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MONTE PATERNO-PATERNKOFEL

JORDAN9. 08. 2010 09:38:45

07.08. we visited the area of the Three Peaks and some climbed Monte Paterno from Locatelli hut via ferrata De Luca-Innerkofler, descent via ferrata De Luca. Protections are in excellent condition. Helmet and via ferrata kit mandatory due to large crowds of inexperienced hikers on ferratas and consequent rockfall.
I recommend ascent from Locatelli hut through the galleries, descent via the other two paths, as it's a circular route and crowding occurs due to descending the approach path because of large number of ascending hikers.

IgorZlodej15. 09. 2011 07:36:48

After climbing Torre Toblin, after a short stop at Locatelli hut, we head to the summit of Monte Paterno. The first part of the path follows a faint ridge, then we enter a gallery consisting of some small tunnels at the start, followed by a long tunnel where a headlamp is necessary, helmet highly recommended. When the tunnel ends, the ferrata continues, not particularly difficult, but self-belaying recommended as rocks are more polished than on our Triglav. At the notch reached via north face there's a short more exposed section with cables, then free climb some easy spots to the top. Path marked only with cairns. Views from top are excellent, no need to write about them. The story of the two mountain guides tragedy from WWI is known, no need to repeat. Summit descent part via ascent path, then just below the notch turn right, descend SE gully and right to path on ledges, at second notch cross to west side, path continues on ledges, some exposed spots secured with cable. At end short gallery almost on knees. Then short descent to saddle usually full of visitors, plenty this time too. At Lavaredo hut of course beer and nice views of Tre Cime. Return via path to Auronzo hut. Note for those going: toll is 22 €.

I propped it up a bit so it doesn't fall over, behind is Monte Paterno

along the ledges on the eastern side of Paterno

the most photographed mountains in the world

The saddle where there is usually a real anthill of people from all over the world

From the Lavaredo hut there is a nice view of the walls

enigma16. 09. 2011 23:55:05

Nice photos, I also walked the nearby and distant surroundings. Just adding about prices, toll is indeed 22 euros, but if you overnight in the hut you'll pay 5 euros extra per following day, double room at Auronzo hut for one day is 60 euros (30 per person), for half-board extra 22 euros. If you want to shower at hut another 5 euros. Yeah, it's not really cheap, sleeping is very cheap compared to Cortina d'Ampezzo where rooms are from 90 (one) to 140 (three stars) euros. lp

haridautovic2. 08. 2020 12:28:35

30.7.2020/Monte Paterno/Ferrata De Luca-Innerkofler/Extremely nice ferrata from Dreizinnenhütte, Rifugio Antonio Locatelli along a 600m tunnel is demanding in one part, the rest is pure pleasure

at Dreizinnenhütte hut, Rifugio Antonio Locatelli — to/on Monte Paterno.

At the hut we treat ourselves to morning coffee with a dreamlike view of Tri Cine

and with a wonderful morning, weather and views

the De Luca Innerkofler via ferrata path begins

The ferrata runs through a 600-meter tunnel/peephole and helmet mandatory

nicely routed, caution required due to slippery rocks

almost unbelievable how these three beauties are positioned,, third time here,, and they always leave me speechless,, Incredible what feelings you experience looking at this fascinating rock,, almost hand-carved

view back - descent to Forcella Lavaredo notch - right path - less demanding ferrata to Rifugio Pian di Cengia hut

incredible, breathtaking scenes appear from the tunnel

once we cross to the south side we are constantly in touch with these beauties

When your gaze lingers on that scene,, you would look and look and look and still not grasp it,,,

along the southern section of the ferrata towards F. Lavaredo notch

feeling that engraves itself in memory / addiction to rocks

the exit from the ferrata is very problematic for stronger persons,,, (from the other side is the entrance to the ferrata on the south side from the col Forcella Lavaredo...

it's quite, but yeah, we saw a couple of people who turned back immediately at the entrance, it didn't go all the way,, the problem is if you arrive from the top you have to look for an alternative route for the exit from the ferrata

Here we got off/Exit or entrance to the ferrata, depending on where you start,, I recommend from Dreizinnenhütte, Rifugio Antonio Locatelli.

(+4)

Janezs17. 09. 2020 09:52:26

We start the path at Auronzo shelter, packed full with cars. Even on the walking road almost no space. Higher through tunnel and over scree fewer people. Upper part on scree requires more careful walking. We return same way. We leave tourist area and drive west to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

bagi13. 09. 2025 11:16:22

Every now and then we visit peaks where we've been before. This time it was Monte Paterno with view to famous Cime. If possible we choose different starting point to not repeat too much. This time first from Val Fiscalina valley and managed nice loop. In my opinion best valley approach for this area.

Val Fiscalina has three parking lots. Top two paid, the one in Moos free. Many use frequent buses to save some road walking km. From end station footpath to renovated and enlarged Rif. Fondovalle hut. There turned right to path 102 towards Rif. Locatelli hut, on one of nicest locations in all Dolomites. Accordingly huge tourism, but prices still lower than ours. How do they manage velik nasmeh

?

From here could go promenade towards next Rif. Lavaredo hut, but chose to visit Monte Paterno via Innerkofler ferrata. This is extremely interesting WWI remnant, like much around here. Summit visit slow as crowds, but on two harder parts two-way traffic arranged. Descended secured Passaporto path and marveled at incredible crowds below. It's autumn here, and midweek arrival. Unbelievable zmeden

.

After hut visit continued towards Lago di Cengia lake and Rif. Pian di Cengia hut via signs 104. This part very scenic, path real treat. Wide and graded, can switch on autopilot and admire nature. To lower Rif. Zsigmondyhütte more mountaineering path 101, further to Val Fiscalina valley 105. There closed loop and headed to start. Summary only one … highly recommend nasmeh

. More in photo-story …

Start coordinates: 46.6735594N, 12.3604142E

We leave the car at one of the parking areas and head into the valley. Along the road are strips to prevent wild parking.

At the last stop of the local bus numerous direction signs are set up. Here follows 102.

The sun is awakening and the surrounding peaks glow in all their beauty.

After a pleasant 2 km valley introduction we reach the first hut, renovated and enlarged Rif. Fondovalle.

Board with illustrative depiction of the path and surrounding peaks.

Soon we are in a beautiful setting. The tower in the background is Torre di Toblin, with a short but sweet ferrata.

Beautiful little lakes Lago dei Piani superiore.

Hut Rif. Locatelli and Tre Cime in the background. The hut is one of the most visited in the Dolomites.

After a short break we continue. This is the view back.

Entrance to the tunnels on the Innerkofler ferrata.

The steps are steep, headlamp obligatory.

In many places one needs to duck, so a helmet is not superfluous.

After exiting the tunnel a gully still awaits us.

The ferrata is nothing special, but on the Innerkofler they have set up two-way traffic at some points.

This is much more important on the ascent to Monte Paterno. Crowds are always guaranteed here.

Almost everyone clips in even on flat sections, so we politely overtake them.

Nothing new at the top, people just keep changing constantly.

Photographing such an empty cross is quite difficult.

We descend as fast as possible so the crowds don't head out ahead of us.

The descent ferrata has a different route at two places from the ascent one.

Which is the only correct way. Practice has shown that this avoids jams at least somewhat.

New candidates for the ascent keep arriving again and again.

Forcella del Camoscio saddle. Here Innerkofler and the point for ascent to Monte Paterno come together.

We two descend and continue on the path towards Forcella Passaporto saddle.

This path too is attractive and completely military-made.

A very comfortable trail winds under huge rock masses.

If it weren't for the First War, many paths wouldn't exist at all. Pity about the war, but at least something positive remained from it.

Attractive passages follow one after the other.

Tre Cime a third time, from a slightly different view.

On the lower promenade countless people walk.

This one is especially interesting, as the ceiling lowers quickly.

It literally brings you to your knees :)

Exit from the tunnel and at the same time the end of this beautiful connection

Even at the hut there are lots of tourists, but we stop anyway. At the tables it understandably says *No Picnic*

After refreshment we head into the still unknown world along path 104

View back to Cadine, where another very nice path runs … Sentiero Attrezzato Bonacossa

Cime for the fourth time. From here they are already unrecognizable

Here they really produce *Alpine milk*, or more correctly said dolomitic :)

A wonderful landscape opens up before us

The path is gentle and unusually wide. Later we realize that a small tractor is used here to supply the hut

Signposts are at all junctions, so no problems with direction

Pure pleasure. Thoughts are switched off, we just look and admire

Croda dei Toni. We have already walked under it

A little more and the next stop awaits us

Idyllic hut Rif. Pian di Cengia at an altitude of about 2500 m. It is privately owned and booked for the next year

It has a Tyrolean look, the staff is dressed in Tyrolean folk costumes and they also speak German

We leave the pleasant hut and start descending

View towards the wild part of the Sextens, where the transverse path Strada degli Alpini is visible, military again of course

Perhaps we will visit this beautiful path again, but this time we descend towards the next hut

This is Rif. Zsigmondyhütte, where we once already stayed overnight

From down there the presence of numerous tourists is immediately noticeable

View back at the prominent peak La Lista. It is considerably lower than the others, but stands out most from the path

We are already right at the bottom. Next is a short section of path to the hut Rif. Fondovalle, then return to the starting point

At the last bus stop hikers are already waiting. We still have some asphalt to the morning starting point

This time it came to 25 km and 1900 m of elevation gain on a beautiful path

(+12)

PUHIPUHI13. 09. 2025 13:56:30

How many hours did you walk?

bagi14. 09. 2025 06:36:39

@puhipuhi ... for everything we spent 11 hours, including good hour of stops at huts

(+1)

bbugari114. 09. 2025 11:47:24

Great, as usual... nasmeh

From Zsigmondy hut down it's sentiero 103... mežikanje

(+1)

bagi14. 09. 2025 12:19:31

True, but can't change anymore nasmeh

mirank14. 09. 2025 13:08:08

Nice, as usual; since you announce continuation around there, suggest also ferrata delle forcelle. At chamois notch-Forcella camoscio straight along ridge eastwards. Not too demanding. And at Bullele-Pian di cengia hut left short hop half hour to Oberbacheren spitze towards Cima una mežikanje

. Of course if you haven't done all that on your hike already velik nasmeh

Oh and one more; La lista really pulls your nose, but actually not some peak but ridge with almost flat path
good luck and steady steps further

(+1)

bbugari114. 09. 2025 13:42:20

A few more:
1) Didn't you use SVK?
2) How much time did you need from Rif. Lavaredo to Rif. Pian di Cengia?
3) Is your free parking in Bagni di Moso, in Mos or in S. Vito, and why did you go along the road there, not on the parallel soft path on the other side of the stream?

bagi14. 09. 2025 19:32:20

Mirank, thanks for the ideas, bbugari, regarding the questions it's like this ...

1. We had SVK pulled on, but didn't use them. Ferratas aren't hard, subjective rating of course, but jams possible in harder sections. Also when taking photos on such parts sometimes handy nasmeh

2. Hut to hut, hmmm ... as I remember around one and a half hours. This path section is about 5 km long.
3. Where we parked is the penultimate parking spot right by the road. Otherwise paid, but we did a bit of Gorenjec and ignored the machine velik nasmeh

. Nothing happened, it's already autumn anyway.

(+1)

mirank14. 09. 2025 19:56:43

As far as I remember, the last free parking for this start is at the valley station of the cable car Prati di Croda rossa-Rudi hute on the left side. That means extra 2 km along the road by the stream - if there's a path too I don't know, because I always parked there at Dolomiten hof or hut on paid parking across the stream right.

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