Il Parco delle Fucine di Casto (Brescia, Valle Sabbia) è a unique park in Italy: at free entrance, it gathers on a few walls over fifteen equipped routes, as well as hiking, mountain biking, zip line, suspended bridges and refreshments. The streets are largely atletic and little climbable, excellent for l' training; the difficult ` ranges from an easy way to vertical and very demanding tracks.
▲Approach
Starting from the ' ample parking along the park, at Casto. From the center of the village take left (south) via Marconi which, with clear indications, leads to the Parco delle Fucine in about a kilometer. Open road signs on Google Maps. Parking is just a few steps from the entrance (free); from here you can see some streets (the Strega Colpo, the Arcobaleno) and at least one suspended bridge. The times of approach to the individual attacks range from a few minutes up to about 15 minutes in the most distant ways, towards the Strait of Luina.
▲The equipped routes
Each path has development to itself and signalled attack; below a faithful picture of length, difference in level and character.
Ferrata 1 (House of Witches, on Corna Zana, near the parking lot): 115 m, height difference 28 m. Dedicated diagonal traverse and horizontal beams exposed, with brackets and pioli on polished rock.
Ferrata 2: 61 m, height difference 23 m. The least challenging of the park, on beams with good supports and a vertical variant; ideal for starting.
Ferrata 3: 152 m, height difference 78 m. Long and challenging, with long beams on very smooth rock (strong traction on the cable) and vertical aerial traits.
Ferrata 4: 60 m, height difference 49 m. Vertical, with first challenging and slightly overhanging meters and an aerial edge; higher climbing part.
Ferrata 5 «Vertigo»: 40 m, height difference 25 m. Verticality, slightly overhanging brackets and a challenging overhanging passage; ends at a suspended bridge of about 30 m.
Ferrata 6 «Tasso»: 28 m, altitude difference 25 m. Short: initial crossing, overhanging stretch with brackets; at the end you cross the bridge suspended on the Strait of Luina.
Ferrata 7: 60 m, height difference 28 m. Follow us downhill from the suspended bridge; adrenaline exposed edge and tiring vertical descent, up to join Ferrata 8.
Ferrata 8: 68 m, height difference 47 m. Impegnative, with key passage on dark and polished wall of 4-5 m and marine scale final.
Ferrata 9: 68 m, height difference 47 m. Adjacent to 8, with a demanding vertical tear up to the common sea scale.
Ferrata 10: 60 m, elevation difference 46 m. Diagonal copper, exposed beams and challenging vertical passages alternating with terraces.
Ferrata 11: 58 m, dislivello 45 m. Tra le più dure del parco: parete giallastra verticale e strapiombante, variante verticale estrema e forte esposizione.
Ferrata 12: 65 m, dislivello 28 m. Spigolo, canalino e un passo strapiombante; sale un gendarme (bandiera in vetta), con rientro per un ponte sospeso di quasi 40 m piuttosto ballerino.
Ferrata 12 bis: 46 m, dislivello 26 m. Attacco subito verticale e strapiombante, ponte delle scimmie di circa 8 m, poi si innesta sulla Ferrata 12.
Ferrata 14 «Edera»: 44 m, dislivello 36 m. Diedro tecnico e piacevole, poi un ponte sospeso a 4 corde di circa 35-40 m e un secondo ponte più stabile.
Ferrata 15: 125 m, dislivello 23 m. Prevalentemente in traverso lungo il torrente, con ponti sospesi e un ponte delle scimmie; senza difficoltà particolari ma talvolta scivolosa.
Colpo della Strega (sopra il parcheggio): 45 m, dislivello 38 m. Verticale, tecnica e difficile, su roccia levigata povera di appigli che sollecita molto le braccia.
Arcobaleno: 55 m, dislivello 38 m. Privilegia l'arrampicata su pioli e prese sferiche (cavo «alla francese»), con spigolo aereo e passaggio strapiombante assistito.
Dragone (Grotta del Dragone): 240 m, sviluppo 50 m. Meno verticale, di fatto un sentiero attrezzato con scala marinara e un lungo ponte sospeso, che tocca gli attacchi delle vie 11, 10, 9, 8, 7 e quelle 5, 6 e 14.
Stretta di Luina: percorso prevalentemente orizzontale, quasi al pelo dell'acqua nella forra del torrente; non difficile ma scivoloso, con ponti su tronchi e ponti delle scimmie.
▲Character and difficulty
The park offers a wide range: from easy Ferrata 2 and the Dragon to extremely athletic and overhanging routes (Ferrata 11, Vertigo, Colpo della Strega). The rock is often smoothed and undressed, with frequent traction on the cable; numerous suspended bridges and monkey bridges, exposed but fun.
⚠ Many routes are physically demanding and little climbing, not suitable for neophytes (except Ferrata 2 and Dragon). Helmet and hardware set are indispensable; attention to the slippery bottom in the holes and swinging bridges. Choose the route based on your training.
▲Discipline
Almost all routes fall for sentiero (usually holding the right at the end). The routes 5, 6 and 14 and 7-8 use the bridges suspended on the Strait of Luina; the 12 and the 12 bis fall through the suspension bridge of almost 40 m at the tower. The times are short given the proximity to the parking lot.
▲Period and safety
The best periods are the mezze season; the itineraries can also be covered d' winter, except in snowy periods. Being at low altitude, in the middle of summer some walls exposed to the sun are very warm.
Technical data
- DifficultyFrom Easy to Extremely Hard
- RegionLombardy
- ProvinceBrescia
- GroupPrealps Bresciane
- Approach5-15 min
- Fully equippedover 15
- EntryFree
- PeriodHalf seasons (also winter except snow)
