Skirama Dolomiti Ski Region Italy
The Skirama Dolomiti (Adamello Brenta) Ski Region is a collection of diverse ski resorts in northern Italy, just west of the main Dolomites mountains. Centred on the stylish Italian resort of Madonna di Campiglio & the compact Dolomites city of Trento, the region has something for everyone. Ski resorts include those that are small & family friendly; others that are quiet & lesser known; some huge, interlinked ski areas with arguably the country's best piste trails; one with high alpine glaciers and everything in between. Always beloved by Italians, Skirama Dolomiti truly comes to prominence for international skiers & snowboarders with the advent of Epic Pass validity across the region.
Pros & Cons for Skirama Dolomiti Ski Region
Pros
- Diverse snow holiday destination that provides a wonderful taste of Italian skiing.
- Exceptionally good piste trails for all abilities on varied terrain aspects.
- Snowmaking covers 90%of the region’s ski trails guaranteeing ski all season long.
- Ski terrain includes a glacier at Pontedilegno-Tonale.
- Incredible views throughout the region.
- Generally modern, comfortable ski lifts throughout the region.
- Fabulous range & extent of non-ski activities.
- Interesting mountain huts & rifugi.
Cons
- The broader ski region is experiencing ever diminishing natural snowfalls, particularly at lower elevations.
- Limited alpine off-piste freeride terrain in most of the ski areas (with some notable exceptions i.e. Tonale).
- Unless one has Epic Pass, the Skirama Dolomiti regional lift pass is poor value for money and one of the most expensive in Italy. If skiing the smaller resorts, just buy a local lift pass.
- Accommodation in some of the more popular villages (i.e. Madonna di Campiglio) books out quickly.
- Much of the terrain is not well suited to snowboarders.
- Some pistes are extremely busy & get skied off quickly - particularly trails from Marilleva to Madonna.
Pro or Con (depending on your perspective)
- Only 3 of the ski areas are lift interlinked (Madonna-Pinzolo-Folgarida/Marilleva), and all the rest require a rental car to access.
- Public transport to the region is a mixed bag of excellence (train to base of Marilleva) and not so great (to just about everywhere else!).
- Massive diversity in style, quality & price of accommodation across the ski region.
- Epic Pass now conditionally valid in the region ..... may be good, may be bad!
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lift & Terrain
The Skirama Dolomiti skiing & snowboarding terrain covers the full gamut of possibilities. With around 400km of trails & ski routes, over 150 lifts and elevations ranging from the lowest at 852m at Pinzolo all the way to 3,000m at the top of Pejo & Tonale, it’s not hard to why diversity is king in the region. Check out the basics of each ski area in the list below. The region’s ski trails are 90% covered by snowmaking which says two things:
1 - Skiing is guaranteed throughout the season &;
2 - Natural snowfall is a diminishing resource here, particularly in the lower elevation zones!
Follow the links for more detailed info on the ones we have visited over the years. List below is from largest to smallest:
• Madonna di Campiglio / Folgarida Marilleva / Pinzolo - The ski area is made up of the 3 separate resorts and has been fully lift interlinked. With the stunning Brenta Dolomites as the backdrop, its 156km of Italy's best on-piste trails, and around 60 modern lifts, make it the centre of attention in Skirama Dolomiti. Whilst there is some excellent backcountry ski touring, the off-piste freeride is limited to some low-pitched alpine terrain & a whole lot of excellent tree skiing for the adventurous. More of a piste skiers destination than a true powder seekers haunt.
• Pontedilegno Tonale - With its apex on the Presena Glacier at 3,000m, well above the 1,880m Passo Tonale, plus a huge set of long ski trails heading down below into the villages of Pontedilegno & Temu, this is the most diverse AND snow sure ski area in the Skirama Dolomiti region. The 100km of pistes, longest run of 11km over nearly 1,900m of skiable vertical, ample freeride terrain in the high alpine, plus interesting villages to stay in, make it the ‘go to’ ski resort for long, big mountain descents in powder.
• Folgaria - 70km of predominantly forest-lined, beginner & intermediate piste trails on a short skiable vertical of only 586m. Folgaria is not only the second lowest elevation ski area overall in Skirama Dolomiti (with a highest lifted point of only 1,824m – that’s very low for Italy), but it also the most southerly. Come here only if conditions look good (i.e. there is a decent snow base from top to bottom). The resort shares a local day pass with neighbouring (but not lift or piste connected) Lavarone ski resort (see below)
• Paganella - Not to be sneezed at, the relatively unknown Paganella ski resort rises above the town of Andalo to 2,125m and has 40km of mainly intermediate trails including lusty top to bottom descents on its full 1,085m skiable vertical to two separate base areas. If the snow is right, we reckon we would check it out for sure.
• Lavarone - Low elevation ski resort good for beginners & families if the snow I good down to loa levels. The highest lifted point on its 30km of ski trails is only 1,600m. Has its own lift pass or you can get one that combines with neighbouring (but not interlinked) Folgaria. Too low for a good snow experience these days …… unless of course you luck out!
• Peio (Pejo) - Fun, but tiny ski area of just over 20km of ski trails that feels BIG when you ski it. Pejo’s highest lifted point of 3,000m and long valley trail of 8km over 1,600m skiable vertical, makes it ripe for lovers of deserted pistes & super-fast morning turns. Limited freeride terrain has possibilities but is only good the day after a storm. Its location between Tonale & Folgarida-Marilleva makes it easy to add to any visit to the region. Local villages away from the ski area base are authentic & traditional.
• Monte Bondone - The smallest of the region’s ski areas with around 20km of trails, the resort is closest to the major Dolomites town of Trento and has nice terrain all the way down its base villages. Can get busy on weekends.
Check out the ski trail map for the entire Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta below.
Lift Passes
Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta Ski Region links a multi-day lift pass with 8 ski areas including: Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Folgarida-Marilleva, Pontedilegno - Passo Tonale, Pejo3000, Paganella Andalo, Monte Bondone, Alpe Cimbra: Folgaria-Lavarone. On its own, if skiing the smaller resorts, the pass is way over-priced.
In addition, holders of a Vail Resorts Epic Pass (Epic Pass, Epic Adaptive, Epic Australia Pass, Epic Adaptive Australia Pass Holders, & Vail Resorts lifetime Pass Holders) receive seven complimentary, unrestricted and consecutive days, in total, of skiing and riding at Skirama Dolomiti ski areas. Upon redemption of all seven days, Epic Pass Holders can then purchase discounted lift tickets at 50% off the window price. Epic Pass Holders must present their valid season pass card and photo ID at any Skirama Dolomiti ticket office where you will be issued a magnetic key card upon validation and receipt of a €5.00 refundable deposit per card. The deposit is refunded when the key card is returned in good condition. Pawesome!
Review
The Powderhounds have reviewed what we believe are the best Skirama Dolomiti ski resorts. We revisited four of the resorts in March 2024, seamlessly using our Epic Pass for free access to the ski lifts. From what we have seen, Skirama Dolomiti is generally not a freeride powder destination, but more an interesting collection of on-piste ski resorts that cover the full gamut of terrain from alpine glacier to low level local village ski hills. The one exception to is Pontedilegno-Tonale, which provides a quality all-round adventure for everyone including powder-hunting freeriders. 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 Skirama Dolomiti 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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