Ascent of the Rio Val di Roda to Passo di Ball with final north-west canal

General premise

This route was completed on August 15, 2025, and all subsequent observations and considerations are fully valid only for that day.

In the following report, the term "guide" always refers to the book “CAMMINARE – Sentieri nelle Valli di Primiero, San Martino, Pale di San Martino, Rolle e Vanoi” by Samuele Scalet.

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Ascent of the Rio Val di Roda up to the start of the "north-west Canal of the Passo di Ball"

PREMISE

The guide invites to try to stay as much as possible in the streambed to enjoy a "… wonderful canyoning experience …".

In various sections of the lower part there are traces at the edges of the woods which I avoided in order to follow the guide's advice.

This whole section is defined as "… a great classic, called Sentiero della Scaletta (a suggestive semi-abandoned path) revisited in a new key".

I did not realize the key passage of the Scaletta, signaled in the guide with fixed rope traces and maximum difficulty of grade II: proceeding normally, I did not see traces of fixed ropes.

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From Malga Civertaghe take the Civertaghe Forest Road which shortly leads to the bed of the Rio Val di Roda.

The very first part is flat and almost relaxing with various crossings-jumps of the zig-zagging watercourse that inevitably “cuts” any walking line on the wide riverbed.

Then you cross the Prati Col path indicated by CAI-type arrows and number 23.

Following the streambed it narrows and the most scenic part with the water as protagonist begins.

Between a rock and some low waterfalls there are two vertical drops with waterfalls which I bypassed going out on the right side uphill.

Then there is a third higher vertical drop which I bypassed on the left side uphill, arriving at the crossing of CAI 724.

Continuing in a scenic environment with two more detours on the left and right until the last path crossing which in this case is the CAI 721.

From here the streambed is dry and I saw a cairn in the center over a rock: there will be only one more at the end.

Now continue on the never too rough riverbed until – before a sharp narrow between high walls – a small slope where I stayed on the left edge going uphill for more comfort above grass among sparse dwarf pines.

You enter a gorge with a super overhanging waterfall and a huge wedged boulder above.

The solution is visible approaching by identifying a fork of the gorge, to the right uphill, that ends under another large wedged boulder.

However, here you pass underneath by climbing stepped rocks with 5 or 6 solid moves reaching grade I or I+ (maybe one of II).

You exit from under the big boulder turning left where I saw a bright green cord secured to a spur inside the small cave formed by the boulder (I did not publish the photo because… it came out blurred 😊).

Then there is a gentle grassy small valley that leads high on the right side going uphill of the very steep canal, closed at the end by another overhanging drop and (usual) wedged boulder above.

You follow the flank (with some discontinuous traces) which before reaching enough elevation to overcome the drop becomes rather steep with a bulge.

Here you have to climb (without reaching the base of the rock band) and traverse in alternating short sections: it does not seem there is a single route and I observed a bit to always seek the easiest way.

Anyway, you cannot avoid isolated moves of grade I or I+, and one step at a time… the exposure increases a lot: always solid holds, but care is needed.

Keeping an eye on the bowl visible above the canal drop, I found a last short “ledge-traverse” that brought me above a small drop with a couple of well-gripped grade II moves where I saw a bolt with two rings (however, the bolt+rings seem placed for a direct double rope descent into the gorge; there is also a cord for abseiling a little lower that I did not photograph because I would have had to expose myself too much).

After descending into the bowl I climbed without difficulty up to the rock band closing it, where to the right (and shortly after a cairn) starts the fork of the "north-west Canal of the Passo di Ball".

Once down in the bowl, if you look left you can assess the line of a possible early exit from the route (certainly useful in case of problems in the next canal).

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Ascent of the "north-west Canal of the Passo di Ball"

PREMISE

As I wrote at the beginning, the beautiful snow version proposed in the guide is subject to many variables especially for those coming from outside without firsthand information.

In this 100% summer version, however, the water variable can also greatly influence the assessments.

Therefore, what I write below is what I found adapting to the present water, always seeking the driest lines.

Here from one day to another it can be more difficult but also relatively easier.

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From the base of the canal, you notice, at about three quarters of the first visible section of the route, a huge boulder completely blocking it transversely: that is the end of the difficult part, then it is just relaxation (except… the need to push 😉).

The guide (always referring to the snow version) writes of a "… not very steep snowfield …".

Also in the summer version the canal is, in fact, generally not steep at all, but the first part is the classic "chicken average": almost flat sections + jumps, which the right snow smooths out.

You start by overcoming on the right going uphill a series of "transversely broken" boulders where I preferred to descend and climb through the cracks because jumping them seemed risky (or someone more athletic is needed).

Then a series of large boulders that are bypassed here and there among abundant streams of water, up to one that blocks the canal vertically in combination with a smaller one on the left side.

Between the two today there is a small waterfall and the only way to ascend "semi-dry" I saw is all on the left going uphill using a crack.

The crack was a bit wet from the spray of the adjacent small waterfall but, stretching out a arm, I found a perfectly wedged stone to pull up on: roughly a grade II+ or III- whichever you want to call it.

Then various other bypassable boulders and one "suspended wedged" where you pass underneath.

Thus you arrive at the huge boulder marking the end of difficulties.

Here there are no small waterfalls, but the whole area drips water.

On the right going uphill there is a stepped notch covered in moss with a "wet patina" that is not very reassuring: too bad since the steps do not seem difficult.

On the left, instead, there is a much steeper and less stepped notch but with only the first 2/3 easy steps with traces of "wet patina": evidently more sun reaches this side. 🌞

Of course, I went left even if it seems more technically difficult.

Practically you climb almost vertically under a small wedged boulder using quite good holds that allow you to first climb left and then bracing with legs spread on both sides of the notch – here I would say grade II and II+.

Outside the notch you complete the climb over the huge boulder on a slightly inclined and well dry slab.

Here I took back the trekking poles stored in the backpack and "worked only with legs" up to Passo di Ball – still a bit more than 300 meters of elevation gain.

From above the huge boulder a stream of water continues on the left going uphill compared to the line I followed, and it can be seen emerging on a small slab under some rocks: it could be considered the true source of the Rio Val di Roda in the final scree-stone field.

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Closing the excursion from Passo di Ball

Peaceful descent all on CAI paths.

The first well-known part of CAI 715 (with its equipped section) running high above the wide easy final section of the "north-west Canal of the Passo di Ball" is interesting.

While ascending the canal I heard several voices coming from above, and so you realize where those voices can come from.

Then I cut part of the easy and very numerous switchbacks of CAI 702, but carefully identifying a photo spot that captured the "north-west Canal of the Passo di Ball" in its entirety.

The snow photo published in the guide is interesting, and I found the right photo spot by deviating a few meters from the comfortable CAI 702.

After the photo everything went smoothly until the end with various possible options depending on the chosen parking.