What equipment do you need for a via ferrata?

A climbing helmet, a harness and a via ferrata set (two lanyards with carabiners and an energy absorber built to EN 958). Gloves save your hands on the cables. Most valley sports shops rent sets.

How are via ferratas graded?

Usually on the A–E scale used in the Alps: A is easy and well protected, B moderate, C difficult and steep, D very difficult and E extremely difficult, mostly vertical or overhanging. Some guidebooks use 1–6 instead.

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Peak Lists

Via Ferrata Summits

A via ferrata (Klettersteig in German) protects a climbing route with steel cables, rungs and ladders, so walkers can reach summits that would otherwise need a rope. The first were built in the Eastern Alps in the 19th century; the network spread through the Dolomites with the paths of the First World War front.

These 38 summits have a via ferrata on or near their normal route, most of them in the Eastern Alps, Western Alps and Gran Paradiso massif. Grades run from A (easy, mostly walking) to E (very steep and strenuous). You need a helmet, a harness and a via ferrata set with an energy absorber, and a head for heights.

Peaks: 38
Highest: 3,768 m; Wildspitze
Countries: 6

The List

Wildspitze, 3,768 m, Weißkamm · AustriaWeißkamm · AustriaAlpine hike
3,768 m
Normal route from Vent via the Breslauer Hütte and Mitterkarjoch · F · I · VF C · 7h 45m up · 2 days · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Monte Emilius, 3,559 m, Gran Paradiso massif · ItalyGran Paradiso massif · ItalyAlpine hike
3,559 m
Via ferrata on the west ridge from Col Carrel over the Piccolo Emilius · VF C · 8h up · 2 days · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Mount Adamello, 3,539 m, Adamello-Presanella Alps · ItalyAdamello-Presanella Alps · ItalyAlpine hike
3,539 m
From Val Genova via Rifugio ai Caduti dell'Adamello and the Pian di Neve · F+ · II · 9h up · 2 days · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Hochalmspitze, 3,360 m, Ankogel Group · AustriaAnkogel Group · AustriaEasy alpine
3,360 m
From the Gießener Hütte via the Detmolder Grat · PD+ · II · VF C · 7h up · 2 days · best Aug · GPX
Marmolada, 3,343 m, Dolomites · ItalyDolomites · ItalyAlpine hike
3,343 m
From Lago di Fedaia via Pian dei Fiacconi and the Marmolada Glacier · F · II · 5h up · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Tofana di Mezzo, 3,244 m, Tofane · ItalyTofane · ItalyAlpine hike
3,244 m
Normal route from Rifugio Dibona via Rifugio Giussani, Forcella Vallon and the Tofana saddle · F · 6h up · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Tofana di Rozes, 3,225 m, Tofane · ItalyTofane · ItalyAlpine hike
3,225 m
Normal route from Rifugio Dibona via Rifugio Giussani · I · T4 · 4h 30m up · best Aug–Sep · GPX
Monte Civetta, 3,220 m, Northern Dolomites of Zoldo · ItalyNorthern Dolomites of Zoldo · ItalyEasy walk
3,220 m
Normal route from Palafavera via Rifugio Coldai, Sentiero Tivan, Passo del Tenente and Rifugio Torrani · II · 8h 45m up · 2 days · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Kitzsteinhorn, 3,203 m, Glockner Group · AustriaGlockner Group · AustriaAlpine hike
3,203 m
From the Gipfelwelt 3000 cable car station via the west ridge · T4 · VF A/B · 30m up · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Piz Boè, 3,152 m, Sella group · ItalySella group · ItalyMountain hike
3,152 m
From Passo Pordoi via the Forcella Pordoi · T3 · 3h 45m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Cima Brenta, 3,151 m, Brenta group · ItalyBrenta group · ItalyEasy alpine
3,151 m
North normal route from Rifugio Tuckett via Bocca di Tuckett and the Cengia Garbari · PD · II · 6h 30m up · 2 days · best Jul–Aug · GPX
Grosser Hafner, 3,076 m, Ankogel Group · AustriaAnkogel Group · AustriaAlpine hike
3,076 m
From the Kölnbrein dam via the Kattowitzer Hütte and the SW ridge · T4 · VF A · 5h 30m up · 2 days · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Piz dles Cunturines, 3,064 m, Fanes Group · ItalyFanes Group · ItalyAlpine hike
3,064 m
From Capanna Alpina via Col de Locia, Jù dal'Ega and the Tru Dolomieu · I · T4 · VF A/B · 6h up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Sas Rigais, 3,025 m, Odle Group · ItalyOdle Group · ItalyAlpine hike
3,025 m
South-west via ferrata from Col Raiser · T4 · VF B · 4h up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Kesselkogel, 3,004 m, Dolomites · ItalyDolomites · ItalyMountain hike
3,004 m
West via ferrata from Passo Principe , approach from Ciampedie · VF B · 5h 30m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Hoher Dachstein, 2,995 m, Dachstein Mountains · AustriaDachstein Mountains · AustriaAlpine hike
2,995 m
From the Hunerkogel via the Schulter and Randkluft via ferratas · F · VF B · 2h 45m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Zugspitze, 2,962 m, Wetterstein · Germany, AustriaWetterstein · Germany, AustriaMountain hike
2,962 m
From Garmisch-Partenkirchen through the Partnachklamm and the Reintal · T3 · VF A · 11h 45m up · 2 days · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Hochkönig, 2,941 m, Hochkönig mountain range · AustriaHochkönig mountain range · AustriaMountain hike
2,941 m
Normal route from the Arthurhaus via the Mitterfeldalm, Torsäule and Übergossene Alm · T3 · 6h 45m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Triglav, 2,864 m, Triglav Group · SloveniaTriglav Group · SloveniaAlpine hike
2,864 m
From Pokljuka via Vodnikov dom and Dom Planika · T4 · VF B · 8h 15m up · 2 days · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Große Sandspitze, 2,770 m, Central Lienz Alps · AustriaCentral Lienz Alps · AustriaAlpine hike
2,770 m
From the Karlsbader Hütte via the Ari-Schübel-Steig and the west flank · II · VF B/C · 5h 45m up · 2 days · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Jôf di Montasio, 2,754 m, Catena Jôf Fuârt-Montasio · ItalyCatena Jôf Fuârt-Montasio · ItalyAlpine hike
2,754 m
Via Normale by the Scala Pipan from the Montasio plateau · F · I+ · VF B/C · 5h up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Watzmann, 2,713 m, Zentralwestliche Berchtesgadner Alpen · GermanyZentralwestliche Berchtesgadner Alpen · GermanyAlpine hike
2,713 m
From Wimbachbrücke via Watzmannhaus and Hocheck · F · I · T4 · 8h 15m up · 2 days · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Peralba, 2,694 m, Western Carnic Alps · ItalyWestern Carnic Alps · ItalyAlpine hike
2,694 m
Normal route from the Sorgenti del Piave via Rifugio Calvi and Passo Sesis · I · T4 · 3h 30m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Mangart, 2,678 m, Catena Mangart-Jalovec · Slovenia, ItalyCatena Mangart-Jalovec · Slovenia, ItalyMountain hike
2,678 m
Italian route from the Mangart Saddle · T3 · 3h 15m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Birnhorn, 2,634 m, Loferer und Leoganger Steinberge · AustriaLoferer und Leoganger Steinberge · AustriaEasy alpine
2,634 m
From Leogang via the Passauer Hütte and the Kuchelnieder · I · T5 · VF B · 8h up · 2 days · best Aug–Sep · GPX
Razor, 2,601 m, Škrlatica Group · SloveniaŠkrlatica Group · SloveniaAlpine hike
2,601 m
From Zadnjica via Pogačnikov dom and Sedlo Planja · T4 · VF C · 9h up · 2 days · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Kanin, 2,587 m, Western Julian Alps · Italy, SloveniaWestern Julian Alps · Italy, SloveniaAlpine hike
2,587 m
Via ferrata Julia from Sella Nevea via Rifugio Gilberti · T5 · VF C · 8h 30m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Grintovec, 2,558 m, Central Kamnik–Savinja Alps · SloveniaCentral Kamnik–Savinja Alps · SloveniaMountain hike
2,558 m
From Kamniška Bistrica via Cojzova koča and the Streha · T3 · 6h 30m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Hoher Göll, 2,522 m, Göll · Austria, GermanyGöll · Austria, GermanyAlpine hike
2,522 m
Salzburger Steig from the Purtschellerhaus · I · T4 · VF B · 5h 15m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Großer Priel, 2,515 m, Prielgruppe · AustriaPrielgruppe · AustriaAlpine hike
2,515 m
From Hinterstoder via the Prielschutzhaus, Kühkar and Brotfallscharte · T4 · VF A/B · 7h 45m up · 2 days · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Ellmauer Halt, 2,344 m, Kaiser Mountains · AustriaKaiser Mountains · AustriaAlpine hike
2,344 m
Gamsängersteig from the Wochenbrunner Alm via the Gruttenhütte · I · T4 · VF B · 5h up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Tour d'Aï, 2,331 m, Vaud Prealps · SwitzerlandVaud Prealps · SwitzerlandMountain hike
2,331 m
From Leysin via the Lac d'Aï · T3 · 4h up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Kellenspitze, 2,238 m, Allgäu Alps · AustriaAllgäu Alps · AustriaAlpine hike
2,238 m
Normal route from Nesselwängle via the Gimpelhaus, Tannheimer Hütte and Nesselwängler Scharte · II · T4 · 4h 45m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Paganella, 2,125 m, Brenta group · ItalyBrenta group · ItalyHike
2,125 m
From Andalo via Dosson, Doss Pelà and Malga Zambana · T2 · 1h 30m up · best Jul–Sep · GPX
Peak of Céüse, 2,016 m, massif Céüse-Aujour · Francemassif Céüse-Aujour · FranceHike
2,016 m
From the former Céüze 2000 ski station via the Sommet des Marseillais · T2 · 2h 15m up · best Sep–Oct · GPX
Moléson, 2,002 m, Fribourg Prealps · SwitzerlandFribourg Prealps · SwitzerlandHike
2,002 m
From Moléson-sur-Gruyères via Plan-Francey · T2 · 4h up · best Jun–Sep · GPX
Traunstein, 1,691 m, Upper Austrian Prealps · AustriaUpper Austrian Prealps · AustriaMountain hike
1,691 m
Mairalmsteig from the Umkehrplatz via the Kaisertisch · T3 · VF A/B · 5h 45m up · best Sep–Oct · GPX
Monte San Salvatore, 912 m, Catena Gino-Camoghè-Fiorina · SwitzerlandCatena Gino-Camoghè-Fiorina · SwitzerlandHike
912 m
From Lugano-Paradiso via Pazzallo · T2 · 2h 30m up · best Apr–May · GPX

Questions

What equipment do you need for a via ferrata?: A climbing helmet, a harness and a via ferrata set (two lanyards with carabiners and an energy absorber built to EN 958). Gloves save your hands on the cables. Most valley sports shops rent sets.
How are via ferratas graded?: Usually on the A–E scale used in the Alps: A is easy and well protected, B moderate, C difficult and steep, D very difficult and E extremely difficult, mostly vertical or overhanging. Some guidebooks use 1–6 instead.