system that allows you to use your phone on any adventure. This has been a great addition to my tool arsenal.
Shop on: REELOQ
TIP: You can also rent via ferrata gear in sports shops in town. Look for places on Google Maps called Noleggio.
Other hikes and via ferratas near Sesto
- Via ferrata Severino Casara
- Via ferrata Croda Rossa
- Via ferrata Roghel & Cengia Gabriela
- Croda Fiscalina Circuit
- Dürrenstein Summit
More travel and hiking resources in the Dolomites
- Photography spots in the Italian Dolomites
- Regions in the Italian Dolomites
- Itineraries for the Italian Dolomites
- Via ferratas in the Italian Dolomites
- Day hikes in the Italian Dolomites
- Hut-to-hut treks in the Italian Dolomites
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
Thank you for all of your wonderful information. After looking at the map, I was hoping to do Via Ferrata Strada Degli Alpini and book a stay in Zsigmondy. On day 2, do Innerkofler to Locatelli hut and do Torre Di Toblin as well. If we can’t get a spot at Locatelli, would it be too much to hike back to Val Fiscalina?
Hi Holly. There is no need to hike back out the same way. From Locatelli you can hike back to the start via Val Sassovecchio. It is a part of the Croda Fiscalina circuit.
I’d suggest that on day 2 you start with the Innerkofler Via ferrata and see by what time you make it to Locatelli. If you get there early enough to do VF Torre Di Toblin then go for it. If it will be already an afternoon then just start hiking down. You will need ca. 2-2.5 hours to hike down from Locatelli through Val Sassovecchio to Hotel Dolomitenhof, where you can catch a bus to your car.
Hi Marta, I’m trying to follow this route you have detailed here very nicely with my 2 children, age 8 and 10, with overnight stop at Zsignmondy. We have never done this via ferrata before, do you think this is too much for my kids? They are sporty kids but at the same time i can’t tell if this might be dangerous. We will be doing this on July 31 this summer, really in only 2 months time! Thanks for any advice!
Hi Debbie. Thanks for visiting and for your kind words. I am sorry but I cannot give you a straight answer. I have seen very young kids on via ferratas with their parents and they were usually roped up to their parents for extra security. Kids are forgetful and for the lack of better words sloppy, so I think extra rope is an excellent idea.
Another issue is the height. Some kids may have difficulties reaching higher sections, whilst this via ferrata is beginner and the footholds are really good along the way, there are some very quite sections too.
As I said I simply cannot give you a straight answer, because I have never met your kids, nor do I know their abilities. I would highly recommend that you hire a guide, especially if you have never done a via ferrata before.
I hope you have a wonderful time in the Dolomites!
Hi, Marta! Looking forward to doing the Tre Cime Traverse in June. I’ve booked our rifugios and am planning out our hikes. I see that you have the time to try this Via Ferrata is July-October. Do you think it’d be too snowy to try strada degli alpini out in mid-June and instead go for Val Fiscalina trailhead and do the 3-4 h hike?
Hi Stephen. Thanks for visiting. In the last few year the snow has been melting a lot faster, in general most snow is gone, but there are still a few passages that almost never see the sun where it remains for a lot longer. I did this ferrata once at the start of July (In 2019) and we had to cross a few dozen meters wide snow field. A rope has been placed there by trail maintanance to help cross that field, but a little slip would send one tumbling down a massive cliff. You can see a photo of this snow field in the description (under stage 2)
Hi Marta,
Thank you very much for your detailed trip reports, these are so helpful for planning my own trip, and I hope to support your website when booking through the affiliate links above assuming these are still active 🙂 A question if you’re able to answer – do you know if it’s possible to get from R. Comici to R. Carducci by a path other than the via ferrata? Thank you and best wishes,
Audrey
Hi Audrey. Thanks for your great feedback. I appreciate you using the links. Yes they still work.
You can hike to Comici along the Croda Fiscalina Circuit trail and then once at Comici hike towards Rifugio Carducci on trail no. 103 over Giralba Saddle. This is the path you would follow if you want to reach Via Ferrata Severino Casara Between Comici and Carducci there is no via ferrata.
Alternatively you can hike to Carducci from Giralba through Giralba Valley. This approach is a lot quieter. It’s no. 8 on the list of best hikes in my post about Tre Cime Nature Park.
Thanks for your reviews and information it has been very helpful. I was just double checking my route. We want to go from Croda Rossa Gondola which opens at 8am, Via Ferratta Strade Delgi Alpini to Refugio Pian di Cengia onwards to Rifugio locatelli by via Ferrata innerkofler all by 7pm or earlier ideally. Do you think this is possible? If there is time we may add – Mitti di Mezzo summit.
Thanks again!
Hi Brian. Yes, I presume you are fit people so it is doable. This would be the estimate for my own speed. VF Strada Degli Alpini from Croda Rossa to rif. Zsigmondy – 5 hours. Zsigmondy to Locatelli across VF Innerkofler 4-4.5 hours. Of course everyone is different and it is hard to say for me what your speed is. I am not the fastest nor the slowest, I would consider my speed average. 🙂 I hope that helps!