Via Ferrata Col Rodella, from Campitello di Fassa

Access

At Campitello di Fassa, instead of turning towards the Col Rodella cable car, turn the other way, towards the centre of the village. Follow the road towards the Malga Micheluzzi. There is a little ball on the right indicating the path to Pian.

Description

From Campitello we take trail 528/529 to Pian, which we follow until we reach a fork where we can decide whether to go left (trail 529) or right. We opted for trail 528. The path climbs steeply. The first 250m of ascent is a steady climb on a path that goes straight up through the forest.
Finally the climb gives us a break. We start climbing again and pass under the cables of the cable car, then over open meadows we follow the trail traces towards our destination. Beware that the path to the attack of the ferrata passes under the cable car. In 2013 it was not signposted. At the end of path 528 we find ourselves with the cable car on the right and a building on the left. We continue straight on past the cable car to the attack of the ferrata where we arrive after about 2hr30 from Pian.

The ferrata is short (about 30 minutes) and moderately difficult. There are several sections where you have to use the cable, either because the rock is smooth or because the "step" you have to take is too long so you have to hoist yourself up by holding on to the metal cable. The most delicate part is when you come out of the sequence of steps and find yourself facing a smooth wall to be climbed in adherence. When you reach the end of the ferrata, you descend along an easy road and can return to Campitello via path 529 and do the complete loop around Col Rodella. We had time and preferred to extend the hike and follow path no. 557, which goes around Sassolungo and Sassopiatto. It is an easy path but offers wonderful views. (It is therefore always a well-trodden path. Be careful if you want to walk it in high season). In less than 1hr30 we arrived at Rif Sassopiatto. We stopped for milk and yoghurt at the Sassopiatto alpine hut and then took trail 533 back to Campitello. At the well-marked junction we took the beautiful 'Sentiero Forestale' (forest path) to avoid going to the Malga Micheluzzi and then down the taxi-shuttle road. The forest path, on the other hand, leads further down, at the road we turn left, pass the Fraines hut, cross the bridge and continue straight on (to the left we go up to Pian) until we are back at the starting point.