Off-Piste Ski Descents in Alta Badia

Throughout the Dolomite Mountains, there seems to be a never-ending supply of lift-accessible, off-piste ski descents!

From Alta Badia there are incredible lift-serviced off-piste descents of Marmolada, Piz Boè, Sella, and the Tofane, to name a few. Below are some of our favorites that you may want to explore during your trip that we’ve selected for their incredible skiing and breathtaking scenery. Want more? You'll have to come here and explore for yourself!

SELLA MASSIF

The Sella Massif offers incredible off-piste skiing, with some famous descents to explore such as Val Mezdi – the "Valle Blanche of the Dolomites", Val Setus – with its 1,400 meter (4,595') vertical drop, Val Lasties – or Witch’s Valley, Piz Boe – with various descents and fantastic steeps, and Joel and Holtzer on the Sass Pordoi – considered the gateway of extreme skiing in the Dolomites!

Sella, Val Mezdi (Midday Valley)
Vertical drop: 1,400 meters / 4,560 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Dubbed the "Valle Blanche of the Dolomites", the Val Mezdi a classic and wonderful 4,000 foot downhill in a typical Dolomite surroundings. Because of avalanches, be careful when crossing the SW face of Piz Boè (alternative route). The downhill is not so hard.

Sella, Tre Canali Sasso delle Nove (3 Couloirs Nine’s peak)
Vertical drop: 800 meters / 2,625 feet
Facing: Northwest
Technical difficulty: Very steep and a rope is needed. Constant 50° slope. Wonderful extreme downhill skiing.

Sella, Val Setus
Vertical drop: 1,400 meters  / 4,595 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Hard. It is very difficult to know the right way into the couloir. Steep, up to 40°. The snow conditions are very important!

Sella, Val Culea Integrale
Vertical drop: 1,400 meters / 4,595 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Complicated but wonderful combination for real ski mountaineers. Steep couloir up to 45°.

Sella, Val Largia (Wide Valley)
Vertical drop: 1,000 meters / 3,280 feet
Facing: South
Technical difficulty: Easy, interesting, and evocative.

Piz Boè, Diretta delle Fontane (Fountains Direct)
Vertical drop: 1,600 meters / 5,270 feet
Facing: South
Technical difficulty: Constant 45° couloir with rock walls. No allowance for falling  down.

Piz Boè, Canale Col Altonn
Vertical drop: 1,000 meters / 3,280 feet
Facing:  South
Technical difficulty: 40° steep couloir in some places only few feet wide. Ideal for teaching steep ski and technique.

Piz Boè, Canale del Ghiacciaio (Glacier Couloir)
Vertical drop: 1,500 meters / 4,920 feet
Facing: Northwest and north
Technical difficulty: Hard. The biggest problem is avalanche danger. Normally the snow is very good for skiing. Great alternative to the classic entry into the Val Mezdì.

Piz Boè Vallon+Val Litres
Vertical drop: 1,500 meters / 4,920 feet
Facing: From east to northwest
Technical difficulty: Not so hard but very difficult to find the right passages between the various rock walls.

Sass Pordoi, Canale Joel (Joel’s Couloir)
Vertical drop: 1,000 meters / 3,280 feet
Facing: South
Technical difficulty: Hard. Up to 50° couloir. Be careful of ice in the middle of the couloir near the rocks.

Sass Pordoi, Canale Heini Holzer (Heini Holzer Couloir)
Vertical drop: 1,200 meters / 3,950 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Hard. It is considered the gateway of extreme skiing in the Dolomites. A rope is needed.

Sass Pordoi, Val Lasties (Witch’s Valley)
Vertical drop: 1,200 meters  / 3,950 feet
Facing: North and south
Technical difficulty: Easy, but a wonderful Dolomites itinerary.

MARMOLADA MASSIF

Marmolada, aptly named as “Queen of the Dolomites,” boasts the highest peak of all the Dolomites, reaching a height of 3,342 meters (10,965'), and features the largest remaining glacier in the Dolomite Mountains. It also provides some of the most spectacular off-piste skiing experiences on earth. Tackle Antermoia, Bellunese Vecchia, Punta Penia, In Fra i Sass, Lydia, or the Forcella Marmolada (Marmolada Pass) itself!

Marmolada, Antermoia
Vertical drop: 1,250 meters / 4,100 feet
Facing: North / Northeast
Technical difficulty: Very difficult. The first part has 50° passages and the final section is very difficult to find.

Marmolada, Bellunese Vecchia
Vertical drop: 1,150 meters / 3,775 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Easy but wonderful downhill skiing at the foot of the Serauta West face.

Marmolada, Nord e nord-ovest di Punta Penia
Vertical drop: 1,350 meters / 4,430 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Very hard. 50° and crevasses.

Marmolada, In fra i Sass (Between stones)
Vertical drop: 1,350 meters / 4,430 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Spectacular descent. Easy / medium difficulty.

Marmolada, Lydia
Vertical drop: 1,350 meters / 4,430 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Classic glacier itinerary. Medium difficulty.

Forcella Marmolada sud e nord (Marmolada’s Col / two different downhills south and north)
Vertical drop: 1,200 meters / 3,950 feet
Facing: South or north.
Technical difficulty:  Hard.  In the Col there is a short "via ferrata" and the north face has crevasses.

Sasso di Valfredda (Cold Valley Peak)
Vertical drop: 1,000 meters / 3,280 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Classic 30° downhill usually with good powder snow.

Padon, Valle Ornella (Ornella’s Valley)
Vertical drop: 850 meters / 2,790 feet
Facing: North
Technical difficulty: Easy. Be careful in the last part to find the right route in the forest. It is possible to visit one of the most beautiful villages of the region: Ornella.

Padon Sud
Vertical drop: 1,050 meters / 3,450 feet
Facing: Northeast
Technical difficulty: A good knowledge of mountain skiing is needed.