Via Ferrata Torre Di Toblin was the first ever iron path I tackled, and it opened my world to new adventures. At the time, I approached the route with a little bit of naivety, and I bit more than I could chew. This is certainly not a beginner’s route, despite its short distance and elevation gain. In this article, I will give you tips on how to tackle it.
Total round-trip distance (excl. approach)
1.8 kilometres / 1.2 miles
Elevation gain (excl. approach)
100 meters / 328 feet
Difficulty
Intermediate (C)
Time required
1.5-2 hours
Overview of the via ferrata Torre di Toblin
Via Ferrata Torre di Toblin bears another official name – “delle Scalette”. However, everyone I met, including the staff at the nearby alpine hut, called it Torre di Toblin or Toblinger Knoten (German). The ferrata leads to the top of the mountain of the same name. The English translation is the Tower of Toblin.
Via ferrata Torre di Toblin is located in the Tre Cime Nature Park. Due to its close proximity to the Locatelli hut, which is by far the busiest alpine hut in the Dolomites, you can expect quite a few people there. For that reason, I recommend starting as early as possible.
The origins of Via ferrata Torre Di Toblin date back to the First World War. The Austrian soldiers used the summit of Torre Di Toblin as an observation post.
Did you know? More Italian and Austrian soldiers died from exposure, starvation, and avalanches during the Mountain War of 1915-17 than in actual combat.
The map & elevation profile
Important info about the via ferrata Torre di Toblin
Via Ferrata Torre di Toblin starts near Rifugio Locatelli. The hut lies in the heart of the Tre Cime Nature Park and is a popular destination among hikers. There are many routes you can take to reach it (through the Fiscalina Valley, the Sassovecchio Valley, the Campo Di Dentro Valley, or along the Tre Cime circuit). I enlisted them in my guide to Tre Cime Nature Park. The fastest way is to follow the Tre Cime Circuit trail.
A lot of the route faces North and can be prone to icing, so make sure to monitor weather conditions the day and night before you set off.
When to go: Mid June to October
Via ferrata exposition: north, east
Map required: Tabacco Map no. 10 (Dolomiti di Sesto)
Highest point: 2564 meters / 8412 feet
Getting there
As mentioned before, there is more than one approach route to Rifugio Locatelli. The quickest and easiest way to reach it is to follow the Tre Cime Circuit counterclockwise. The trail starts at Rifugio Auronzo. You can reach it via a private toll road or by public transport, which departs from Misurina, Dobiacco, or Cortina d’Ampezzo.
By bus
If you are staying in Dobiacco (Toblach), take bus no. 444 from the train station to Auronzohütte. The journey time is 50 minutes.
If you stay in Misurina, walk to the Abzweigung Misurina or the Misurina—Genzianella bus stop. Those are two of the bus stops along the 444 bus route (ca. 20 min)
Use the Sued Tirol Mobil site to check the bus times for the first two options.
From Cortina d’Ampezzo, look for schedules on this website by typing Cortina as your starting point and Rifugio Auronzo as your endpoint (ca. 1 hour)
By car
The Auronzo hut is accessible via a 7-kilometre-long toll road. The toll varies depending on vehicle size (40-60 Euros).
The road is open from the end of May through the end of October, depending on weather conditions. This means it can open or close on short notice, for example, when snow or ice remains on the ground.
Since summer 2025, it is necessary to reserve a parking spot at the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo parking lot.
Stages of the via ferrata Torre di Toblin
The approach:
If you choose to follow the Tre Cime circuit for the approach, you will start the hike from Rifugio Auronzo on path no. 101, along the south face of Tre Cime. It first goes to the Lavaredo hut and then across the Lavaredo saddle. You should reach the Locatelli Hut in ca. 1,5 hours. The whole circuit has 9.9 km
Alternatively, you can hike to Locatelli hut using the Croda Fiscalina Circuit trail, which is one of my personal favourite day hikes in the Dolomites. It’s a much longer hike (19.2 km / 11.9 mi) with triple the elevation gain of the Tre Cime Circuit, but with a lot fewer people.
TIP: If you follow the second option, I recommend staying overnight in one of the alpine huts and adding the Innerkofler via ferrata to your adventure.
Via Ferrata:
Don’t let the mere 100 meters of elevation gain fool you. It was the very first via ferrata I did in the Dolomites, and I thought it would be my last.
As luck would have it, we experienced a decent snowfall a couple of nights before, and the melting snow froze overnight. Because the route faces north, it hardly sees any sun—the perfect recipe for icy conditions.
Via ferrata Torre di Toblin starts directly behind the Locatelli hut and is marked with signs. For the first 20 minutes, walk up to a small saddle, from which you get a clear view of Torre di Toblin straight ahead of you. I remember looking at it for the first time and telling myself that I was crazy to even think I could make it to the top.
You then loop clockwise around the tower, along the narrow ledge to its north side. Torre di Toblin will be on your right-hand side the whole time. Eventually, you’ll come to a halt and notice a set of cables going straight up.
The challenge is about to begin. This is where you can put on your harness and attach your lanyard. The first few meters already set the bar high, with a literal vertical climb, supported by a few metal ladders. After navigating gullies and using ladders and holds for around 40 minutes, I made it to the top, relieved and in one piece. Considering I had zero prior ferrata experience, I thought I did well. Today, after tackling dozens of other routes, I know it certainly wasn’t the best choice for my first via ferrata.
The descent:
The descent is along the eastern wall and takes only 45 minutes. It’s also A LOT easier than the way up, and some people choose this as the ascent and descent route. However, I wouldn’t recommend doing this because it can create traffic, and passing people when attached to a cable can be dangerous.
Overnight stay & dining possibilities
If you are using the Tre Cime circuit as your approach route, you can have lunch at either Rifugio Lavaredo, Rifugio Locatelli or Malga Langalm. Refer to my Tre Cime Circuit article for distances.
If you plan for a longer adventure along the Croda Fiscalina Circuit, then I recommend either Rifugio Zsigmondy or Pian Di Cengia as your overnight base.
TIP: You can also tackle the via ferrata Torre di Toblin as part of Alta Via 4 or Tre Cime Nature Park traverse. Both are overnight backpacking trips.
Where to stay nearby
If you want to tackle the via ferrata Torre di Toblin, I recommend choosing either Cortina d’Ampezzo or San Candido in the Puster Valley (right next to Dobiacco) as your base. Both are fantastic tourist destinations with plenty to see and do. Below are a couple of my hotel recommendations in either town.
TIP: If you book your hotel through my links, you support my website and incur no additional cost. It doesn’t have to be the one I recommend. Thank you.
San Candido
This hotel has excellent value for money. Rooms are very clean and have balconies overlooking the mountains. The town centre is within walking distance, and the hotel staff is very friendly.
Cortina d’Ampezzo
This hotel offers affordable luxury. It is in a great location in Cortina, close to the centre yet far enough away to enjoy the peace and quiet on your holiday. The up-to-date spa is an additional bonus.
Other hikes and via ferratas nearby
Travel resources for the Dolomites
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.
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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.
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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
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
Thank you
We plan to either park or hike from Lake Anotorno for our night at Rifugio Locatelli. I know if we want to do Ferrata Innerkofler, it is recommended to hike clockwise? But then I read the best views are counter clockwise?
Does it make sense to hike from Lake Antorno – Cadini Viewpoint – Rifugio Locatelli (snack/break) – Ferrata Innerkofler then loop back to Rifugio Locatelli – Dinner/Sunset/Sleep – Breakfast – Ferrata Toblin – continue Counter Clockwise to Rifugio Auronzo and back to our car at Lake Antorno? Thank you!!! 🙂
Hi Rachel. YEs, your plan makes sense too. You can already leave some of your luggage in Locatelli before you head back out on the Innerkofler ferrata. I hope that helps
Hello! What time of the year did you do this via ferrata? Thank you.
Hi Marianne. I did this via ferrata twice. Once in the second half of August (after a snowy night) and once in the first week of July when hiking Alta Via 4.
Hello,
Excellent website and advice. How easy is it to buy or rent the via Ferrata lanyard in the area? We brought some of our climbing gear (harness, slings, carabiners, helmets) but do not have a proper lanyard. After seeing the images I am starting to think we will need one.
Thanks for all your advice.
Hi Katja. You can definitely rent via ferrata lanyard in Cortina. They also sell them there. There are a plenty of sports shops in Cortina D’Ampezzo. And yes lanyard is a must have on a via ferratas, a staple really 🙂
Hi,
we have found your guides incredibly useful while researching and hiking through the Dolomites! Quick question, we just completed Ferrata Punta Anna which we were told was an “easy” step up from a beginner to intermediate Ferrata. We found it super exposed, very long, and not very easy! Have you done this one? I can’t find a common grading of it… if you have done it, how would you compare it to toblin?
Hi Jeff. Thanks for your great feedback. No I haven’t done Punta Ana yet, but from what I know and read this is one of the hardest via ferratas in the Dolomites, so you have been clearly misguided by someone. I think the grading for Punta Ana is D. It’s definitely advanced. Torre Di Toblin is very short but there are a few tricky sections, however it will definitely be a step down in difficulty level from Punta Ana. Torre Di Toblin was my very first via ferrata ever.
Thanks so much for your reply!!
🫣🫣🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️🫢🫢🫢
Oh my… well that would be the gentleman at La Cooperativa di Cortina… maybe he is sick of travelers! Glad I’m not going crazy, it definitely felt VERY advanced, honestly it was downright scary… We were thinking, “jeez if this one is easy we are done for if we try an intermediate!” Thanks again!
No worries. What I learnt over the years is to take the local’s advice with a grain of salt, especially when they say something is ‘very easy’. They grow up in these mountains. Their perception of what’s hard and what is easy is very different to tourists. I am sure he meant no harm, but at the same time he should have definitely known better.
Hi
If you had time to do only one via ferrata, Which one would you do?
Torre di Toblin or De Luca/Innerkofler? Or maybe some other one in the area.
Thanks
Lubo
Hi Lubo. Personally I preferred Torre Di Toblin. As for another one in the area that I liked even more are Merlone and Strada Degli Alpini. You can find both in via ferrata guide.
Hello,
We will be staying two nights in Zsigmondy hut this summer. Are there any A/B via ferrata from that hut?
Thanks for your advice!
Alison
Hi Allison. Thanks for stopping by. You can reach the Zsigmundy hut by doing the via ferrata Strada Degli Alpini. It is long, but technically very easy. The views along the ferrata are stunning. I have a guide for it in my VF section of the Italian Dolomites guide. Another one is via ferrata Innerkofler/De Luca, close to rifugio Locatelli and around 2 hour hike from rifugio Zsigmundy. There is also a ferrata around Croda Dei Toni called 12er. I have not done it myself yet, but it’s on my list. You can do it as a circuit from the hut. I recommend that you get the Tabacco map of the Sesto Dolomites (no.10) Let me know if that helps!