
Aprica
Aprica: 50km slopes, Europe's longest night skiing run (5.5km), 1,162-2,270m elevation. Lombardy family resort 160km from Milan.
Aprica delivers 50 kilometres of varied skiing across a natural balcony overlooking Valtellina, with terrain spanning from 1,200 to 2,270 metres elevation. The resort combines a family-friendly atmosphere with excellent learning facilities and challenging expert runs, including the famous Pista Stelvio with its sustained 45-degree pitch over 3 kilometres.
Modern snowmaking infrastructure covers 90% of all marked runs, ensuring reliable conditions throughout winter. Aprica's wide, open slopes above the tree line contrast with beautiful forest descents, creating diverse skiing experiences across four distinct sectors: Palabione, Magnolta, Baradello, and Campetti.
Aprica is a compact Valtellina resort on a mountain pass, with 20 runs spread over 50 kilometres and a vertical of 1,108 metres, from 1,162 metres to 2,270 metres. Grading is split 54% beginner, 31% intermediate and 15% advanced, with no expert terrain. The beginner share is the largest, but the 15% advanced is a meaningful slice for a resort this size, so it is not only a learner's area. Four sectors, Palabione, Magnolta, Baradello and Campetti, are linked on snow, and a handful of gondolas and quad chairs carry skiers up from the village.
Palabione is the largest sector, mixing wide intermediate runs with technical descents such as Benedetti, one of the better-known blacks. On Magnolta, the Pistone della Magnolta is a steep black of about 2 kilometres, hardest in its lower section, and the Pista Stelvio is a sustained, steep run that tests advanced skiers. Open slopes up high give way to forest runs lower down. There is no major freeride zone. It suits families and learners, plus advanced skiers from Milan looking for a few steep pistes close to the city.
Aprica's winter season typically runs from early December through mid-April, with optimal snow conditions from January through March. The resort's favourable microclimate, created by its protected valley position, contributes to consistent conditions and approximately 4 metres of natural snowfall annually.
Comprehensive snowmaking systems ensure reliable coverage from opening day, with operations beginning on Palabione's north-facing slopes before expanding across all sectors by Christmas week. March delivers excellent spring skiing with firm morning conditions and comfortable temperatures, while special night skiing operations on Wednesdays and Saturdays extend the skiing day throughout the season.
Positioned 175 kilometres northeast of Milan at the strategic Valtellina and Val Camonica junction, Aprica occupies a natural mountain pass at 1,181 metres elevation. The compact resort village features traditional Alpine architecture with hotels and apartments predominantly offering ski-in/ski-out convenience. Unlike purpose-built resorts, Aprica evolved organically from an historic mountain community, maintaining authentic charm while developing modern visitor facilities.
The surrounding region boasts remarkable biodiversity with extensive protected forests, accessible via winter hiking trails and snowshoe routes that complement the skiing experience. Convenient road connections via the SS39 and proximity to Tirano's railway station make Aprica easily accessible despite its mountain setting.
Hotels and lodges near Aprica, powered by Stay22.

Europe’s ski season is open, technically. After a record-warm summer, glaciers in Austria, Switzerland and Italy are running a few pistes apiece, Sölden, Stubai and Kitzsteinhorn started late, Titlis has pushed back to 24 October, and Zermatt reopens a few lifts on 14 October after more than two months shut. Finland’s Levi and Ruka are skiing on stored snow. Here is what is open, and what you actually get at each.

Zermatt is having another crack at a World Cup downhill, and this time nobody has to cross a border. Around 13 million Swiss francs is going into rebuilding the Gornergrat piste, including a jump fed by a roughly 300-metre in-run across the roof of the Gornergrat Railway gallery, with the Matterhorn lined up behind it for the TV cameras. First men’s race is pencilled in for March 2028, pending FIS homologation.

Lake Tahoe’s highest base elevation is paying off early: Mt. Rose has started making snow for 2026-27 after the first flurries and a cold snap. The Nevada resort is backing it with nearly US$2 million in upgrades, including a replacement snowmaking main line, a new PistenBully groomer and restraint bars on every lift. Opening day is yet to be confirmed, though Heavenly and Northstar are already eyeing 20 November.

Utah is still building flat out. For 2026-27, Powder Mountain opens a steep new Skytrac chair into more than 1,000 acres of advanced terrain, Deer Valley adds 200 acres on Hail Peak, Sundance gets a new quad and Park City adds a gondola from its new parking structure. Snowmaking is expanding almost everywhere, Eagle Point stays closed after the Cottonwood Fire, and the 2034 Games are setting the pace. Here’s what’s new, resort by resort.

Mt Hutt is getting busier, and its base lodge is about to catch up. NZ$12 million goes into a heated sun deck roughly three times the current size (430 m² to 1,300 m²), plus a new toilet block, heated steps down to snow level, extra storage and a new food and beverage outlet. Building starts after the 2026 season, with everything due for winter 2027.

Vermont's season is slow to take shape. Stratton is tentatively targeting 18 November and Sugarbush 21 November, while Pico has Friday 11 December on the calendar. Killington never sets a date and opens when the snowmaking allows, and Vail Resorts has yet to name days for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow. The forecasts disagree about snow, and the main El Niño worry for the Green Mountains is warmth.

Less than four months out from the Crans-Montana 2027 World Championships, the man running the organising committee has stepped down. Claude-Alain Schmidhalter resigned as Swiss-Ski vice president and OC president after being indicted over a business dispute unrelated to skiing. He denies the allegations and faces court on October 27. Interim leaders are in place for the February 1-14 event.

Kelly Canyon had a rough 2025-26, and the Idaho resort has spent the summer making sure it doesn’t repeat. Snowmaking now reaches the top of Goldrush, the terrain park is doubling in size with a stereo system, lights and a snack shack, and the car park is getting bigger. Grooming is stepping up too. Target opening is December 4, conditions permitting.
Opening day for the winter 2026 - 2027 season is scheduled for Nov 28, 2026 (subject to change). Lift tickets at Aprica typically go on sale well before the start of the ski season.
Day passes start from €23, with peak rates up to €52.
Full day skiing at Aprica in Valtellina with 50km of slopes and 16 lifts. Lombardy skiing from Palabione to Magnolta areas with night skiing on Europe's longest illuminated run.
Buy passJunior daily ticket for Aprica skiing in Lombardy. Youth pricing for ages 8-17 with access to varied terrain from Baradello's modern lifts to family-friendly Campetti area.
Buy passFree skiing for children under 8 at Aprica when accompanied by paying adult. Valtellina family skiing with beginner-friendly Campetti area and magic carpets.
Buy passSenior discount lift ticket for Aprica skiing. Reduced rates for skiers 65+ with access to sunny Magnolta area and extensive groomed slopes in Lombardy.
Buy passNight skiing at Aprica on Europe's longest illuminated run. 5.5km Baradello slope lit until 11pm with spectacular starry sky skiing in the Valtellina Alps.
Buy passHalf day skiing at Aprica starting at 1:00pm. Afternoon access to 50km of Valtellina slopes with modern lift system and varied terrain for all abilities.
Buy passTwo-day lift ticket package at Aprica with savings over daily rates. Extended Valtellina skiing with Snow Train packages available from Lombardy stations.
Buy passThree-day family package at Aprica with free accommodation skipass. Includes adult and child passes with 50% discount for children when booking affiliated hotels.
Buy passUnlimited access to Aprica all season with no blackout dates. Includes discounts at local businesses and partner benefits across Valtellina ski resorts.
Buy passMore Aprica intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.