Cimone
Cimone: Emilia Romagna's largest ski resort with 50km interconnected terrain, 20 lifts, and skiing to 2,165m on the Northern Apennines' highest peak.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
5 Dec 2026
Closes
4 Apr 2027
Days open
120
Annual snow
1.3m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Cimone dominates the Northern Apennines as Emilia Romagna's largest ski destination, with 50km of interconnected terrain sprawling across the region's highest peak at 2,165m. This expansive resort encompasses six distinct skiing sectors—Passo del Lupo, Lago della Ninfa, Le Polle, Cimoncino, Montecreto, and Pian del Falco—all accessible with a single ski pass. The resort's exceptional width and natural terrain conformation create ideal conditions for intermediate and advanced skiers, while comprehensive snowmaking coverage across 50km ensures reliable conditions throughout the season.
With 20 modern lifts including an aerial tram, six-person chairs, and quad chairs efficiently transporting skiers across the mountain's three faces, Cimone delivers a sophisticated Apennine skiing experience within the protected Frignano Regional Park setting. The resort's position straddling the Emilia-Tuscany border at elevations between 900m and 1,976m creates distinctive terrain rarely found in Italian Apennine destinations, combining extensive vertical drops with the trademark wide pistes that characterise this historic mountain.
1076m
Vertical
25
Runs
50 km
Piste
1.3m
Annual snow
The Terrain
25 runs across 50 km of piste
Cimone is the main ski area on the northern Apennines, climbing Monte Cimone on the Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany border with 25 runs across 50 kilometres. It starts low at 900 metres and tops out at 1,976 metres, so the vertical is a healthy 1,076 metres. Sanity grades it 30% beginner, 50% intermediate and 20% advanced, with no expert-rated terrain. That is a more even spread than most Apennine areas, and the intermediate bias makes it an easy place to build confidence. Chairs of every size, plus an aerial tram and a good set of surface lifts, serve the slopes.
The aerial tram climbs from Passo del Lupo to Pian Cavallaro, which opens the upper mountain, and the Direttissima, a black of about 1.7 kilometres, drops back to Passo del Lupo for advanced skiers. Lago della Ninfa has gentler slopes, a snow park and a children's area, and Sestola is the main base. Freeride terrain is limited. It suits families, intermediates and weekend skiers from Bologna and Florence, and it gives stronger skiers a few steeper runs. Snowmaking is part of the picture on these lower slopes, so conditions depend more on temperature than on natural snow, and early-season visits are best checked against current reports before booking.
Terrain split
25
runs
25 runs across 4 grades
Beginner8 runs · 30%
Intermediate13 runs · 50%
Advanced5 runs · 20%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Cimone
Cimone typically operates from mid-December through early April, with peak conditions concentrated in January through March when the resort benefits from its elevated Northern Apennine position. The comprehensive snowmaking system covering the entire 50km of terrain provides exceptional reliability throughout the season, supplementing natural snowfall that averages 350cm annually. The resort's elevation span from 900m to 1,976m creates varied snow conditions, with upper slopes maintaining excellent coverage while lower runs benefit from extensive artificial snow infrastructure.
Monte Cimone's position as the highest peak in the Northern Apennines exposes the resort to consistent weather systems, though clear days reveal extraordinary panoramic views extending from the Alps to the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas. The predominantly intermediate terrain with 50% red runs appeals particularly during stable midwinter periods, while the 30% beginner terrain at lower elevations remains accessible even during marginal snow years. The resort's protected position within Frignano Regional Park creates a distinctive microclimate that often preserves snow quality when other Apennine destinations struggle.
Season 2026 - 2027
5 Dec 2026
Opens
4 Apr 2027
Closes
120
Days open
1.3 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Cimone
Daily snow reports at Cimone go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
140 cm
Snowiest day
14 Apr 2018
0.3 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
115 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Cimone, and where to stay
Located in Modena province at the heart of the Tuscan-Emilian Apennines, Cimone sits approximately 100km from Bologna and 150km from Florence, making it the most accessible major ski destination for both cities. The historic mountain villages of Sestola, Fanano, Riolunato, and Montecreto provide comprehensive accommodation and dining options at the resort's base, offering authentic Emilia Romagna hospitality and traditional cuisine including tigelle flatbread, gnocco fritto, and fresh tortellini. Bologna Airport provides the primary international gateway just 90 minutes away, while Florence Airport offers alternative access for visitors combining Tuscan cultural experiences with Northern Apennine skiing.
The resort's strategic position along the regional border delivers cultural diversity, with valley towns reflecting both Emilian and Tuscan influences in their architecture, cuisine, and local traditions. This distinctive location within the High Modenese Apennines Regional Park surrounds visitors with protected beech and coniferous forests, providing scenic beauty and environmental significance beyond the skiing. The nearby cities of Modena and Bologna offer exceptional cultural attractions, world-renowned restaurants, and the legendary automotive heritage of Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati factories, creating opportunities for comprehensive Italian experiences beyond the slopes.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Cimone, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Sierra Nevada Halloween Storm: Dodge Ridge Forecast to Lead With 19 Inches
Halloween weekend brings a wet, windy storm to the Sierra Nevada. Our five-day forecast has Dodge Ridge on top with 19 in, followed by Bear Valley at 15 in and Mammoth Mountain at 12 in, with most of it landing on Saturday. A winter weather advisory covers the Tahoe Basin and Mono County until 7 AM Sunday, gusts could reach 47 mph and the freezing level swings between 4,900 and 8,700 ft, so some bases will see rain. A dry spell follows from Monday.
31 Oct 2026
Lake Louise Opens Early on 1 November With Juniper Express and Easy Street
The Rockies get their first lift-served turns of the season early. Lake Louise opens Sunday 1 November, five days ahead of schedule, after a cold October and round-the-clock work from the snowmaking and mountain crews. Terrain is limited to Juniper Express Chair and Easy Street, with two small terrain parks and the beginner area for lessons. Opening-day tickets are over 60% off, with prices rising as more lifts open. First chair is at 9:30 am under the resort’s new lift hours.
31 Oct 2026
Kitzbüheler Horn Summit Cable Car to Be Replaced After 70 Years
A Tyrolean summit lift that has been carrying guests up the Kitzbüheler Horn since 1955 is on borrowed time. Its licence runs to 2045, but a new inspection rule has made refurbishment uneconomic, so Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel will spend around €15 million on a replacement on the same line. It should hold roughly 100 people and keep running in winds that would stop today’s lift. Building starts in autumn 2027, which makes this winter and next summer the last chances to ride the old one.
30 Oct 2026
What’s New in Japan Skiing This Winter: Niseko Gondola, a Private Resort and a Bigger Ikon Pass
Niseko Village is replacing a lift from the early 1980s with an eight-person gondola, Tsugaike gets a six-person chairlift, Madarao joins the Ikon Pass and Togari opens Asia’s first private ski resort. Here’s what is actually new in Japan skiing for 2026/27, plus what is still a year or two away.
30 Oct 2026
Wolf Creek Opens on Halloween Weekend as Colorado’s Early Season Gathers Pace
Colorado’s early-season dominoes keep falling. Arapahoe Basin opened on Wednesday, Keystone follows on Friday, and now Wolf Creek is joining in on Saturday 31 October, just in time for Halloween. A storm on 23 and 24 October left 20 inches of natural snow in the San Juans, and three lifts will turn from 9:00 am, covering about 30% of the mountain. Expect rocks, unmarked obstacles and open water, but also Local Appreciation lift tickets at $73 for adults.
30 Oct 2026
Keystone Resort Opens for 2026/27 With More Than Two Miles of Skiing
Keystone is next. After Arapahoe Basin claimed the first chairlift skiing of the season on Wednesday, Keystone opens on Friday 30 October at 9:00 am with more than two miles of snowmaking-built terrain on Schoolmarm and Silver Spoon, plus free donuts, coffee and a live DJ. Last year the order was reversed, when Keystone squeezed in a three-hour afternoon session to beat A-Basin by a day. Snowmaking has been running since 15 October.
29 Oct 2026
Beaver Creek Installs 16 Automated Snow Guns on Birds of Prey Ahead of Record World Cup
Beaver Creek is getting ready for the biggest Birds of Prey ever, and this time it is not leaving the snow to chance. Crews started making snow on 27 October with 16 newly installed automated guns on the lower third of the course, after last December’s warm spell forced a downhill off the schedule. Seven races across two weekends run from 3 to 13 December, the most the course has hosted since its 1997 debut, and the guns start themselves whenever the weather allows.
29 Oct 2026
Arapahoe Basin Opens First for North America’s 2026/27 Ski Season
Winter has officially started in North America, and it is one blue run long. On Wednesday 28 October, Arapahoe Basin fired up the Black Mountain Express at around 10:30 am after a surprise announcement just hours earlier, becoming the first major North American resort open for 2026/27. Cold nights, a dusting of natural snow and a lot of snowmaking made it happen in the resort’s 80th winter. More terrain is promised as the snow guns keep running.
28 Oct 2026
Cimone Webcams
6 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Cimone's live webcams
Check live conditions across Cimone with 6 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Cimone Panorama1309m
- Experience the grandeur of Northern Apennines skiing through this sweeping Cimone webcam positioned at 1309 meters elevation at the base area. This Cimone live cam captures panoramic views across the entire mountain, showcasing all three interconnected sectors that make this Emilia Romagna's largest ski destination. Perfect for assessing overall conditions before your drive from Modena or Bologna, this live snow cam provides essential visibility updates across the resort's 50 kilometers of varied terrain stretching up to Monte Cimone's impressive 2,165-meter summit.
- Passo del Lupo1550m
- Monitor real-time activity at the heart of Cimone ski resort through this strategic webcam positioned at the Passo del Lupo aerial tram station at 1550 meters elevation. This Cimone live cam reveals current conditions at the resort's primary hub where skiers access the upper mountain sectors. Essential for checking lift operations and guest activity levels, this Cimone web cam shows the bustling base area atmosphere at Northern Apennines' premier winter destination, helping you time your arrival for optimal skiing conditions.
- Passo del Lupo Cable Car1550m
- Watch the pulse of mountain operations through this Cimone webcam focused directly up the aerial tram line at Passo del Lupo at 1550 meters elevation. This strategic vantage point offers a unique perspective on the cable car's journey toward the upper mountain, with this live snow cam revealing current visibility and weather conditions along the ascent route. Perfect for assessing upper mountain accessibility, this Cimone live cam helps skiers gauge conditions before committing to the vertical journey at this historic Apennine resort.
- Lago della Ninfa1502m
- Capture the action at Cimone's freestyle hub through this webcam positioned at the Lago della Ninfa quad chair base station at 1502 meters elevation. This Cimone live cam monitors the snowpark sector where terrain features and progressive jumps attract snowboarders and freestyle skiers. Essential for checking park conditions and crowd levels, this Cimone web cam showcases one of Northern Apennines' premier freestyle destinations, helping riders plan their sessions across the resort's varied terrain offerings.
- Le Polle1200m
- Discover Cimone's renowned intermediate terrain through this webcam focused on the Le Polle sector at 1200 meters elevation in the northern part of the resort. This Cimone live cam reveals conditions across the area's signature long cruising runs that wind through pristine forests. Perfect for intermediate skiers assessing trail conditions, this live snow cam shows why Le Polle has become a favorite sector for those seeking sustained vertical descents through the protected Frignano Regional Park landscape.
- Stadio dello Slalom1500m
- Monitor advanced skiing conditions through this Cimone webcam focused on the challenging Slalom stadium course at 1500 meters elevation. This specialized live cam provides direct views of the technical race training venue where the resort's steepest pitches test expert skiers. Essential for advanced riders assessing conditions on Cimone's most challenging terrain, this Cimone live cam showcases the resort's competition heritage while revealing snow quality on the demanding slopes that define Northern Apennines' premier expert skiing.
Cimone snow cams FAQ
How often do Cimone snow cams update?
All Cimone snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Cimone.
Which Cimone webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Passo del Lupo webcam at 1,550m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Cimone webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Cimone lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Cimone snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Cimone snow cams?
Check Cimone webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Cimone lift tickets?
Use our Cimone webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Cimone webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Cimone snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Cimone intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.