During my first season in the Dolomites, I scrambled along many beginner and intermediate via ferratas. However, upon my return the following year, I felt ready for a tougher challenge. Luckily, with circa 700 routes in the Dolomites alone, there is no shortage of via ferratas suiting all abilities.
Best Advanced Via Ferratas In The Dolomites
If I were to compare advanced via ferratas to beginner and intermediate ones, the main differences would be the exposure and length.
Many advanced via ferratas in the Dolomites end at summits reaching over 3000 meters, and the cable-protected section runs for a few hundred or even over a thousand meters.
TIP: Are you new to iron paths? Make sure to jump to my beginner’s guide!
The map of the advanced via ferrata routes in the Dolomites
I created a map to help you better visualise where each via ferrata is located. Click on individual icons, and a window will pop up with the name, photo and a link to an article describing each advanced via ferrata.
For your information, the via ferratas marked with yellow icons are still on my adventure-to-do list, and I will write about them soon.
1. Via ferrata Bolver Lugli
Roundtrip Distance: 10 kilometres / 6.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 1220 meters / 4000 feet
Time Required: 5-6 hours
If I were to pick my favourite advanced via ferrata, I think via ferrata Bolver Lugli would make it to the top of my list.
Via ferrata Bolver Lugli stretches along the western face of the Pale di San Martino group, high above the little town of San Martino di Castrozza in the southern part of the Italian Dolomites.
The route starts at the top of the Col Verde gondola station, and after a short approach, it goes straight into the scrambling business. It’s the most fun you will have in a long time. The higher you climb, the better the views get, ending with a section of some dramatic spires.
2. Via ferrata Pössnecker (Mesules)
Roundtrip Distance: 18 kilometres / 11.2 miles
Elevation Gain: 890 meters / 2920 feet
Time Required: 6-8 hours
Currently, 114 years old (as of 2024), via ferrata Pössnecker is one of the oldest iron path routes in the Dolomites, predating World War I.
The route runs up the western face of the Sella Group and takes you to the little summit of Piz Selva. From here, you can see for kilometres ahead into the moon-like landscape of the Sella massif.
There is significant exposure along some of the ferrata section, including a narrow gully, which you must climb through unprotected. Luckily, some iron steps have been added to make it easier and slightly safer. A rush of adrenaline is guaranteed.
The long descent is compensated by two lovely local restaurants waiting for you at the end, where you can taste the local Dolomiti cuisine and give your legs and knees a well-deserved rest.
3. Via ferrata Giovanni Lipella
Roundtrip Distance: 16 kilometres / 9.94 miles
Elevation Gain: 1100 metres / 3608 feet
Time Required: 6-8 hours
The culmination of this ferrata is the 3225-meter-high summit of Tofana di Rozes. However, before you get there, the completion of a few hundred-meter-long subterranean tunnels, followed by a series of steep ledges and a vast amphitheatre of rock (pictured above), awaits you.
This is one of many via ferratas established during World War I for military reasons. In the last century, the original wooden ladders were replaced with metal cables and rods, turning them into adventure playgrounds.
Most of the via ferrata Giovanni Lipella faces north, making it accessible only within a 3-month window between July and September. Venture anytime before or after that; you might run into a lot of snow or encounter icy conditions.
4. Via ferrata Degli Alleghesi
Roundtrip Distance: 15.5 kilometres / 9.6 miles*
Elevation Gain: 1700 metres / 5580 feet*
Time Required: 8-10 hours*
* From Col Dei Baldi Gondola in Alleghe
Monte Civetta is the 6th highest peak in the Italian Dolomites. Its western face is a sheer 90 degrees and a 1000-meter-high wall. It looks terrifying from afar. Luckily, the via ferrata Degli Alleghesi runs on the other eastern side of the mountain. Though still pretty steep, it’s scalable by mere mortals who want to reach the summit of Monte Civetta.
This ferrata requires an overnight hut stay and some planning ahead, but will reward you with jaw-dropping 360-degree vistas, enough adventure to brag about to your friends for the next few months, and a lifetime of memories. For me, the latter is something you can never put a price tag on.
5. Via ferrata Bocchette Alte
Distance: 14 kilometres / 8.7 miles*
Elevation Gain: 790 metres / 2600 feet*
Time Required: 6-7 hours*
* From Rifugio Alimonta to Passo Grosté
Via ferrata Bocchette Alte is one of the classic routes in the lesser-known (at least on an international scale) Brenta group in the southwestern parts of the Italian Dolomites.
Unlike the previously mentioned advanced via ferratas, this one doesn’t end on the top of a mountain, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it—quite the opposite.
Connecting two mountain huts, Alimonta and Tuckett, most via ferrata Bocchette Alte runs just below 3000 meters along the eastern face of Cima Brenta. On a good weather day, you are graced with amazing views for the entirety of the way.
I scrambled along this route on my last day of a multiday traverse across the Dolomiti Brenta group, and I couldn’t imagine a better finale for this excursion.
6. Via Ferrata Laurenzi (Laurenzisteig)
Distance: 5 kilometres / 3.1 miles*
Elevation Gain: 532 metres / 1746 feet*
Time Required: 5-6 hours*
* From Rifugio Alpe Di Tires to Rifugio Antermoia (different approach options available)
The Laurenzi Iron Path is one of the six via ferratas in Rosengarten Nature Park. It traverses the Molignon ridgeline between two alpine huts: Alpe Di Tires and Antermoia.
This 5-hour advanced via ferrata provides excellent fun and great views of the Dolomites’ highest peak, Marmolada. If it weren’t for its length (there is a lot of time spent clipping into a cable), I would have said this was an intermediate route.
Due to the length of the via ferrata Laurenzi, I recommend planning an overnight stay in one of the huts I mentioned above. You can also complete this route as part of a multiday hut-to-hut traverse across the Rosengarten Nature Park.
7. Via Ferrata Roghel & Ciengia Gabriella
Roundtrip Distance: 26.5 kilometres / 16.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1750 meters / 5740 feet
Time Required: 12-14 hours
True solitude is hard to find in the Alps. The extensive alpine hut network, chairlifts and gondolas can sometimes be too much. So, if you are after solitude, the Roghel & Cengia Gabriella advanced via ferrata combo will deliver.
This is a long and very demanding route. It should only be attempted by those who feel comfortable on unprotected stretches.
The route runs between Rifugio Berti and Carducci in the Tre Cime Nature Park. An overnight stay in one (or both) of these huts is required. I’ve done this route as part of the 4-day Monte Popera Circuit, which includes four other via ferratas.
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.
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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
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!
Hey Marta. I am returning to the Dolomites late August and aim to tick off more ferratas from your expansive list. I would like to tackle an advanced ferrata after successfully completing beginner/intermediate ones in 2020.
From your list above, which do you recommend the most? We will be based primarily in Corvara, after completing a 3-day Rosengarten traverse. Perhaps there are some more intermediate ferratas that rank v.high on your list? I have already completed Sassolungo Oscar Shuster, Catinaccio d’Antermoia and a couple in Tre Cime di Lavaredo… do you recommend the Sass Rigais ferrata?
I’m leaning towards Via ferrata Pössnecker as it’s relatively close-by, and last time I didn’t venture into the Sella group. Any thoughts would be highly appreciated!
Hi Lewis! Thanks for stopping by. Via ferrata Brigata Tridentina is awesome and very close to Corvara, but it’s a busy one so you should go very early. Pössnecker is great too but getting back down is quite long and tiring for the legs. Via ferrata Giovanni Lipella won’t be too far from Corvara (but not super close like Brigata Tridentina) and it has some fantastic moments. The other two which I haven’t done yet but are very high on my list are: Punta Ana (close to Cortina) and Eterna Brigata Cadore to Punta Serauta. The latter is on Marmolada and given the recent events you would have to check if it’s still open. If you want a great Ferrata with an overnight stay in a fantastic and quirky refuge then try via ferrata Degli Alleghesi and book a night at rifugio Torrani! I am not sure if my answer was helpful or if it made it even more complicated for you 😀 do let me know if you have more questions!
Thanks so much for the response! We’ll be setting off at sunrise for Brigata Tridentina. I’ve been eyeing up Giovanni Lipella for a while now, but I wonder if it’s too much of an undertaking… is this one of your favourites? I’m up for giving it a go should the weather be on our side! We’ll probably be avoiding Marmolada given what’s happened recently. Degli Alleghesi is also another one I’ve been looking at for a while now, which do you prefer, that, or Giovanni Lipella? I know Degli Alleghesi requires an overnight stay so I’m not sure we’ll be able to fit it into our itinerary at the moment. Sorry if I missed it, but do you recommend via ferrata Sass Rigais and is it worth doing over any of the others mentioned? Thanks again 🙂
Hi Lewis. How did the Brigata Tridentina go?
I think I liked Degli Alleghesi more than Giovanni Lipella, but that is not to say I didn’t like the latter. On the contrary, If you go for Giovanni Lipella you will love it too. I also really like Bolver Lugli, because of all the photogenic spires along the way and the short approach. As for Sass Rigais. It’s a good one too, but not much climbing/scrambling on it and the route back is quite steep. Definitely not a favourite.
Sassongher is a great way in Corvara. Maybe give that one a go!