Via ferratas Masarè and Roda di Vaèl are exciting iron paths in the Rosengarten Nature Park in the Dolomites. They can be tackled separately or together. This was one of the via ferratas which I tackled on my multiday traverse through the Rosengarten group, but the route can also be done as a day trip. This is the account of my experience, along with tips and info on the route.
Total round-trip distance (excl. approach)
5.4 kilometres/ 3.2 miles
Elevation gain (excl. approach)
405 meters / 1330 feet
Difficulty
Intermediate (B/C)
Time required
3-4 hours
Overview of the via ferratas Masarè and Roda Di Vaèl
Masarè and Roda di Vaèl is a via ferrata combo located in the Rosengarten group in the Italian Dolomites. Even though the routes connect and can be done together in half a day, you can also just choose to tackle one or the other.
Both via ferratas have excellent setups, with plenty of cables and iron rods. The scrambling is straightforward and should pose no real problems, but the exposure can be significant at times. A head for heights will be useful. Small children might have trouble reaching some of the footholds on this route.
The Rosengarten Nature Park is an excellent mountain group for a hut-to-hut traverse. You can tackle six different via ferrata routes over five days and see other highlights of the Rosengarten group, including the famous Vajolet towers and stay overnight in one of my favourite huts – Rifugio Alpe Di Tires. Via ferratas Masarè and Roda di Vaèl come right on the first day of the traverse.
The map & elevation profile of via ferratas Masarè and Roda Di Vaèl
- Yellow: Via Ferratas Masarè and Roda di Vaèl
- Blue: Approach from Rifugio Paolina to Rifugio Roda di Vaèl
- Red: Early escape route from Passo Vajolon to Rifugio Paolina
TIP: Click on the individual trail, and a window will open showing the name, distance, and elevation gain for each route.
Important info about the via ferratas
The accessibility of via ferratas Masarè and Roda di Vaèl corresponds with the Paolina chairlift opening times, which usually run from the end of May to mid-October. The route is east-facing and should be clear of snow by June, but you can always expect some small snowfields in shaded gullies at the start of the season.
When to go: June-mid-October
Via ferrata exposition: variable
Highest point: Roda di Vaèl 2806 meters / 9206 feet
Map required: Tabacco map no. 029 (Rosengarten) or Tabacco map no. 06 (Val Di Fassa)
Parking: Paolina chairlift
Start/end: Rifugio Roda di Vaèl
Nearest area: Val Di Fassa (Fassa Valley)
Getting there
The fastest and most logical way to reach the start of the via ferratas Masarè and Roda di Vaèl is to take the Paolina chairlift from Carezza to Rifugio Paolina, then continue on foot. The opening times and prices of the chairlift can be found here (click on the Carezza tab). During the summer, the lift operates from the end of May until around mid-October.
By bus
The bus stop for the Paolina chairlift, where the Rosengarten Traverse starts, is aptly named Paolina. Bus numbers 180, 184, and N180 operate on this route. Find the nearest bus stop to your accommodation by zooming in on it on Google Maps. Then, type in your point of departure and destination on the Südtirol Mobil website. If you are travelling from Bolzano, the journey takes approximately one hour.
By car
It takes 40 minutes to drive from Bolzano, the nearest city, to the bottom of the chairlift. If you are staying in any town in Val Di Fassa, you can reach the parking lot within 10-20 minutes. A parking area is at the bottom of the chairlift. It’s OK to leave your car there overnight as long as you are not camping in it
Stages of the via ferratas Masarè and Roda Di Vaèl
Approach: Rifugio Paolina to Rifugio Roda di Vaèl
From Rifugio Paolina, take path no. 539 and 549, which circle the southern end of the Rosengarten group. This is an easy walk with a gentle incline. You should reach Rifugio Roda di Vaèl within 40 minutes. The distance between Rifugio Paolina and Rifugio Roda di Vaèl measures 2 km (1.2 miles), and the elevation gain is 190 meters (620 feet).
Via Ferratas Masarè and Roda di Vaèl:
Follow the signs away from Rifugio Roda di Vaèl (2283m) posted for Via Ferrata Masarè and start heading uphill. Although there is a main path, desire paths scar the scree slopes and grassy plateaus. This part of the track gains elevation quickly and offers excellent views of the cliffs that you’ll soon be traversing. After roughly 1 hour, you’ll be switchbacking your way up to the first summit – the unnamed peak (2585m).
Once you reach the unnamed peak, the route undulates, quite severely at times, along several ledges. Cable use is extensive and necessary. Exposure is sometimes significant, but good handholds & iron rods have been well-positioned to aid scrambling.
When you get past a small hollowed-out cave filled with crucifixes and Mother Mary (trust me, I know how it sounds, welcome to Italy), you’re halfway on the first of the two ferratas. Soon, you will start a short descent to the fork. This fork marks the end of Via Ferrata Masaré.
TIP: At the fork, you can turn right and head back to Rifugio Rodi da Vaèl. This way, you will skip the second via ferrata.
Continue up gravel switchbacks until you reach the most exposed part of the trail: Forcella (saddle) del Diavolo. The face traverse (pictured above) at the Forcella connecting the Cresta de Masaré and Mount Roda di Vaél might look intimidating, but it is, in fact, not too demanding (if you’re a full-grown adult). There are plenty of good handholds, ladders, and well-placed iron rods. However, if heights scare you, you will find this section difficult.
This small section of the route strictly prohibits passing. If someone has already started on the wall, do not attempt to pass them. Let them finish and then proceed. Once you’re on the other side, you can sigh with relief. From here, the rest of the route to the summit of Roda di Vaèl (2806m) is switchbacks on an exposed, well-trodden scree face.
Descent:
The descent starts on the other side of the Roda di Vaèl summit. This part of the route is a protected hike used by non-via ferrata climbers to reach the summit of Roda di Vaèl. Due to its popularity and the proximity of the König Laurin and Paulina chairlifts, cable protection is prevalent.
TIP: Once you reach Passo Vajolon, you can descend on path no. 9 toward path no. 552, which leads to Paolina Hut (I marked this route in red on the map)
Overnight stay & dining possibilities
Rifugio Roda Di Vaèl (in German: Rotwandhütte (pictured above) is where you can have lunch or stay overnight, especially if you plan to tackle other via ferratas in the area. The hut was built at the Ciampaz saddle and is run by the Italian Alpine Club. The hut offers 59 beds spread across multiple rooms. The refuge is usually open from the start of June until mid-October (opening times vary from year to year and depend on snow conditions).
Where to stay nearby
Canazei, Vigo Di Fassa, Pozza di Fassa, Moena, or Campitello are just a few towns in the famous Fassa Valley in the Italian Dolomites. They all lie within a few minutes’ drive of one another and are great places to base yourself for exploring the trails in the Dolomites. If you are tackling Via Ferratas Masarè and Roda Di Vaèl as a day excursion, you can return to your hotel on the same day. Here are a couple of my recommendations for hotels in Val Di Fassa
Best Value
Self-catering apartments are only a 10-minute walk from the centre of Canazei in the Fassa Valley.
Top Rated
Locanda degli Artisti Art Hotel
This lovely hotel has a fantastic bar and restaurant. It is a great place for art lovers, and the hotel boasts some quirky art decorations.
Other activities in the Fassa Valley & the Rosengarten Nature Park
Hikes
- Piz Boé Summit
- Sassolungo Circuit
- Sella Group Traverse
- Vajolet Towers
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!
Hey Marta! Thanks for the detailed description of the “Via ferratas Masarè and Roda di Vaèl”. We’re really interested in doing this route during our upcoming trip to the Dolomites. I have quite a bit of outdoor climbing experience, but I would love to do this via ferrata together with two friends of mine. They are sporty and good hikers, but they don’t have any climbing/via ferrata experience. Do you think this route is doable? And are there any specific things we have to keep in mind when doing this with inexperienced climbers? Thanks a lot, and looking forward to your response!
Hi Emma. Thanks for visiting. Unfortunately I cannot give you a straight answer, because I simply don’t know your friends. I have taken plenty of my own friends who had zero via ferrata experience on routes that were slightly harder than this one and they did just fine. Via ferrata is not climbing (eve though it is often referred to as via ferrata climbing. Via ferrata is protected scrambling. No climbing experience is needed, but it certainly doesn’t hurt to have it. I am not a climber myself, have zero climbing experience, only via ferrata. You know your friends and their abilities best. I would also recommend that you check out my beginners guide to via ferratas in the Dolomites, maybe it will help.