Modern and equipped in an impeccable way, the Ferrata di Montorfano dates back to bastions of vertical and unspoilt gneiss, therefore rich in artificial fixtures. It is airy and exposed, with two suspended bridges, but the difficult passages are limited: overall it is short and medium commitment, which can be reached most of the year due to the modest share.
It starts from the municipality of Mergozzo (Verbano-Cusio-Ossola), Piedmontese side of Lake Maggiore. From the south, take the 'A26 to Gravellona Toce, exit Verbania, then to the left for Mergozzo; after a minute d' car, on the left, a street with place for 4-5 cars. Open road signs on Google Maps. On foot you will continue about 150 m towards Mergozzo to an asphalted road that climbs on the opposite side: it is the military road of the Montorfano, that to bends in the forest climbs for about 3 km passing next to an old abandoned barracks; the on-site signs bring in short all ' attack (about 1h from the parking lot).
The ferrata begins in the woods, next to a bench where to wear l'imbraco. It sticks with a couple of steps and a vertical wall very bracketed up to a panoramic terrace on the Toce valley and Lake Maggiore. It follows the strand of the edge up a slightly overhanging leap with excellent cambre, then a horizontal stretch of connection and an unequipped stretch. The road starts vertically on a beautiful wall, followed by an easy traverse to the left; after a panoramic pulpit you cross a very stable primo suspended bridge. It exits right on cambre for an easy but exposed traverse that begins to descend, always exposed but not difficult, until the second and longer suspension bridge, beyond which the ferrata ends (45' from the' attack, about 2h total).
By air with marked exposure but technical difficulties contained. Impeccable equipment.
Travelling most of the year, including winter, given the low altitude.
From the end of the ferrata continue on military mule track until a marked crossing (15'). Two options: go up to the peak of Montorfano (1h from the term, about 4h 30' total) or go down to the parking lot, retracing the approach path (1h 15' from the term, about 3h total).
On the Piedmontese shore of Lake Maggiore: easy Ferrata Picasass and the impegnative Ferrata La Miccia; to the north recent Ferrata Walserfall; to the west Ferrata della Falconera.
- DifficultyModerately Hard
- RegionPiedmont
- GroupAlps Lepontine
- Approach1:00 h
- Ferrata0:45 h
- Itinerary (a/r)3:00 h
- Hardware level differenceca 250 m
- Route differenceca 550 m
- Max794 m
- Lengthca 10 Km
