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Review of the Route
Introduction:
This easy via ferrata can be considered the only one of its kind in Italy. It retraces a gorge in itself arduous to those who do not practice canyoning, crosses tunnels under bridges and forces the hiker to make do to reach the start. The scenarios that offers the gorge deserve the fatigue to reach it and follow it. We recommend leaving early in the morning to enjoy the best light on the way.
Starting location:
The starting point is near Rocca San Zenone in the province of Terni. Reached the town continue for about 2.5 km along the SP 67 until you reach a sharp bend to the left where there is a large parking lot and an abandoned structure. It is best to park the car.
Directions for Google Maps available here.
Approach:
Take the dirt road that descends to the right following some CAI signs. You reach a bridge that crosses the via ferrata and on the right you follow the path. We will find ourselves having the river on our left and the via ferrata on our right. You will have to go back down towards the river trying to find the difficult track. Once you have reached the river, you must go along it for about 30 minutes. In this section a pair of gloves and a shears can be useful to open a gap between the brambles. Near a tunnel over which the via ferrata passes, the via ferrata begins (approximately 1 hour from the car park based on the difficulty of the progression).
Via Ferrata:
The via ferrata starts stretching out on a couple of tunnels of which the second is more difficult. There is the aid of some metal equipment on which to rest the feet. Leaving the second tunnel (three in total), you start climbing on moss-covered rock, which is then made slippery by the humidity present. The via ferrata continues in the gorge between cables and metal equipment. The ferrata ends (1h 15 'from the start - approximately 2h 15' from the parking lot) with clear blue signs where you can choose whether to finish and go up towards the provincial road with the aid of some ropes that go up the wall, or if you continue along the stream (see Opportunities below).
return:
Go up the ropes near the blue signs until you reach the paved road ascending towards our car (3h total).
Notes:
If you walk in spring or winter you have to consider that you will bathe your feet abundantly in different places. It is also advisable to wear gloves and tools to cut the brambles. If carried out in late summer, the river bed will probably be dry and therefore it will be easier. On one side the gorge deserves to be crossed with water, on the other it will get wet. The choice for the hiker.
In the middle of the itinerary we report an escape route marked with blue paint.
Opportunities:
If at the end of the via ferrata (blue signs) you decide to continue, you will have to continue along the stream until you meet a Tibetan bridge to cross. From that point, continue until you reach obvious red signs that will take you back to the via ferrata via an aided path. From there it runs along the tracks until it reaches a cockpit towards which the red arrows indicate to enter. Go down the ladder and continue in the direction of the village of Rocca San Zenone from which you will then have to return to the car. This itinerary is to be considered 5h to which must be added the ascent from Rocca San Zenone to the car (at least 1 h for a total of at least 6 h).
Alpine Guides available for this Via Ferrata
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Evaluation of the Itinerary
- Technical difficulties
1/5
- Environmental difficulties:
3/5
- Exposure:
1/5
- Physical commitment:
2/5
Route details
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Approach: 1:00 h
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Ferrata: 1:15 h
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Itinerary: 3:00 h
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Ferrata height difference: 40 m
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Route difference: 200 m
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Max altitude: 280 m
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Length: 2.5 Km
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Andrew
04/10/2019 at 18:09Abbiamo percorso questo itinerario diverso dal solito e ci siamo divertiti. Il cavo non è in buone condizioni e la roccia molto scivolosa, specie se si percorre la ferrata in giornate umide. Consiglio di farla comunque con l’acqua presente nella gola (durante l’estate la gola è completamente secca e si puo’ raggiungere l’attacco direttamente seguendo il corso del fiume). Presenza di un ponte tibetano,di una discesa in un pozzo tipo cunicolo e alla fine una lunga e buia galleria che ci porta all’uscita a Rocca San Zenone. Torcia indispensabile per quest’ultimo tratto. La consiglio a chi vuole fare un po’ di pratica in ambienti diversi dal consueto. Per trovare l’attacco ci vuole un cane da tartufi…non seguite i puntini rossi sugli alberi,sono fuorvianti.
Alex Step by step
26/09/2019 at 11:31Sunday 22nd (taking all the rain)
Parked near the fountain, beginning of the Tibetan bridge, the cables are almost all loose, some fixes are skipped, there are dots lined with 10mm rope (cable + rope) With rain so much mud and much slips.
I am attaching a GPS track (perhaps not very precise, due to loss of signal in the tunnels) https://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=hzkeriyejkcybvje
Gianpietro
15/08/2019 at 11:56No technical difficulty is easy but interesting
The environment is very beautiful, the gorges of the greenhouse, we stopped in a small natural pool to bathe ... for those who appreciate the genre in Trento or there is the Rio Sallagoni via ferrata
The only difficulty is getting to the start of the via ferrata.
https://it.wikiloc.com/percorsi-via-ferrata/gole-del-serra-ferrata-26979707 (Greenhouse gorges - ferrata) en #wikiloc
mariomossone43
21/07/2019 at 15:41Traveled on 20/7/19. Not difficult via ferrata with a delicate point consisting of a protrusion of the rock that overlooks the ground below, about 2 meters away; a rope with some knots helps to overcome this unique difficulty.
This via ferrata should be valued for the splendid environment in which it extends but the approach path is in shameful conditions. The almost total absence of signs combined with the presence of shrubs and brambles (which in some places do not even indicate the direction of the path) require great attention. It is therefore necessary to obtain pruning shears, gloves and lots of patience to get to the start.
Unfortunately, even the availability of a track does not help much due to the difficulty of picking up satellite signals.
The blue signs indicating the end of the via ferrata are rather discolored and not easily visible; the ascent is quite tiring and, even if in many places the ropes help to climb, it is necessary to pay a lot of attention to reach the asphalt road above.
The alternative of getting to the start along the bed of the stream is certainly more interesting (and shorter) but is feasible only with long boots or in dry conditions.
Regarding travel times, under current conditions it is necessary to consider a time of at least 90 minutes to reach the start.
Edward Raspa
17/06/2019 at 19:24Very suggestive via ferrata in the middle of the Serra gorges, we encountered some difficulties to find the path both in entrance and exit due to the few signs and the luxuriant vegetation. (I advise getting a machete)
Francis
17/06/2019 at 17:15Ferrata very funny, recommended in the summer (May-July) to enjoy the view of pools and waterfalls of the stream. The only flaw, the CAI signage is a bit confusing due to red marks left by passing hikers.
To find the correct track I struggled a bit, here you can find the right path:
https://it.wikiloc.com/percorsi-via-ferrata/anello-ferrata-gole-del-serra-tracciato-cai-acquapalombo-umbria-terni-37718645
Filippo Rosi
28/03/2019 at 15:10Impressive environment and signs to the minimum make this trip a bit special. In his a bit of an adventure ...