
Belpiano (Schöneben) offers 40 kilometres of pristine skiing across sunny plateaus and north-facing slopes in South Tyrol's upper Vinschgau Valley, with elevations ranging from 1,500 to 2,900 metres. The resort combines family-friendly zones with challenging expert terrain, highlighted by the Erschbaum black run featuring sustained 65% gradients.
Modern snowmaking systems cover 95% of all marked runs, ensuring reliable conditions throughout winter despite the area's southern position. The resort's panoramic location delivers extraordinary views across the Ortler mountain range and into Switzerland, with distinctive Alpine scenery complementing the skiing experience.
Belpiano (Schöneben) spreads 12 runs across 65 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 46%, with 5 beginner runs to find your feet and 1 advanced or expert run when you want to push.
The Belpiano winter season typically runs from early December through mid-April, with optimal conditions from January through March. The area benefits from a remarkable microclimate, receiving over 300 sunny days annually while maintaining excellent snow preservation on north-facing slopes.
The resort's high elevation and comprehensive snowmaking capabilities ensure reliable skiing from opening day, with operations typically beginning on upper mountain sectors before expanding across the entire network by Christmas week. March brings classic spring conditions with firm morning snow and increasingly longer daylight hours, complemented by spectacular Alpine panoramas.
Situated in South Tyrol's upper Vinschgau Valley, Belpiano sits 80 kilometres northwest of Bolzano and 70 kilometres east of St. Moritz, Switzerland. The resort operates above several traditional villages including Mals and Burgeis, which maintain authentic Alpine architecture and strong cultural connections to both Italian and Austrian heritage.
The surrounding region features remarkable biodiversity within the Stelvio National Park, with extensive protected forests accessible via winter hiking trails. The area's strategic location places it within South Tyrol's Ortler Skiarena network, providing connection opportunities to neighbouring Watles and Trafoi resorts through a unified lift pass.
Hotels and lodges near Belpiano (Schöneben), powered by Stay22.

The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.

Mount Buller closes out its 2026 season this Sunday, joining Falls Creek, Hotham and Charlotte Pass in a cluster of closures landing almost simultaneously and roughly a month ahead of schedule. The culprit is stark: Spencers Creek's benchmark snow depth hit 31.2cm on 3 September, just 18% of the 73-year average and an all-time low for this point in the season. Six of Victoria and NSW's best-known resorts will have shut their lifts early within a span of about two and a half weeks.

Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.

We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.

Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.

An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.

A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.

Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
The 2025 - 2026 season at Belpiano (Schöneben) closed on Apr 26, 2026. Check back for next season's opening date and ticket pricing.
Day passes start from €38, with peak rates up to €66.
Full day skiing at Belpiano Schöneben with 65km of slopes and stunning Lake Resia views. Two-country ski arena with 14 lifts including 10-seater Höllental cable car.
Buy passJunior daily ticket for Belpiano skiing with Lake Resia panorama. Youth pricing for ages 8-17 with access to wide family-friendly slopes and modern lift system.
Buy passFree skiing for children under 8 at Belpiano Schöneben. Kids ski free when accompanied by paying adult with spectacular Lake Resia and Ortler mountain views.
Buy passSenior discount lift ticket for Belpiano skiing. Reduced rates for skiers 65+ with access to 65km of two-country ski arena slopes and Lake Resia views.
Buy passAccess to expanded Ortler Skiarena including Belpiano, Haideralm, and Watles. Two-country ski experience with Austria and Italy skiing from single pass.
Buy passHalf day skiing at Belpiano starting at 12:30pm. Afternoon access to Lake Resia slopes with Ortler panorama and family-friendly terrain across 65km of pistes.
Buy passThree-day lift ticket for Belpiano with savings over daily rates. Extended skiing in tri-border region Italy-Austria-Switzerland with Lake Resia backdrop.
Buy passFamily season pass for Belpiano with Ortler Skiarena benefits. Unlimited access to Lake Resia skiing with partner resort privileges and children's ski school discounts.
Buy passMore Belpiano (Schöneben) intelligence: snow report, webcams, resort overview.