Cogne Gran Paradiso Ski Resort Italy
Cogne - Gran Paradiso ski resort is a secret, uncrowded little area with some long, sheltered pistes with over 700m of skiable vertical on north-aspect slopes. Located in the Aosta valley, it is beautifully situated over the charming, traditional village of Cogne and below the stunning Gran Paradiso peak (4,061m), part of the oldest National Park in the country. The Gran Paradiso is the tallest mountain located entirely in Italy and provides the perfect alpine backdrop to this patch of winter paradise.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain
For Powderhounds, what will attract one to Cogne is the quiet slopes rated by locals as being mostly 'seriously dark red' (ideal for better intermediates & better), plus when it snows half of the pistes are left ungroomed for some powder snuffling action. yippee! The small amount of piste terrain (around 8km) is a drawback, but then again sometimes good things come in piccolo packages. Mostly forest lined the area is a good option for bad weather days that impact the higher resorts of the region.
Check out the ski trail map for Cogne - Gran Paradiso below.
Effectively served by 4 lifts, an aging pulse gondola moves most visitors up the hill. The top lift is a relatively modern (but slowish) double chair serving the upper 340m vertical and has the super name of Gran Grot (Aussies will love that!). An older double chair (Sylvenoire) serves some gentle lower slopes, but only turns on a limited timetable through the ski season (closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 07/01 to 24/01 and from 10/03 to 30/03. From the top of the Gran Grot chair (2,252m) one can descend the full skiable vertical of 720m from top to bottom; a length of 3km. A learn-to-ski sector is separate from the main skiing area, with gentle groomed run and a surface conveyor lift in a sunny location on the opposite side of the village.
Where is Cogne - Gran Paradiso Italy?
Cogne - Gran Paradiso is in the Valle d'Aosta of north-western Italy. It is a scenic 27km (40min) by road south of the fascinating city of Aosta. From the top of Pila ski resort above Aosta, one can look north into the next valley to see Cogne and the Gran Paradiso peak dominating the horizon. With a rental car or private transfer, the closest international airports are Milan Malpensa (MXP), Geneva (GVA) or Turin (TRN)(if coming from a European or UK origin. By road, the ski area is 150km (2hr) from Geneva airport via the expensive Mont Blanc tunnel, or 205km (2½hr) via the tolled motorway from Milan Malpensa airport.
For hints, tips & warnings about getting to Italian ski resorts in winter, see our Travel in Italy page.
Cogne Accommodation
The village of Cogne is situated at an altitude of 1,534m in a seemingly remote location during winter. Within its compact centre, a multitude of highly rated hotels, agriturismo, guesthouses, holiday homes & apartments are for rent. Some of the options are even in buildings dating back as far as the 13th century. Most lodgings are within easy walking distance to the ski area. If you cannot find something here that takes your fancy, then you are not trying hard enough!
From a skier point of view the village has all the facilities and services expected of a far larger resort. Convenient lift locations, gear rental, ski school, cafes, restaurants and bars are all available. The village even includes at least four restaurants that rate a mention in the Michelin Guide - not bad for the gourmands amongst us. The gondola departs from its valley station just on the upper backside of the village. The novice slope & conveyors are on the opposite edge of the village in a sunny location with huge views up the valley to the Gran Paradiso peak.
Search & book here for all Cogne ski accommodation.
Alternative accommodation is available throughout the Aosta valley.
Activities
Cogne is at the intersection of several high alpine valleys which lend themselves to a range of winter activities. With over 150 different routes, ice climbing is popular here as is cross-country skiing. In the immediate area there are 80km of groomed trails, all set below the gorgeous mountain panorama. A small outdoor ice-skating arena, snow play (tubing etc.), winter walking, snowshoeing & ski mountaineering are all available in the area.
Review
The Powderhounds will review Cogne the next time we are in the Valle d'Aosta. More information about this European ski resort will come after our visit. Stay tuned for our sparkling repartee, new photos & insights.
See how the European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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