Freeriding is skiing in its purest form: fresh snow, silence and lines you draw yourself. With its extraordinary variety of mountains, Italy has some of the best freeride terrain in Europe. From the Dolomite walls to the couloirs of the Aosta Valley and the surprises of the Apennines, here are the 15 spots every freerider should know.
Safety first
Warning: freeriding carries serious risks from avalanches, crevasses and unfamiliar terrain. You must carry avalanche safety equipment (transceiver, shovel, probe) and know how to use it. Always ski with experienced companions and check the avalanche bulletin before every outing.
For more detail, read our article on mountain safety and avalanche prevention.
Aosta Valley: the great couloirs
1. Monte Rosa: Alagna Valsesia
Alagna is Italy’s freeride capital. Descents from Punta Indren (3,275 m) offer:
- Canale di Olen: an unmissable classic, 1,500 m of vertical
- Val d’Otro: a long descent with persistent snow in the couloirs
- Powder that keeps well thanks to the north-facing aspect
- Highly experienced mountain guides available locally
2. Courmayeur: Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc, the roof of Europe, has legendary descents:
- Vallée Blanche: the most famous descent in the Alps (French side, accessible from Courmayeur)
- Toula: technical couloirs with up to 2,000 m of vertical
- Organised mountain guide services (ENSA/CAI)
3. Champoluc: Monterosa Ski
Champoluc in Monterosa Ski offers accessible freeride:
- Routes you can reach straight from the lifts
- Col di Pinter and Val di Nana for deep powder
- Organised freeride camps with local guides
4. Cervinia-Valtournenche
Cervinia has open slopes that are ideal for powder:
- Ventina and Cime Bianche: wide open slopes above 3,000 m
- Snow guaranteed by the high altitude
- Wide-open terrain that also suits intermediate freeriders
Trentino-Alto Adige: Dolomites and beyond
5. Arabba: Marmolada
Arabba-Marmolada offers the highest point in the Dolomites:
- Glacier descents from the Marmolada summit (3,343 m)
- Couloirs beneath the Cime d’Ombretta
- Linked to the Sella Ronda for days that take in several spots
6. Solda al Cevedale
Solda is a wild, little-visited ski area:
- The Ortler glacier, up to 3,905 m
- Long, demanding ski touring descents
- Fresh snow that stays untracked for days
7. San Pellegrino: Passo San Pellegrino
San Pellegrino has north-facing slopes that are perfect for powder:
- Cima Uomo and Col Margherita: classic routes
- Snow that keeps for a long time in the north-facing couloirs
- Authentic Dolomite environment, away from mass tourism
Lombardy and Piedmont
8. Bormio: Vallecetta
Bormio is more than just the Stelvio run:
- Vallecetta: the most famous freeride couloir in the Valtellina
- Descents from Cima Piazzi (3,439 m)
- Valtellina mountain guides, among the best trained in Italy
9. Madesimo: Pizzo Groppera
Madesimo has routes with a big vertical drop:
- From Pizzo Groppera: 1,800 m of descent
- Canale della Groppera: a classic steep-skiing line
- Reachable from Milan in 2 hours
10. Macugnaga: Monte Rosa (Piedmont side)
Macugnaga offers the east face of Monte Rosa:
- The most imposing scenery in the Alps
- Demanding ski touring routes
- Descents from the Belvedere Glacier
11. Bardonecchia: Jafferau
Bardonecchia has the Jafferau sector entirely dedicated to freeride:
- Open, north-facing slopes
- Plenty of fresh snow thanks to the stau effect of Atlantic weather systems
- Easily accessible by train (TGV from Paris)
Veneto and Friuli
12. Civetta: Alleghe
Civetta lies at the foot of the north-west face of Monte Civetta:
- Steep, wild couloirs
- Authentic Dolomite atmosphere, far from mass tourism
13. Sella Nevea: Canin
Sella Nevea holds a record: it gets the heaviest snowfall in the eastern Alps:
- Up to 5-6 metres of snow per year
- Unique karst terrain: sinkholes, caves and couloirs
- Descents from Monte Canin (2,587 m) towards Slovenia
Apennines: surprises for freeriders
14. Campo Imperatore (Abruzzo)
Campo Imperatore offers unexpected freeride:
- Slopes above 2,500 m with fresh snow
- Lunar, wild terrain, no crowds
- Descents from Corno Grande (2,912 m) with CAI guides
15. Etna (Sicily)
Etna Nord: freeride on an active volcano:
- Descents on volcanic ash and snow
- An experience like no other in the world
- Mediterranean views during the descent
Essential freeride equipment
| Item | Why you need it |
|---|---|
| Avalanche transceiver (ARTVA) | Finding buried victims after an avalanche |
| Snow shovel | Digging out a buried person |
| Probe | Pinpointing the buried person |
| Airbag backpack | Extra protection against burial |
| Wide skis (100-120 mm underfoot) | Float in fresh snow |
| Helmet with neck protection | Safety on uneven terrain |
For up-to-date snow conditions, our mountain weather pages help you plan your outings.