Campo Smith - Colomion gondola

The Campo Smith - Colomion gondola is the main way up to the Colomion sector, the heart of the skiing at Bardonecchia. This Piedmont resort in the Cottian Alps has one of the strongest Olympic pedigrees in Italian skiing.

When Turin hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics, Bardonecchia staged the snowboard events: the halfpipe and the parallel slalom were held on the slopes of the Jafferau. Athletes from all over the world left their mark on a ski area that the pioneers of Italian alpine skiing were already visiting in the late 19th century.

The current lift, built by Leitner in 2008, replaced the old gondola that had served the Colomion for decades. Its capacity of 2,000 people per hour has cut waiting times at peak hours dramatically.

An easy trip from Turin

Bardonecchia’s location is its trump card with one very loyal market: Turin. The direct train from Torino Porta Susa takes just over an hour and a quarter, which makes it the easiest ski resort to reach from the city without a car.

Every winter weekend the trains bring crowds of skiers from Turin, boots and skis packed in their bags. This tradition of popular, affordable skiing has shaped generations of skiers from Piedmont and gives Bardonecchia a lively, down-to-earth feel, very different from the upmarket resorts of the Aosta Valley. The nearby Fréjus Tunnel between Italy and France also brings in visitors from across the border.

Three sectors

The Bardonecchia ski area has three sectors, each with its own character:

• Colomion, reached by the Campo Smith gondola, is the largest and most varied. Runs go from green to red, with a few blacks for experienced skiers. This is where most skiers go and where you have the widest choice of routes.
• Jafferau, served by another lift, is the highest and most technical sector. Its steep runs often have better snow thanks to their north-facing aspect, and this is where the 2006 Olympic events took place.
• Les Arnauds is aimed at families and beginners, with gentle slopes and a particularly well-kept children’s area.

Snow and season length

The Colomion generally holds its snow well: many slopes stay in the shade during the warmest hours of the day and remain skiable even when temperatures rise in spring. Snowmaking covers the main runs, so the season can open in December even in years with little snow.

The length of the season is one of Bardonecchia’s strengths. Thanks to the combination of altitude, aspect and snowmaking, the ski area often stays open well into April.

Summer

In summer Bardonecchia and the Colomion have plenty to offer hikers and cyclists. Trails from the top station of the gondola cross beautiful country, with flower meadows, alpine lakes and views over the surrounding Cottian Alps.

Transhumance, the centuries-old practice of moving flocks up to high pastures for the summer, still goes on in these valleys, and you may meet shepherds and their flocks along the trails. Bardonecchia is a true all-round destination, with genuine mountain experiences in every season.