Val di Fassa Skiing & Snowboarding

The resorts that collectively make up the Val di Fassa ski area (or Fassatal for the German speakers among the population!) are an intriguing mix that will appeal to all snow lovers. Surrounded by sensational Dolomites peaks, skiing Val di Fassa has the juice to fulfil your needs, wants & desires. Whether you need to slide on beautiful, groomed piste, want to learn to ski or snowboard in a high-altitude snow sure zone or desire challenges in spectacular off-piste routes, Val di Fassa has some of the best terrain in the entire Dolomites.

The Val di Fassa ski & snowboard terrain has the second highest skiable vertical in the Dolomites, after Arabba Marmolada - a tidy 1,750m. The length of piste trails is a worthy 120km across three main ski areas & two smaller ones. Additional to the piste trails, several iconic Dolomites ski routes descend between the precipitous cliffs below Sass Pordoi, the resort’s highest point at 2,950m. Note that the most skiable vertical one can do in one hit in Val di Fassa is 1,490m & that involves an off-piste route. Generally, skiable verticals are a maximum of around 1,000m.

Val di Fassa’s ski terrain is predominantly between the altitudes of 1,700 & 2,500m in open alpine/sub-alpine zones. Over half of the trails are rated intermediate & the resort is perfect for long cruising days with friends & family linking villages, rifugi, viewpoints & bars!

Above the towns of Canazei & Campitello sprawls the largest the Val di Fassa ski areas. Encompassing the peaks of the Belvedere-Col Rodella-Sass Pordoi, the area has both sunny & shaded aspects in its predominantly high alpine terrain. Access is via gondola from Canazei or cable car from Campitello. Alternative access is via road, lift or piste from Val Gardena at Passo Sella, or Arabba at Passo Pordoi. One valley run leads to Canazei. A download is required to return to Campitello. The area has the longest & highest ski run potential in the resort from the top of Sass Pordoi to Canazei - a distance of around 7km descending a lusty 1,490m vertical.

Next is Ciampac-Buffaure ski area. Straddling an incredible distance across the peaks between the village of Alba & township of Pozza di Fassa, Ciampac-Buffaure has two of the best advanced pistes in the Dolomites amongst its largely intermediate terrain. Off piste opportunities exist in the north facing alpine terrain. The highest point is Sella Brunech at 2,428m. Access is via Alba or Pozza di Fassa.

The third area is Carezza, set on south facing slopes below the imposing Catinaccio (Rosengarten) & Latemar massifs. With a base altitude of 1,200m at Nova Levante-Welschnofen, Carezza has the majority of its 48km of mainly beginner/intermediate terrain above 1,700m. The gentle slopes combined with a sunny disposition all day & over 20 mountain huts make it perfect for beginners. Ironically the area has the steepest ski slope in the Val di Fassa as well - the King Laurin. A free ski bus links Carezza to Pozza di Fassa.

The two smaller ski areas still have great character & add enormously to the overall ski experience. West of Pozza di Fassa the Catinaccio ski area (below the stone 'cathedrals' of the same name) may have less then 10km of runs on 550m of vertical, but they include some classics like the eponymously named Tomba & long sunny Thoni. Access is via the villages of Pera & Vigo di Fassa. Free ski buses link the two villages to Pozza di Fassa. Catinaccio is one of the Powderhounds favourite ski areas in Val di Fassa. The combination of long tree-lined runs, amazing backdrop scenery, traditional rifugi, low crowds & great snow is exactly what we look for.

The other is Fedaia where a single gondola runs for 550m vertical up the flanks of Marmolada to 2,650m. The vistas are impressive as are the off-piste powder & ski touring potential. Free ski buses link Canazei, Alba & Passo Fedaia. The gondola only runs in May, so access to the amazing terrain is via the Marmolada top cable car at all other times (or human power!).

Val di Fassa Skiing Highlights

The Val di Fassa skiing highlights are a rite of passage according to Powderhounds. They are only to be undertaken when there is no powder because skiing powder ALWAYS takes priority. Tick off the following when at Val di Fassa.

• Complete an almost full orientation ski tour of Val di Fassa. Start in Campitello & take the cable car up to Col Rodella. Ski the area & head down to Pian Frataces. Take the gondola up to the Belvedere. Cut a lap around its lovely intermediate trails then head top to bottom from Saas Bece via Passo Pordoi all the way to Canazei. Bus it to Fedaia & ride the gondola for at least one lap on the side of Marmolada. Bus back down to Alba & head up to Ciampac. Head across the 10km or so via lifts & pistes finally down to Pozza di Fassa. Bus to Vigo di Fassa & complete the final lifts & pistes of Catinaccio. Ski the Tomba piste on the way down to Pera. Bus back to Campitello. Bravo! Save Carezza for another day (see further below).
• Ski the major Val di Fassa black runs first thing in the day when they are hard & fast. Ciampac into Alba, Vulcano on Buffaure into Pozza di Fassa, Tomba into Pera & the steepest (but short) piste in the area, King Laurin at Carezza.
• Ski the Val Lasties & Forcella del Pordoi off-piste freeride routes off the top of Saas Pordoi. The 700m+ vertical appears impossible to ski from the bottom but looks are deceiving. Try to ski the routes early & in powder (or at least some fresh snow) as they can get bumped in the tighter, steeper parts. The routes are best tackled by advanced skiers. Solid intermediates can get down them in good snow conditions. If in doubt ski with a professional instructor or guide.
• Head up to the Belvedere to complete the world famous Sella Ronda. The 40km long Sella Ronda might seem ‘touristy’ to some skiers, but most find it a sensational journey. The Sella Ronda links Val di Fassa to three other ski resorts around the Sella massif. Best done early (we mean at first lifts!) & in an anti-clockwise direction, the journey visits Arabba Marmolada, Alta Badia & Val Gardena before returning to Val di Fassa at Col Rodella. Dolomiti Superski lift pass required.
• Do the backcountry version over the Sella massif from Passo Pordoi into Alta Badia via the steep Val Mezdí (Dolomiti Superski pass required to get back). Access is via the Saas Pordoi cable car. From the top of the cable car, after a short climb up, one dives into a gnarly & deep gash running down the side of the Sella massif above Colfosco. Return via ski lifts as per the Sella Ronda.
• Head across to Arabba Marmolada & challenge yourself to ski the 80km+ Great War Tour (Dolomiti Superski pass required). The route follows sites important from the ‘White War’ fought in the Dolomites during WW1. As well as traversing parts of Arabba Marmolada, the tour includes the best elements of Cortina, Civetta & Alta Badia ski resorts. The best direction is anti-clockwise as it only requires 2 buses instead of 3. Start early but take some time to look at the museum on Marmolada, but not too much time. A lot of groups fail to finish!
• Ski the Carezza area on a clear day & watch the sunset from the top of the King Laurin chair. Watch the glow of the sun setting fire up the colours on the rock towers of the Catinaccio (or Rosengarten).
• Visit the small ski areas at Catinaccio & Passo Fedaia. You will have the ski hills to yourself in splendid surrounds.
• Pack light & spend the night on the mountain at Rifugio Sass Becè, Rifugio Salei or the hotels Bellavista or Tita Piaz on Pecol above Canazei. Ski with the dawn top to bottom, or just sleep in & enjoy a lazy Dolomites morning. Up to you.

Trail Maps

The Val di Fassa ski trail map ;provides a poor representation of the lifts & pistes in the Fassatal. Distances between villages & ski areas iare far greater than depicted. Check out the full ski trail map for Val di Fassa below.

Val di Fassa Ski Trail Map

The Carezza area has its own excellent ski trail map. The depiction of the terrain, lifts Pistes & other features is as good as it gets from a ski resort. Check out the full ski trail map for Carezza below.

Carezza Ski Trail Map

Ski Lifts

Val di Fassa has been constantly improving its ski lifts. In particular, the access from the valleys has been vastly increased with additional gondolas & updated chairlifts. In season 2017/18, a new valley to piste gondola & chairlift in the Ciampac area, plus two new valley-to-piste chairlifts in the Catinaccio area were installed. A new gondola linking Arabba to Val di Fassa at Passo Pordoi also went in. Of the 57 ski lifts in Val di Fassa the ski resort 42 of them are either chair, gondolas or cable cars (27, 10 & 5 respectively).

The only real issues with the ski lifts at Val di Fassa are the limited capacity of the few remaining cable cars (i.e. particularly from Campitello to Col Rodella).

Surface tows are now almost non-existent in the main ski areas. Those that are in place are either for short connections of pistes over terrain features or in learn to ski areas. Carezza is the exception with several surface tows still in place.

Lift Passes

Several lift options exist when skiing Val di Fassa. A standard Val di Fassa lift ticket is valid for all the disconnected local ski areas including distant ones like Carezza & Passo Fedaia. The standard lift pass is around €8 cheaper per day than the second most popular option, a Dolomiti Superski pass.

A Dolomiti Superski pass gives one unfettered access to the interlinked ski areas that make up the Sella Ronda, Armentarola & Great War Tour ski trails. Ski resorts with lift & piste links to Val di Fassa include Val Gardena & Arabba Marmolada. A host of other Dolomites’ ski resorts are also valid with a Dolomiti Superski pass including the nearby Alta Badia, San Martino-Passo Rolle, Obereggen & Alpe Lusia - Sam Pellegrino.

A third option for day passes is the Carezza lift pass. Valid only in Carezza, it is around €7per day cheaper than a standard Val di Fassa lift ticket.

The fourth option is the Silver Pass. Valid for between 5 or 6 days, it always skiing in Val di Fassa plus all the Val di Fieme areas including Obereggen. Cost is around €30+ cheaper than the equivalent Dolomiti Superski pass.

And finally a fifth option is the recent addition of free access with an IKON Pass. An Ikon Pass allows up to 7 Days free lift access, with no blackout periods, to all the Dolomiti Superski resorts including Val di Fassa and its neighbours. Holders of a full Ikon Pass get 7 days, Ikon Base Plus Pass & Ikon Base Pass allows 5 days free lift access. If you have an Ikon Pass, there is no need to stop at a ticket office, you can go directly to the ski lifts.

Snowboarding Val di Fassa

Val di Fassa is an incredibly snowboard friendly destination with very few long flat traverses & minimal surface lifts (T-bars et al). There are four terrain parks (Belvedere, Ciampac, Carezza x 2) for those looking to unnecessarily hurt themselves on man-made features!

On-Piste Terrain

There are a healthy 120km of piste trails in Val di Fassa, albeit across 5 separate (and no lift interlinked) ski areas.

Novice & Beginner

Aside from the substantial beginner terrain at Carezza & Catinaccio, the remaining zones of Val di Fassa have limited provision for beginners beyond some learn to ski areas. However, many of the areas designated intermediate are definitely appropriate for confident beginners, for example much of the terrain below Col Rodella. Each major town in the valley (Canazei, Campitello & Pozza di Fassa has a small & sheltered learn to ski area. One alpine learn-to-ski area is near Ciampac.

Intermediates

As with most of the Dolomites, Val di Fassa on the piste is heaven for intermediates. Over half of the piste trails area rated red for intermediate. Every day will be a journey of discovery as you travel from one area to the next - all on the same ski pass!

Advanced

Val di Fassa has some well-known advanced on-piste trails. The runs on Buffaure (Vulcano), Ciampac-Alba, Carezza’s King Laurin & Catinaccio’s Tomba are the pick of them.

Off Piste, Freeride & Backcountry Terrain

Beyond the obvious alpine off-piste, Val di Fassa appears to be limited in its freeride terrain, but the reverse in in fact true. In addition to some freeride zones on the Belvedere & Carezza, the main fare are the cliff lined gashes on the Sella massif accessed by the cable car on Saas Pordoi. From Passo Fedaia, access to Marmolada can be achieved with some effort, but on a good day (read - ‘powder’) hordes of freeriders will be descending from the cable cars higher up (the early bird will catch the worm).

In a good snow year & with some time spent in the area, the numerous high alpine meadows & bowls plus couloirs & chutes common to the Dolomites will become more obvious. If in doubt, ask a guide.