Sant'Uberto - Cascata di Fanes (Via Ferrata Giovanni Barbara)

Access to starting point:
Over the border crossing Rateče we drive to Trbiž / Tarvisio, where we go on a highway in the direction of Videm / Udine. We leave the highway at exit Tolmezzo and we follow the road to the mentioned settlement. From Tolmezzo we continue in the direction of the settlement Ampezzo and mountain pass Passo della Mauria. The road then starts descending and brings us into a valley Cadore, where we continue right (left Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo) in the direction of the settlement Auronzo. After few additional km of driving, we come to the next bigger crossroad, where we go right in the direction of the settlement Misurina (left mountain pass Tre Croci). From here we descend on the road to a bigger crossroad where we continue left towards Cortina d'Ampezzo (right Austria). From the mentioned crossroad, we continue for approximately 10 km towards Cortina d'Ampezzo, and then in a sharp left turn we go right on the road towards the mountain hut Rifugio Ra Stua. We park on a parking lot, which is located at the very beginning of the mentioned road.

Path description:
From the parking lot, we go left on a cart track following the signs »Valle di Fanes« (path number 10). Cart track from a parking lot starts descending and it quickly brings us to a marked crossing. At the crossing, we go right on a footpath following the signs »Valle di Fanes«. From the crossing, the path starts descending through the forest and brings us on an asphalt road.
We continue right on the road and we cross a bridge over the stream Rio di Fanes. The road which runs by the stream then brings us to a crossroad.
To the right leads the path named Sentiero dei Canyons on which we will later return, and now we go left (path number 10) on the road which is short time still paved with asphalt and then becomes a macadam. Further, the road is mostly slightly ascending through the forest, occasionally also views open up on the nearby peaks.
Later footpath towards the saddle Posporcora branches off to the left, and we still continue on a macadam road. The road then turns a little to the right and over a bridge crosses deep gorge Gola di Fanes. We still continue on the road which soon again brings us to a marked crossing.
At the crossing, the road turns left, straight leads the path named Sentiero dei Canyons, and we go right following the signs »Sentiero Attrezzato alla Cascata«. Immediately after the crossing are by the path tables and benches where we equip ourselves with a self-belay set and a helmet. The secured path Via Ferrata Giovanni Barbara at first crosses exposed slope above the gorge and it brings us to the waterfall Cascata di Fanes. The mountain wall over which is falling a waterfall is slightly overhanging, so that the path runs behind the waterfall.
The path then through a narrow notch brings us into a gully through which we continue right downwards. Next follows a descent over a rocky jump, which is well secured. A steel cable and stemples are there for help. Gully then becomes less steep and brings us below the mighty waterfall Cascata di Fanes di Sotto.
The secured path here otherwise crosses the stream but the bridge is destroyed. Because of destroyed bridge below the waterfall we continue on the path which runs left and crosses a slope by the stream. Later, the path turns left and is in short zig-zags steeply ascending above the gorge.
After steep ascent, the path brings us to a crossing where the path becomes again easy. To the left, there is only few meters to the vantage point from which is a breathtaking view on the waterfall and on gorge. And right runs the path on which we descend towards the starting point.
The path on which we descend is easy and mostly runs through the forest.
On described path we will get to the waterfall in approximately 1h 10min, for the entire circular path we will need approximately 3h.
Described circular path we can also walk in the reverse direction. We can also extend the tour if we continue on the path Sentiero dei Canyons also to the upper waterfall.