The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Monterosa Ski links three valleys — Valle d'Ayas, Valle di Gressoney and Valsesia — across 180km of slopes at the foot of Monte Rosa, the second highest massif in the Alps. The ski area spans from 1,212m at Alagna, the lowest base in the domain, to 3,275m at Punta Indren on the edge of the Monte Rosa glacier — a vertical range of more than 2,000m across three interconnected resorts: Champoluc, Gressoney-La-Trinité and Alagna.
The on-piste terrain is predominantly intermediate, with 67% of marked runs graded red and long, well-groomed descents connecting the three valleys. But Monterosa's defining character is off-piste: the terrain above Passo dei Salati and across the Indren glacier is among the most extensive and accessible high-alpine freeride terrain in the Alps, and has featured as a stop on the Freeride World Tour.
Alagna, at the eastern end of the domain, is the most demanding sector and the gateway to the glacier. Champoluc, in the western Valle d'Ayas, carries the most beginner and intermediate terrain and is the most practical base for mixed-ability groups. Gressoney-La-Trinité sits at the centre, acting as the main hub between the two other valleys, with the lift connections to Passo dei Salati branching toward both Indren and Alagna.
A single lift pass covers all three interconnected valleys as well as smaller satellite areas including Antagnod, Brusson and Gressoney-Saint-Jean. Traversing the full domain from Champoluc to Alagna in a single day is achievable for confident skiers and covers close to 20km of terrain as the crow flies.
2063m
Vertical
51
Runs
132 km
Piste
4m
Annual snow
The Terrain
51 runs across 132 km of piste
Monterosa Ski spreads 51 runs across 132 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 67%, with 11 beginner runs to find your feet and 6 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
51
runs
51 runs across 4 grades
Beginner11 runs · 22%
Intermediate34 runs · 67%
Advanced6 runs · 11%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Monterosa Ski
Monterosa Ski operates from early December through to late April, with the 2025–26 season running from 6 December 2025 to 21 April 2026. The extended spring window is supported by the domain's high-altitude terrain — particularly the Indren glacier zone above 3,000m, which holds snow reliably deep into April — and by 170km of snowmaking coverage across the pisted area.
Annual snowfall averages 3.5 metres across the domain, with the north-facing slopes of Alagna and the high terrain around Passo dei Salati typically holding the best snow quality longest. The combination of glacier access, extensive snowmaking and high elevation makes Monterosa one of the more snow-reliable mid-sized resorts in the western Italian Alps.
Mid-season conditions from January through March offer the most consistent all-mountain access, with the Indren Funifor operational when wind and snowpack allow. Spring skiing from late March onward draws a dedicated freeride crowd to the Alagna side, where the long off-piste descents from Indren — some running to 2,000m vertical — are at their most accessible under stabilised snowpack.
The resort has hosted stages of the Freeride World Tour, reflecting the calibre of its backcountry terrain. The three valley villages retain an authentically Italian character throughout the season — quiet on weekdays, lively at weekends when day-trippers arrive from Milan and Turin — which contributes to an unhurried atmosphere on the mountain that larger, better-known resorts in the region rarely match.
Season 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2025
Opens
21 Apr 2026
Closes
136
Days open
4 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Monterosa Ski, and where to stay
Monterosa Ski straddles the border of Valle d'Aosta and Piedmont in north-west Italy, with its three base villages — Champoluc, Gressoney-La-Trinité and Alagna Valsesia — each accessed via separate valley roads off the A5 Turin–Aosta motorway. The gateway junction is the Verrès tollbooth on the A5, from where the Ayas Valley road leads to Champoluc and the Gressoney Valley road runs to Stafal. Alagna is accessed separately from the Piedmont side via Varallo and Valsesia.
Turin Caselle Airport is the closest major international gateway for Champoluc and Gressoney, at 107km and approximately 90 minutes by car. Milan Malpensa is the more practical option for Alagna at 110km, around two hours' drive. Geneva Airport is within reach for those routing through France via the Mont Blanc Tunnel into Aosta, at approximately 217km.
Train connections run on the Turin–Aosta line to Verrès for Champoluc, or to Pont-Saint-Martin for Gressoney, with onward bus services to each valley. Alagna is served by bus from Varallo, reached via train from Milan or Turin through Novara. Driving remains the most practical option for most visitors, particularly those splitting time between more than one valley.
The three resort villages are distinctly low-key — Champoluc and Gressoney-La-Trinité are small, traditional alpine communities with limited but good-quality accommodation and restaurants serving local Valdostana cuisine. The relative obscurity of the area compared to higher-profile Italian resorts is a deliberate draw for those seeking serious terrain without the crowds.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Monterosa Ski, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
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16 Sept 2026
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
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Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
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4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
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2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
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.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
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31 Aug 2026
Monterosa Ski Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 22 Sept 2026
3275m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Clear3°C / 9°C · SE 13km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
0cm
Base depth
0cm
Season total
44cm
Total lifts32
Live open status isn’t available right now.
6 Dec 2025 - 21 Apr 2026
Hour by Hour
Next 37 hours· Updated Sep 22, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
3,275 mUpdated Sep 22, 2026 at 6:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
0.0cm
Tue, Sept 22
Foggy
Temp9° / 3°°C
Snow0.0cm
Wind13 km/h SE
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Monterosa Ski snow report
Track current conditions at Monterosa Ski in Italy. This report covers snowfall totals, base and summit depth, and the forecast across 51 runs.
Snow measurements
Snow depth at Monterosa Ski is tracked at both the base and summit, since the two elevations often see different totals — roughly a 2063m difference here. We report fresh snowfall over the last 24 hours and 7 days alongside the running season total, in both metric and imperial units.
Weather conditions
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 Monterosa Ski's base and summit.
Data sources
Snowfall and depth figures for Monterosa Ski come from official mountain sources; weather and outlook data comes from independent forecasting services. The mountain is served by 32 lifts, including 3 aerial trams and 4 8-person chairlifts.
When to check
The biggest swings usually happen right after a storm. Check Monterosa Ski's report in the morning for the freshest numbers, and again in the afternoon as conditions evolve.