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Via Ferrata Gran Cir

The Gran Cir via ferrata offers hikers a chance to reach one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the Puez-Odle Nature Park in just a few hours without encountering any significant technical difficulty. From the 2,592-meter summit, you can take in the panorama of the Sella massif, Sassolungo, the Odle, and the surrounding valleys. This short, well-equipped, and easily accessible route is an excellent introduction to via ferrata.

Remarks

Parking: Parking at Passo Gardena is paid and fills up quickly during the high season. Indicative rates in 2025: €4 per hour for the first three hours, €2 per hour from the fourth to the ninth hour, and €0.50 per hour thereafter. The pass is also served by bus line 473 from Val Gardena and Val Badia.

Alternative access: From Selva di Val Gardena, the Dantercepies gondola drops you directly onto Trail 12A, shortening the approach by about 20 minutes.

Extension: The nearby Piccolo Cir also features a via ferrata that is shorter but significantly steeper and more technical. It's a great way to extend your outing and increase the difficulty after completing the Gran Cir.

Equipment: Many hikers tackle the via ferrata without gear, but the full kit (harness, lanyard, and helmet) is strongly recommended. A helmet is particularly essential due to the high foot traffic, which increases the risk of rockfalls from groups above.

Description and difficulties of the hike

From Passo Gardena, take the wide track that climbs north through the alpine pastures. It leads to Rifugio Jimmy in about fifteen minutes. At the refuge, turn onto Trail No. 12A, a wide, nearly flat path heading toward the Dantercepies gondola station. Keep an eye out on the right for a "Gran Cir" sign marking the start of the via ferrata trail.

The trail climbs steeply in switchbacks through a gully filled with loose rocks to the first cables. The via ferrata consists of two short equipped sections separated by a free section. The technical difficulty is minimal—the A rating corresponds to the easiest grade—but watch out for the slabs polished by heavy foot traffic, which are particularly slippery in wet weather. The cable mainly serves as a safety aid on exposed sections.

At the summit, which is marked by a large cross, you can enjoy a 360° panorama of the Sella massif, Sassolungo, the Odle, and the Alpe di Siusi. The descent follows the same route back to the base of the via ferrata. To change up the route and complete a loop, you can descend via an unnumbered trail that connects to Trail 12A further west.

What you'll love

The exceptional 360° panorama of the Sella massif, Sassolungo, and the Odle, achieved with moderate effort.
The ideal introduction to via ferrata: short and straightforward. It's perfect for getting familiar with the equipment before tackling more technical routes.
The quick access from Passo Gardena, making it ideal for a morning or late afternoon outing.