Sass de Mura
2,547 m
Italy
Also known as Sass di MuraAlso known as
Sass di Mura
- Elevation
- 2,547 m
- Prominence
- 1,178 m
- Difficulty
- 5/10
- Easy alpine
- Best Season
- Jul–Sep
- Routes
- 1
Routes
1Sources differ: II+ (Dolomiti Guides (normal route via Cima Ovest)) · T3 (approach) (Camptocamp)
The usual way to the top of the Feltre Dolomites: a hut walk to Rifugio Boz (1,718 m), then up the Cadin di Neva to Forcella Neva (2,148 m), along the west ledge (banca ovest) to three short rock steps (II+/III, belay rings) to the West summit (2,522 m), and an airy, exposed ridge (I–II) to the main North-East summit. About 900 m from the hut; 6–8 h round trip from Rifugio Boz.
Elevation Profile
approximate line- Distance
- 11.7 km
- one way
- Ascent
- +2,151 m
- −266 m lost on the way up
- High Point
- 2,547 m
- Time Up
- 9h 10m
- DIN 33466
- Time Down
- 6h 39m
- DIN 33466 · same way back
From the car park at Lago della Stua in Val Canzoi (about 660 m) take path 811 up through the woods in many zigzags to Passo Alvis (about 1,880 m) and descend 100 m to Rifugio Boz (1,718 m), about 2h30. (A shorter approach from Rifugio Fonteghi, 1,100 m, in Val Noana on the Primiero side takes about 1h30 by path 727.) From the hut go up to Malga Neva and follow traces into the wood to meet path 748; go left for a few metres, then turn right onto an indistinct path past a spring into the Cadin di Neva and up to Forcella Neva (2,148 m), with a view of the Pale di San Martino. From the col follow cairns right towards the walls, cross a deep notch a few metres high (II) and pick up the path along the west ledge (banca ovest). Follow it south almost to the edge leading round to the south ledge, where red arrows mark the start of the normal route on the west side of the edge. Move a few metres north along a ledge to the first 12 m wall (II+, abseil ring above). Cairns lead back south along ledges to an edge with a distinctive egg-shaped boulder; climb the crack behind it to a 15 m wall/chimney (II+/III, the hardest point; peg and sling above). Easier rock and steps around a yellowish wall lead to a 10 m slab (II) and onto the ridge; small steps of I–II lead to the West summit (2,522 m, large cairn). The main North-East summit (2,547 m) is reached along the narrow connecting ridge: cairned scree and broken rock, a notch reached at I–II, very exposed downclimbs and a ledge whose first move is over jutting rock, a slab (II) beside a tunnel between two towers and a short gully (I). Return the same way and descend the West summit route with three abseils of up to 30 m (some sources say all are 10 m or less). Rock is not perfect and the area is very quiet; most parties sleep at Rifugio Boz.
Start
Lago della Stua663 m
- Not verified; Val Canzoi is reached by road from Cesiomaggiore near Feltre
- Parking at the trailhead
Stages
| Day | Stage | km | m ascent | m descent | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lago della Stua → Rifugio Boz | 7.6 | 1,226 | 166 | 5h 22m |
| 2 | Rifugio Boz → Sass de Mura | 4.1 | 925 | 100 | 3h 48m |
Waypoints
- Parking: Lago della Stua663 m
- Col: Passo Alvis1,878 m
- Hut: Rifugio Boz1,720 m
- Feature: Cadin di Neva2,087 m
- Col: Forcella Neva2,175 m
- Summit: Sass de Mura2,547 m
Key Passages
- Notch below Forcella Neva (II)
- Chimney behind the egg-shaped boulder (II+/III)
- Exposed ridge and downclimbs between the West and North-East summits
Equipment
0/6 packedDownloads
Route confidence 65%Overview
The highest summit of the Feltre Dolomites (2,547 m), a twin-topped limestone block on the Trentino–Belluno border visible from the Venetian plain. Every route is a real climb: the easiest reaches the West summit by short II+/III steps and continues along an airy ridge to the main top.
Sass de Mura is the culminating point of the Cimonega group in the Feltre Dolomites (Vette Feltrine), on the border between the provinces of Trento (Primiero) and Belluno (Val Canzoi). It has two distinct summits linked by a jagged ridge: the higher North-East summit (2,547 m) and the West summit (2,522 m). Seen from the Venetian plain it stands out as a broad, two-horned wall, and from Forcella Neva the view opens onto the Pale di San Martino.
The mountain is ringed by long, grassy and rocky ledges (the 'banche') that give access to its faces. The usual approach is from Rifugio Boz (1,718 m) in the Neva basin, reached from Val Canzoi or from Val Noana. From there the normal route climbs to Forcella Neva, follows the west ledge and takes three short rock steps to the West summit; a narrow, exposed ridge leads on to the main summit. The other classic, the Via della Croce, climbs to the main summit from the natural arch of the Finestra by the Cesaletti chimney (III+ with a few metres of IV).
This is a quiet, wild corner of the Dolomites with loose rock, faint paths and few people; route-finding matters as much as climbing. The Belluno side lies within the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.
Climbing Notes
Plan for two days with a night at Rifugio Boz: about 2h30 from Val Canzoi (or 1h30 from Rifugio Fonteghi in Val Noana) to the hut, then 6–8 hours round trip from the hut with about 900 m of ascent. You need to be comfortable leading or moving together on II+/III rock, belaying on exposed ground and abseiling; a 60 m rope (or two 30 m ropes), slings and a few nuts are enough. Dolomiti Guides offers the normal route with a guide.
The season runs from June to early October, once snow has left the ledges; snow patches can linger on the north-west ledge into July. Afternoon thunderstorms are frequent in summer, so start early. Paths beyond Malga Neva and on the ledges are faint and marked mainly by cairns; study the line in advance and carry a GPS track.
History
The West summit was first climbed on 6 September 1878 by Richard Melville Beachcroft, Arthur Cust and Charles Comyns Tucker with the guide François Devouassoud, and again eight days later by Gottfried Merzbacher and Cesare Tomè with Mariano Bernardin ('il Gabbiàn') and Santo Siorpaes. The higher North-East summit was first reached on 23 August 1881 by Mariano Bernardin, Luigi Cesaletti and Demetrio Diamantidi by the Via della Croce. Ludwig Purtscheller and Emil and Otto Zsigmondy made the first traverse between the two summits on 9 August 1884.
Season
Best Jul–Sep- January: Not advisable
- February: Not advisable
- March: Not advisable
- April: Not advisable
- May: Possible
- June: Good
- July: Best (best window)
- August: Best (best window)
- September: Best (best window)
- October: Possible
- November: Not advisable
- December: Not advisable
- Jan
- Winter; hut closed (4-place winter room)
- Feb
- Winter
- Mar
- Winter conditions on the ledges
- Apr
- Snow on the ledges; avalanche risk in the gullies
- May
- Possible late in the month if the ledges are clear; hut closed
- Jun
- Hut opens mid-June; snow patches on shaded ledges
- Jul
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- Aug
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- Sep
- Stable weather; hut closes end of September
- Oct
- Short days; hut season over (occasional extra openings announced on social media)
- Nov
- Early snow
- Dec
- Winter
Access & Permits
- Hut Booking
- Rifugio Boz (CAI Feltre): book via the hut (+39 0439 080097, +39 340 9979332, info@rifugioboz.it) or its booking page.
- Rules
- The Belluno side (Val Canzoi, Neva basin) lies within the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park; park rules apply
- Getting There
Feltre; Cesiomaggiore (Val Canzoi); Imer / Primiero (Val Noana)
Venice Marco Polo (VCE) or Treviso (TSF)
- Val Canzoi: from Feltre to Cesiomaggiore and up Val Canzoi to the road end at Lago della Stua (about 660 m)
- Val Noana: from Imer in Primiero up the Val Noana road to Rifugio Fonteghi (1,100 m)
- Public transport to either trailhead was not verified
Hazards
- Exposure
- Rockfall
- Weather
- Remoteness
Huts & Shelters
1- 1,718 m
Rifugio BozHutStaffedBooking required
34 beds · June to September; extra openings announced on the hut's social media; 4-place winter bivouac