Pila Ski Resort Italy
Pila ski resort in the Valle d'Aosta Italy is a most underrated skiing area. Pila has superb gondola access from the wonderful city of Aosta, ski-in ski-out accommodation plus fabulous snow and terrain.
Pila Provided a Powderhounds Plentiful Powder Paradise! That's the 6P tick of approval. The completion of the current 'Pila-Couis project' (which includes two new gondolas replacing several old chairlifts) will see a much-needed renewal of ski lifts & infrastructure at the resort, bringing it into line with other world-class ski areas.
Pros & Cons for Pila Ski Resort
Pros
- Gondola access direct from the city of Aosta.
- North-facing terrain with excellent snow quality.
- Particularly good variety of piste trails for all levels, particularly intermediates.
- Excellent value lift ticket price (particularly on weekdays).
- Some challenging freeride terrain.
- Noticeably quiet during the week.
- Superb restaurants, food, drink and après ski.
Cons
- Very busy on weekends and holidays.
- Some old, slow lift infrastructure (that is being currently replaced - yay).
- Piste choke-point near village is dangerous.
- Some facilities are dated and a touch run down (rustica!)(but much of which is being renewed under the Pila-Couis project scheduled for completion by winter 25/26).
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective!)
- Close to the major city of Aosta (but most people go elsewhere in the valley)!
- The slow lifts on the advanced terrain (rest, recover, crowd control or just too limiting?)
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Pila is an exceptional north-facing, medium sized ski resort with access direct from the Aosta city centre via gondola. From the gondola top station at 1,800m altitude, the terrain of steep alpine bowls, lower tree-lined runs & flattish beginner areas become obvious. Pila's 70km of trails are heavily swayed toward intermediates, with over 70% of the ski terrain rated red. The 1,200m skiable vertical extends from the highest point of 2740m at Piatta de Grévon to below the Pila village at the 1,540m Plan Praz.
Check out the ski trail map for Pila below.
Beginner areas exist around the village progression areas in sheltered locations further up the mountain linked by a cable car between Gorraz & Grimod.
Intermediates will love the range of piste trails across the entire upper mountain. The tree lined run off the Chamole chair are perfect in poor weather or sunny days alike. A full 1,200m vertical run from the top of the Couis 1 down to the gondola mid-station at Plan Praz will test the legs off the best intermediate skiers & snowboarders.
Advanced and expert sliders have a few interesting piste options, but the better fun is in the steep Couis alpine bowls plus easy access freeride terrain off the top of the Grimondet chair.
If Pila was in the past let down by anything, it was the poor-quality chairlifts and a nasty piste choke point on the beginner's trail 15 as it enters the village (absolute carnage on a busy day!). Whilst we don't know if the piste choke point issue has been resolved, there is some excellent news on the state of the chairlifts. At least 5 of the 8 chairlifts at Pila are ancient and painfully slow. The two uppermost lifts (Couis 1 & 2) serve steep alpine bowls where the snow quality benefits from the chairs lack of speed. Thankfully, Couis 1 double chair has been replaced from season 24/25 by a new 10-person gondola. The lower section from Pila to the base of Couis1 via Gorraz will be completed for winter 25/26, along with all the panoramic restaurants & infrastructure that go with it. The changes put Pila on a path to greatness!
Snow & Weather
Pila has an interesting location in the Aosta valley where it receives the best and avoids most of the worst weather. North facing terrain 95% above 1,800m provides the first hint to snow quality. Across the valley from Western Europe's highest ridge line provides the next. High altitude, cold temps and shaded disposition in a snowy location ticks a few Powderhounds weather boxes.
Whilst the main ridge from Monte Bianco along the frontier to the Monte Rosa massif can often be socked in by cloud, Pila seems to avoid much of it. And when Pila is socked in, tree lined terrain down low allows for safe & sheltered skiing.
Where is Pila Italy?
Pila ski resort is in the Valle d’Aosta, south of & overlooking the city of Aosta. The main gondola access to Pila is conveniently from the centre of Aosta, 110km (1½hr) by road north of Turin & 176km (2hr) from Milan.
Main international gateway airports are Milan Malpensa (MXP) (170km by road) & Geneva (GVA) (150km by road) in Switzerland. Turin (TRN) airport serves some European & UK flight origins. The Powderhounds usually recommend taking the train & bus from the airports to any ski resort, but for those that just cannot abide public transport or are travelling in larger groups, a private transfer from Turin or Milan may be the most efficient mode of travel if one doesn’t have a car. Search & book airport transfers to Aosta & Pila.
Aosta is well served by train & bus transport. A railway line from Chivasso (on the Milan - Turin line) terminates at Aosta. Taxis & the central bus station provides links to Pila village.
Search & book train & bus tickets to Aosta.
The E25 motorway (autostrade) runs through the Valle d'Aosta past the city of Aosta, heading west to France via the Mont Blanc Tunnel and east to Turin and Milan. If driving up to Pila, what is a little over 5km in distance, is nearly 20km and 25 hairpins by road! Take the gondola up instead. There is a large free car park at the gondola valley station in Aosta.
Car hire & rental is available at several locations in the Aosta city centre and near the small local airport. Ensure the rental is an all-wheel drive with snow tyres.
For more info on how to get to Pila, see our Travel to Aosta page.
Pila Accommodation
The main ski resort village at Pila is perched 1,200m above the ancient city of Aosta. Numerous hotels, self-contained apartments, chalets & guesthouses are located on a bench at 1,800m elevation. The road (bus/taxi/car) or gondola from Aosta provides easy access for those wanting to stay on the hill.
The Pila village is split into a few different areas. The main village starts at top of the gondola, however there are two intermediate stations for those staying below the main resort. Les Fleurs (1,373m) is below the ski terrain but has several apartments & chalets available. Further up, the next station is Plan Praz, the lowest part of the ski terrain and with a collection of apartments & chalets, some with ski in convenience. Above the village near Grimod, the rifugio Baita Grimod provides simple ski in ski out winter lodgings.
Search & book all Pila ski accommodation.
Aosta and its adjacent valley towns can make excellent bases from which to ski Pila. In Aosta itself some hotels & guesthouses within the old town are in charming & lively locations but may be pedestrian access only. The outskirts of the old town or up on the sunny south facing terraces presents the better accommodation options. At only 600m elevation, Aosta is snow free for much of the winter, which may appeal to some visitors.
Search & book all Aosta accommodation.
Ski Rental, Lessons & Guiding
Ski rentals are available via our local partner at the Pila gondola valley station in Aosta. Receive a discount when you compare, search & book via our Pila Ski & Snowboard Rental page.
Find ski lessons & resort guiding via the listings below.
[AdListings collection="Europe" category="Italy Pila" subcategory="Pila Guiding"]
Pila Activities
A stay at Pila would be incomplete without an evening wining & dining in the La Baraka restaurant - the highest at Pila. Dinner (or cena - pronounced chaena!) & live music is dished up on weekends & a few other random evenings.
At the other end of the elevation spectrum, taking the gondola down to Aosta for the day provides some wonderful exploration. Poke around the laneways & corridors to find some local gems (shops, bars restaurants & historic sites that is...!). The remnants of ancient Roman times are particularly enlightening.
Nearby Ski Resorts
The Aosta valley has numerous great ski resorts which provide some variety & adventure. To the west are ritzy Courmayeur, spectacular Skyway Monte Bianco & laid back La Thuile. North is quiet Crevacol. East is superb Cervinia, beautiful Chamois, the freeride paradise of Monterosa & secluded Champorcher. All are an achievable day trip from Pila or Aosta.
See the Aosta Valley ski map.
Reviews
The Powderhounds visited Pila in 2018 & were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the terrain, snow & food. We would head back in a heartbeat and will re-visit once all the new ski lifts are installed for season 25/26! 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 Pila compares to the rest of the Italian ski resorts on the Italy ski resort ratings page, or compare to the rest of Europe on the European ski resort ratings page.
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