The Ferrata di Pietra Nera dates back to a curious mountain of dark ophiolitic rock in the Parmensi hills, a few kilometers from Salsomaggiore Terme. It is a short but surprisingly varied itinerary, divided into three sections with a completely different character; the modest quota (vetta at 677 m) makes it available practically throughout the year.
From Salsomaggiore Terme take the SP359 towards Bardi and turn right at the junction for the hamlet of Grotta (about 40' from the A1 toll of Salsomaggiore-Fidenza). Crossing the village, just before the deviation for Case di Pietra Nera, you leave the car in the pitches along the road; on the opposite side, beyond a bar, part of an unnumbered CAI path marked in white-red โ there is no sign for the ferrata. Starting point on Google Maps. Follow the path in the woods and, bypass some rocky ridges, in about ten minutes you reach the attack.
The route is divided into three net sections. The prima รจ real hardware: you climb a non-banal initial dihedron, then a piรน plaque; lean; follows a horizontal beam to be followed in adherence, you climb a edge and you get to the key passage, a traverse with the low chain, to be faced with looseness and to close quickly (15' from the parking &# The seconda non รจ section; equipped: รจ a stretch to climb into free climbing on rocky difficult ` growing, protected by spit โ first some rocks of I degree, then a spur of II and finally a diedron of III (10', 35' from parking). The terza comes back in a piece: you go around a corner, you climb an easy diagonal ramp and you get to a rock blade, where you can puรฒ choose โ on the left the easy line, with some metal brackets, which leads to the summit without problems; on the right the difficult variant, which faces the chain without artificial hooks and requires good technique forch&eac. The two lines rejoin over a corner and in a few minutes close the short street (5', 40' from the parking lot).
Even short and low, it should not be taken under the boat. Three technical steps, if faced without leaning on the chain, require good climbing technique, and the central section goes free (I-III) on spit.
At 677 m of altitude it is practicable almost all year round, including the beautiful winter days; to avoid after the rain.
From the peak of Monte Pietra Nera (677 m) you descend in two ways: right along the crinaletto to the provincial road and back right down to the car (15', 1h from the parking lot); or left to the CAI path to the saddle between Pietra Nera and Monte Canate, then right on a mule track up to the car (15').
Just 40' from the motorway exit, it is perfect as a stopover. In the surroundings of the Apennines between Emilia and Liguria: Ferrata Mazzocchi e Ferrata Adolfo Ferrari on the border between Piacenza and Genoa, the Ferrata Deanna Orlandini, la Ferrata del Barranco del Dolo, la Ferrata Monte Penna and the ways of Stone of Bismantova.
- DifficultyVery difficult
- RegionEmilia-Romagna
- GroupHanging Parmense
- Approach0:10 h
- Ferrata0:20 h
- Itinerary (a/r)1:00
- Hardware level difference70 m
- Route difference150 m
- Max677 m
- Length1,7 Km

















































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































































