3 Zinnen Dolomites
3 Zinnen Dolomites: 115km slopes, 31 lifts, Italy's steepest piste. Award-winning South Tyrol resort in UNESCO Dolomites. Five mountains, one pass.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
27 Nov 2026
Closes
11 Apr 2027
Days open
135
Annual snow
3.3m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Rising dramatically in South Tyrol's eastern Dolomites, 3 Zinnen Dolomites offers 115 kilometres of perfectly groomed pistes across five interconnected ski areas within a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Named after the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks visible throughout the resort, this award-winning destination combines Italian hospitality with Austrian alpine precision in a trilingual region where Italian, German, and Ladin cultures converge.
The terrain spans Monte Elmo, Stiergarten, Croda Rossa, Monte Baranci, and Passo Monte Croce, with elevations reaching 2,225 metres ensuring reliable conditions across predominantly intermediate slopes. Notable features include the Holzriese run with its 71% gradient—Italy's steepest groomed piste—and the legendary 34-kilometre Giro delle Cime ski circuit traversing all five mountains on a single lift pass.
1070m
Vertical
82
Runs
86.4 km
Piste
3.3m
Annual snow
The Terrain
82 runs across 86.4 km of piste
3 Zinnen Dolomites strings together several South Tyrolean ski areas above the Hochpustertal, with a 1,070-metre drop from the 2,200-metre summit to the 1,130-metre base. Sanity lists 82 runs over 86.4 kilometres, and the grading is gentle: 47% beginner, 44% intermediate and 9% advanced, with nothing rated expert. Expect long, easy cruising rather than sustained steeps. The lift fleet leans heavily on gondolas and eight-seat and six-seat chairs, which keeps queues short and lets families and developing skiers cover plenty of ground in a day without feeling rushed.
The one piste that bites is the Holzriese on Croda Rossa, billed as Italy's steepest daily groomed run at a 71% gradient. Most visitors start with the Helmjet gondola from Sesto up to Monte Elmo, then follow the link towards Stiergarten and Croda Rossa. Confident skiers can chain the sectors together on the Giro delle Cime, a full-day circuit. Freeriders will find little here, because the draw is well-groomed terrain with Dolomite scenery. It suits intermediates, families and cautious advanced skiers who like covering distance, and it is a poor pick for anyone chasing steep, ungroomed lines.
Terrain split
82
runs
82 runs across 4 grades
Beginner39 runs · 47%
Intermediate36 runs · 44%
Advanced7 runs · 9%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit 3 Zinnen Dolomites
The 2025/26 season operates from 28 November 2025 through 12 April 2026, with optimal snow conditions from January through March when full terrain access typically extends across all five mountains. The resort's northern Dolomite position captures snowfall from both Dolomite storms and overflow from Alpine weather systems, delivering above-average precipitation compared to southern Dolomite resorts.
Comprehensive snowmaking covers 100% of marked runs, ensuring consistent grooming quality throughout winter despite the relatively modest 1,130-metre base elevation. Monte Baranci offers floodlit night skiing every Tuesday and Friday from 7pm to 10pm, whilst spring brings extended sunshine hours with morning freeze-thaw cycles maintaining excellent conditions on higher north-facing slopes through early April.
Season 2026 - 2027
27 Nov 2026
Opens
11 Apr 2027
Closes
135
Days open
3.3 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at 3 Zinnen Dolomites
Daily snow reports at 3 Zinnen Dolomites go back to 1996, 31 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
101 cm
Snowiest day
5 Dec 2020
29 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
327 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to 3 Zinnen Dolomites, and where to stay
Set in South Tyrol's Hochpustertal Valley near the Austrian border, 3 Zinnen Dolomites stretches across five distinctive villages including San Candido, Sesto, Dobbiaco, Villabassa, and Braies, each offering authentic alpine character with medieval architecture and boutique accommodation. The resort sits approximately 100 kilometres from Bolzano Airport, 130 kilometres from Innsbruck, 170 kilometres from Treviso, and 190 kilometres from Venice, with multiple access options via the A22 Brenner motorway.
The Ski Pustertal Express railway provides direct connections to lift stations at Versciaco, whilst regular bus services link all villages eliminating the need for personal vehicles. As part of the Dolomiti Superski network, the local pass grants access to 1,200 kilometres of terrain across 12 interconnected ski regions throughout the Dolomites.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near 3 Zinnen Dolomites, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is 3 Zinnen Dolomites's ski season?
3 Zinnen Dolomites's 2026 - 2027 season typically runs from November 27 through April 11. That window is roughly 135 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Italy, Europe often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does 3 Zinnen Dolomites have?
3 Zinnen Dolomites lists about 86.4 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 82 named runs. That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at 3 Zinnen Dolomites?
Trail grading at 3 Zinnen Dolomites breaks down roughly as 47% beginner, 44% intermediate, 9% advanced. With a strong beginner share, 3 Zinnen Dolomites suits families and first-time visitors who want forgiving warm-up terrain before exploring further upslope.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does 3 Zinnen Dolomites have?
3 Zinnen Dolomites operates 24 lifts across 6 lift types. The fleet includes 8 t-bars, 6 gondolas, 4 8-person chairs, 4 6-person chairs, 1 quad chair, and 1 double chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at 3 Zinnen Dolomites?
Base elevation at 3 Zinnen Dolomites is about 1,130 m (3,707 ft), with the summit around 2,200 m (7,218 ft), giving roughly 1,070 m (3,510 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does 3 Zinnen Dolomites get each season?
3 Zinnen Dolomites averages about 327 cm (129 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy 3 Zinnen Dolomites lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans €52 to €86, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (multi-day passes, season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at 3 Zinnen Dolomites before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 10 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for 3 Zinnen Dolomites so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does 3 Zinnen Dolomites have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for 3 Zinnen Dolomites. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is 3 Zinnen Dolomites located?
3 Zinnen Dolomites sits in Italy, Europe. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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7 Nov 2026
Loveland Ski Area Opens for 2026-27 and Marks 60 Years of Snowmaking
Loveland is open. The Colorado ski area started Chet’s Dream turning on Saturday 7 November to kick off 2026-27, with $60 adult lift tickets to mark 60 years of snowmaking. Expect three runs, nearly 1,000 vertical feet (about 300 metres) of top-to-bottom skiing, live music on the Basin Patio and no beginner terrain yet. Here’s what’s open, what it costs and when Loveland Valley follows.
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KFC Is Coming to the Slopes at Cortina and Madonna di Campiglio
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Mt Rose Aims to Open First in Tahoe on November 6
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4 Nov 2026
Europe Snow Forecast: Serre Chevalier Leads With 82 cm Over the Next 10 Days
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4 Nov 2026
Mammoth Mountain Opens Early on November 5 With Up to 33 Inches of Snow in the Forecast
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3 Nov 2026
Utah Snow Storm Builds Early-Season Base Ahead of November Openings
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1 Nov 2026