Monterosa Ski Resort Italy
Monterosa Ski area has a rightful reputation for deep powder, huge off-piste frerride and great adventures. Monterosa Ski in Italy is set across three valleys south of the ever-present Monte Rosa massif - the heavily glaciated second highest peak in western Europe.
We rate Monterosa highly in both best overall & best powder ski resorts in Italy & Europe. It has been previously rated #1 in Italy for best overall ski resort & best for powder hounds. The mix of great snow, terrain, relatively low cost & lack of people (read - freshies all day) create a PPEPP - Perfect Place for European Powder Pleasure!
Pros & Cons for Monterosa Ski Resort
Pros
- Highly rated over many seasons (Top 1 or 2 Best Overall & Best for Powderhounds 2018 to 2020)
- Mammoth skiable vertical of over 2,000m
- Reliable upper alpine snowpack.
- Uncrowded.
- Good value lift ticket price.
- Superb, unfettered off-piste terrain including tree skiing.
- Excellent length & variety of intermediate piste trails.
- Fresh tracks available days after last snowfall.
- Huge freeride and backcountry terrain to explore.
Cons
- Aging lift infrastructure.
- Limited advanced on-piste trails.
- Despite the statistics, Monterosa is poor for novices & beginners.
- Compared to other ski resorts, not the easiest place to get to in Europe.
- Not much for beginner skiers at the three main interlinked areas (but there are smaller ones nearby).
- Spread across an awfully long distance without a major single base area.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Relatively quiet nightlife.
- Not a lot of high-end accommodation (although that is changing - CampZero).
- For the vast majority, the backcountry requires a guide.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Monterosa Ski is a lift pass interlinked area comprising eight ski areas. The huge ski lift interconnected area of most interest to Powderhounds comprises the three ski resorts of Champoluc - Frachey, Gressoney la Trinite - Stafal, & Alagna Valsesia. This sector comprises 20 main ski lifts, 135km of piste trails and endless off-piste & backcountry options. The other five ski resorts are smaller & not lift interconnected (Alpe-de-mera, Champorcher, Brusson, Gressoney St Jean & Antagnod). Worth knowing that the notion of 'smaller' is relative. Champorcher has a skiable vertical of 1,050m and 7 lifts but is also nowhere near the other resorts!
Check out the ski trail map for Monterosa below.
The main interlinked Monterosa Ski area spreads west to east from the mountain village of Champoluc, east to Gressoney la Trinite and Alagna - nearly 20km as the crow flies. Above the lowest part of the resort, Alagna (1,212m), the ski area rises to a lofty 3,275m on Indren where the view goes to nearby Cervino (Matterhorn) and the distant Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc). Long perfect groomers access all areas at Monterosa except Indren which is strictly off-piste only. The mountain's on-piste terrain is heavily weighted toward intermediates, with 66% rated red. Advanced riders here will find all their joy off the piste, whilst novices and beginners should go elsewhere!
For Powderhounds, several skiing & snowboarding highlights include the 1,000m vertical of epic freeride terrain from Indren, or the north facing slopes of Passo Salati, down to Gabiet; the 1,700m vertical from Passo Salati to Alagna; and the various permutations for tree skiing above Gressoney la Trinite and Orsia. And that is just within the resort boundary.
The Monterosa backcountry & named freeride routes extend in all directions and into all the valleys. By far the majority begin or end above Alagna, known as Freeride Paradise for good reason. Ski descents of a staggering 3,000m vertical are possible. The classic La Balma descent (and its variants) is a 2,000m vertical back into the valley near Alagna.
The lifts of the Monte Rosa ski area range from the ancient (e.g. cramped Champoluc-Crest gondola) to the modern (various hooded chairs, gondolas and the Frachey funicular), but in general the infrastructure could best be described as aging.
A single Monterosa Ski pass covers all eight ski areas, or one can purchase cheap local ski passes to ski the 5 smaller resorts. Lift tickets are now dynamically priced online and are generally cheapest on weekdays. Access to the Indren cable car and its associated freeride terrain used to cost an additional €2 at the time of ticket purchase, although it is now ambiguous as to whether this is still the case.
For more information on lifts, terrain & lift passes, see our Skiing & Snowboarding Monterosa page.
Monte Rosa Snow & Weather
The Monte Rosa massif is blessed with a prime location amongst the highest peaks of western Europe. An annual snow fall of over 10m in the elevated areas makes it a powder haven with a long season running to early May in good years. The lower parts of the resort are a different story though and are increasingly 'climate challenged'.
Local weather is heavily influenced by the bulk of the mountains to the north. On bad weather days the upper resort including Indren, Passo Salati & Colle Bettaforca can be a windy, whiteout hell - just the way we like it! Luckily, ski terrain above Gressoney & Champoluc is in the trees providing vision on the bad days.
Where is Monterosa Italy?
The Monterosa ski area is only about 20km 'as the crow flies' from the classic Italian mountain city of Aosta, but over 50km by road to the closest base area at Champoluc. Monterosa ski resort is about 110km north of Turin & 150km northwest of Milan.
The main international gateway airports are Turin (TRN) (UK or European flights only) or Milan Malpensa (MXP). The quickest way to Monterosa, particularly Alagna, from either airport is private transfer or rental car.
Bus transfers are available from Turin and Milan airports. Rental car companies are located at all the airports & city centres but Milan Malpensa airport tends to be the cheapest & easiest. Cars can also be hired from Aosta.
For more detailed information on the best ways to get there, see our Travel to Monterosa page.
Monterosa Ski Accommodation
Spanning three main valleys, the Monte Rosa ski region has a plethora of accommodation options in the ski resort villages of Champoluc & Frachey, Gressoney la Trinite & Stafal, plus Alagna Valsesia. Each valley has its own merits depending on what one is after.
Search & book all Monterosa Ski Accommodation.
In a nutshell, for the nest access to the best freeride & backcountry terrain, stay in Alagna. For the best access to the ski lifts in either direction, stay in Stafal. For the liveliest* village atmosphere, stay in Champoluc (*not lively as in an Austrian version, but livelier than the alternatives!).
For detailed information on the best places to stay, see our Monterosa Ski Accommodation Info page.
Ski Rentals, Lessons & Guiding
Ski rentals are available from our partners in great locations at the lift bases in the Monterosa villages of Champoluc & Gressoney Stafal. Receive a discount when you search & book your Monterosa Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
For the ultimate Monterosa experience get a ski instructor or guide to explore the off-piste & freeride backcountry or try heli skiing on the Monte Rosa & around Zermatt. Join a tour or see our Monterosa Ski Lessons & Guiding page.
Après Ski at Monterosa
The more traditional mountain culture of the three Monterosa valleys tends to produce tame après ski. Whilst it will not lead to partying all night, the number of quality mountain rifugi & small bars attached to each hotel provide ample after ski shenanigans. In the villages, we love the ski-in Bar Walsertal at Stafal & the walk-in Bar Miacceria at the Hotel Monterosa in Alagna. Other good ones are the Castore lounge in Gressoney & Freerider in Alagna. Champoluc has several bars just at the bottom of the steps at the end of the valley trail that look lively………..well at least until 5.30pm!
Reviews
The Powderhounds reviewed Monterosa in 2017 & 2018. We love it for all the right powder-seeking freeriding reasons. We will be heading back soon. Click on the review link in the left column (or top of the page if on a mobile) to read all the reviews.
See how Monterosa compares to the rest of the European ski resorts on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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