
Cortina d'Ampezzo reigns as the "Queen of the Dolomites" with 120km of interconnected slopes spreading across five distinct ski areas beneath the towering peaks of Tofane, Cristallo, and the iconic Cinque Torri formations. This legendary UNESCO World Heritage resort combines world-class skiing with Italian elegance at elevations between 1,217m and 2,828m, creating an unmatched Alpine experience in the heart of the Veneto Dolomites. As host of both the 1956 and upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics, Cortina delivers exceptional terrain accessed by 27 modern lifts including three aerial trams, two gondolas, and multiple high-speed chairs that efficiently transport skiers across the resort's spectacular mountain faces.
The resort's diverse ski areas—Tofana-Socrepes, Faloria-Cristallo, Lagazuoi-5 Torri, plus satellite areas at San Vito di Cadore, Auronzo, and Misurina—offer exceptional variety for all abilities, from gentle nursery slopes to the legendary Olympia delle Tofane World Cup downhill run. Part of the Dolomiti Superski network providing access to 1,200km of skiing across 12 resorts, Cortina maintains its distinctive character through refined Italian hospitality, designer boutiques lining the pedestrianised Corso Italia, and mountain huts serving authentic Dolomites cuisine. The resort's position within the Ampezzo valley surrounds skiers with dramatic limestone peaks and the famous "enrosadira" phenomenon—the spectacular pink alpenglow that illuminates the Dolomites at sunset, creating an unforgettable backdrop for world-class skiing.
Cortina d’Ampezzo spreads 73 runs across 120 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 49%, with 28 beginner runs to find your feet and 9 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Cortina typically operates from mid-November through late April, delivering one of the longest ski seasons in the Dolomites with peak conditions concentrated in January through March. The resort benefits from average annual snowfall of 350cm supplemented by comprehensive snowmaking coverage across 95% of terrain, ensuring reliable conditions throughout the extended season. The elevation span from 1,217m to 2,828m creates varied snow conditions, with Tofana's upper slopes maintaining excellent coverage while Faloria-Cristallo's technical terrain preserves quality through strategic snowmaking and favorable north-facing aspects.
The resort's position within the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites exposes skiers to the region's distinctive microclimates and dramatic weather systems, though clear weather reveals extraordinary panoramic views extending across the Sella Group, Marmolada, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks. The predominantly intermediate terrain with 49% red runs and 38% blue runs appeals particularly during stable winter periods, while 13% black runs including the legendary Forcella Rossa (62% gradient) and technical Schuss (56% average gradient) challenge expert skiers. Spring skiing extends well into April thanks to high-altitude terrain on Tofana and Lagazuoi, where north-facing slopes preserve corn snow quality. The extended season coincides with major sporting events including the annual Women's Alpine Ski World Cup races in January and preparations for the February 2026 Winter Olympics when Cortina hosts women's alpine skiing, bobsleigh, skeleton, luge, and curling competitions.
Located in the Ampezzo valley within Belluno province in the heart of the Veneto Dolomites, Cortina sits approximately 150km north of Venice and 160km south of Innsbruck, Austria, creating exceptional international accessibility. The elegant mountain town of Cortina d'Ampezzo at 1,217m altitude provides comprehensive accommodation spanning Belle Époque luxury hotels to family-run guesthouses, all centered around the famous pedestrianised Corso Italia lined with designer boutiques, refined restaurants, and historic architecture reflecting over 1,000 years of Alpine heritage.
Venice Marco Polo Airport provides the primary international gateway just 150km south with regular direct bus services completing the transfer in 2 hours and 15 minutes, while Treviso Airport offers budget carrier access 137km away. Innsbruck Airport creates convenient northern access for European visitors 164km distant, establishing Cortina as one of Europe's most accessible major Dolomites destinations. The resort's position within the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites landscape surrounds visitors with geological masterpieces including the towering Tofane massif, Cristallo peaks, and the distinctive Cinque Torri rock formations. The valley's Ladin cultural heritage—one of five historic Ladin valleys in the Dolomites—enriches the experience through traditional architecture, local language preservation, and authentic mountain cuisine. Strategic position enables access to the Great War Ski Tour traversing World War I battlefields, connections to the Sellaronda circuit via Alta Badia, and ski bus links to Marmolada glacier, creating opportunities for comprehensive Dolomites exploration beyond Cortina's exceptional local terrain.
Hotels and lodges near Cortina d’Ampezzo, powered by Stay22.

Arizona Snowbowl advertised eight $1 lift ticket days this winter. Go looking and only three are showing - 10 March, 1 April and 10 April - so the rest may already have gone. The consolation is a calendar full of $9 days, including all but one day in April. Opening day is 20 November, weather permitting, and opening weekend is $19.

For years, Whitewater's Short Side was where you ducked a rope and hoped for the best: unmapped, ungroomed and unpatrolled. This winter it's inbounds. Six new runs of glades and fall-line skiing add 190 acres (about 77 hectares), taking the resort past 1,400 acres in total. F2 Logging spent a month in the trees to make it happen, and opening day is pencilled in for 4 December. Bonanza now needs less snow to groom, too.

Mammoth got its first snow of 2026-27 on Monday 28 September - and promptly lost it by Tuesday morning. Barely an inch fell at McCoy Station, but with opening day pencilled in for Friday 13 November, it's the first sign the Sierra is waking up. Last year's date slipped from 14 November to 20 November, so nobody's booking flights on a dusting just yet. Here's where California's early openers stand.

Four connected areas, 70 lifts and a World Championship course, yet Saalbach Hinterglemm still runs like a family holiday. Two days on snow and a Worlds Super-G later, here is who it suits, what the Ski ALPIN CARD covers and why Epic Pass holders should pay attention. Big on blues, light on steeps.

Sölden's World Cup opener has been two giant slaloms on the Rettenbach glacier for as long as most fans can remember. From 2027/28 it could be four. Director Jack Falkner wants to add two Super-Gs, backed by a nod from Vincent Kriechmayr, and turn the opening into a full week where the ski world gathers in the Ötztal. FIS and the ÖSV are yet to sign off. This year, it's still just the two GS races on 24 and 25 October.

Hokkaido's lift season now has dates. Sapporo Kokusai opens first on 20 November, Niseko United, Kiroro, Rusutsu and Furano follow on 28 November, and Kamui closes the list on 12 December. Everything hinges on snow, and with a strong El Niño in play, the JMA gives Hokkaido's Japan Sea side a 40% chance of below-normal snowfall. Honshu's Japan Sea coast looks shakier.

Switzerland logged 25.7 million ski days last winter, only 2.3% off the record, in a season that ranked sixth-warmest since records began. Revenue hit CHF 895.8 million, second only to 2024/25. Zermatt led on visits and takings, foreign guests hit a ten-year high, and 12 resorts never opened at all. Snowmaking, late storms and high altitude carried the numbers. Anything sitting at 1,000-1,200 m had a far rougher time.

Aspen Snowmass turns 80 this December, and it's marking the milestone with $3.75 lift tickets on the anniversary itself - the original 1946 price. A discounted long weekend, $19.46 dining specials, lodging deals up to 46 percent off, and a season of anniversary programming round out the celebration across all four mountains.
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Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Cortina d’Ampezzo, summit conditions (2828m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.
Wind and temperature swings matter as much as fresh snowfall. Cold, calm conditions hold snow quality well, while wind-loading or a warm-up can change things quickly — especially given the elevation spread between Cortina d’Ampezzo's base and summit.
We pull Cortina d’Ampezzo's conditions from on-the-ground mountain reporting, then layer in forecast data so you get a fuller picture than either source alone. The mountain is served by 27 lifts, including 3 aerial trams and 10 quad chairlifts.
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Cortina d’Ampezzo's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.