Skiing in Val Gardena Dolomites and the Legendary 8

Discover the eight slopes that embody the history and sporting spirit of Val Gardena and the Dolomites

In Val Gardena, the most wonderful time of the year has undoubtedly arrived: the season of skiing, ski boots, fresh snow. mountain hut lunches and après ski, singing at the top of your lungs while flying down the slopes to that unmistakable tune of Sweet Caroline. Yes, I know, you can’t wait to experience it.

With its fabulous downhill slopes, state of the art ski lifts and the majestic snow-covered peaks of the Dolomites all around, Val Gardena transforms into a true winter paradise for ski lovers. What makes it even more special is that Val Gardena is part of Dolomiti Superski, the largest ski carousel in the world, with over 1,200 km of slopes accessible with a single ski pass.

Awarded multiple times as the best ski resort in the Dolomites and in Italy, and considered the most historic ski destination in South Tyrol, Val Gardena offers an incredible variety of slopes suitable for both beginners and expert skiers. Among them stand out the “Legendary 8”, eight runs that embody the valley’s tradition and sporting spirit. Known for their technical features and the breathtaking scenery they cross, they are just one of the many experiences Val Gardena has to offer.

But enough talk. Let’s get straight to the point. In this article, we’ll introduce you to the eight legendary slopes of Val Gardena and share some useful tips.

First, though, I’d like to remind you that when you purchase your ski pass on the Dolomiti Superski website, you can choose to have it printed and collected directly at our Alpstay Hotels, avoiding long and unnecessary queues at the ticket counters.

1. Saslong - the legendary slope

This is undoubtedly the most famous slope in Val Gardena, especially for the fundamental role it has played in the history of winter sports. Since 1969, Val Gardena has hosted almost every year the FIS Ski World Cup races, including the men’s downhill and Super-G events. The run is 3,750 m long, with a vertical drop of 830 m and is particularly famous for its technical sections such as the “Muro”, the “Gran Muro” and above all, the three “Camel Humps”.

Warning: This is a black run, one of the most difficult and is therefore recommended mainly for expert skiers.

Alpstay Tip: Smart Hotel Saslong is just a 5-minute ski bus ride from the legendary Saslong slope.

Difficulty: black slope
Start: Sochers-Ciampinoi chiarlift top station
Finish: Ruacia

2. Cir - the women’s slope

This slope, famous for having seen athletes race during the 1970 World Championships (women’s downhill), initially runs beneath the Cir peaks along gentle, scenic terrain. Then, upon entering the forest, the course becomes more technical, with changes in gradient and speed, until it reaches the beautiful and panoramic Vallunga. It is a demanding run, recommended for those who already have excellent skiing skills.

Alpstay Tip: thanks to its ski-in & ski-out location, Hotel Acadia offers direct access to the Dantercëpies gondola lift.

Difficulty: black slope
Start: Dantercëpies top station
Finish: Vallunga chairlift bottom station

3. Ciampinoi - the steep slope

Next to the legendary Saslong you’ll find the Ciampinoi run, which descends to Selva di Val Gardena with a vertical drop of 677 m. Its course, chosen for the men’s and women’s giant slalom at the 1970 World Championships, is considered one of the most technical in the Dolomites. From the top station of the lift with the same name, instead of heading towards S. Cristina (as for the Saslong), you have to turn towards Selva, tackling gradients the average around 30%, from which it takes its nickname.

Alpstay Tip: the Ciampinoi gondola lift is located in the center of Selva di Val Gardena and can be reached in just a 5-minute walk from Hotel Acadia.

Difficulty: black slope
Start: Ciampinoi top station
Finish: Campo Frëina, Selva

4. Bravo - the romantic slope

Let’s move on to something slightly easier. Its nickname, “the romantic slope”, is no coincidence: this slope offers a smooth, harmonious descent, dominated by the profile of the Sassolungo and the beauty of the Monte Pana landscapes. This unique combination has earned it a place among the 8 Legendary runs of Val Gardena.

Difficulty: red slope
Start: Mont Sëura top station
Finish: Mont Sëura bottom station

5. Falk - the first slope

La Falk is nicknamed “the first” because it is one of the historic slopes of Val Gardena: skiers were already skiing it at the end of the 1940s. The course starts from Piz Seteur and, with over 300m of vertical drop and more than 2km in length, descends to Plan de Gralba. This is an easy slope, ideal if you are still improving your technique.

Difficulty: red slope
Start: Sassolungo top station
Finish: Plan de Gralba bottom station

6. Gardenissima - the sensational slope

The Gardenissima is famous for hosting, at the end of winter season, the longest giant slalom in the world. The course is considered one of the most panoramic in the entire Alpine area. With a length of 6 km, it starts from the slopes of Seceda, crossing forests and small mountain huts before reaching the Col Raiser slopes. From here, if you wish to continue skiing, you can take the Col Raiser gondola (staying in the same area) or the Val Gardena Ronda Express, which will take you to the opposite side of the valley, towards Saslong or Plan de Gralba.

Difficulty: red slope
Start: Fermeda - Seceda top station
Finish: Col Raiser bottom station

7. La Longia - the longest slope

The Longia, which in Ladin translates literally as “the long”, is one of the longest runs in the entire Dolomiti Superski area, reaching 10 km and earning the title of longest slope in South Tyrol. The course starts from the panoramic Seceda summit and descends to Val d’Anna in Ortisei, where the bottom station of the cable car is also located.

Difficulty: red slope
Start: Fermeda - Seceda top station
Finish: Furnes - Ortisei bottom station

8. Pilat - the new slope

The Pilat is a recently inaugurated slope that runs through conifer forests and rocky sections, connecting Alpe di Siusi with Ortisei. From here, magnificent views open up over the villages of Val Gardena, especially Ortisei and S. Cristina. The special feature of this slope is that it allows you to ski directly back from Alpe di Siusi to Ortisei.

Difficulty: red slope
Start: Ortisei - Alpe di Siusi top station
Finish: Ortisei - Alpe di Siusi bottom station