The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Passo San Pellegrino sits at 1,918m on the border between Trentino and Veneto, linking the Val di Fassa to the Falcade valley in a ski area that spans 1,190m to 2,513m across 67.5km of pistes. The terrain is split between the wide, sunny slopes of the pass itself - set against the Monzoni mountain range and framed by views to the Marmolada, Civetta, Pelmo and the Pale di San Martino group - and the demanding north-facing terrain dropping from Col Margherita above.
The area's defining feature is La Volata, a 2,500m black run inaugurated in 2017 and built to meet FIS Alpine World Cup standards. Starting at 2,510m just below the Col Margherita cable car arrival station, it drops 600m vertical with gradients of up to 47% on a north-facing line that maintains compact, grippy snow through the speed events season. La Volata hosted the 2019 FIS Alpine Skiing Junior World Championships and the 2021 Women's World Cup, and returned to the World Cup calendar in March 2026 with a women's downhill and super-G double event.
The ski area is part of the Dolomiti Superski network, and a combined pass covering both San Pellegrino and the adjacent Alpe Lusia area gives access to 100km of pistes across 23 lifts. The two areas are linked by a high-frequency ski bus running every few minutes between the two base stations, with Falcade on the Veneto side also integrated into the same pass.
Two snowparks - the Sanpe Snowpark at San Pellegrino and a second at Alpe Lusia - serve freestylers alongside a dedicated Freeride Park for off-piste touring. A 37km cross-country trail network at the pass and a further 10-12km circuit near Falcade village are covered under the same area infrastructure.
1323m
Vertical
59
Runs
67.5 km
Piste
4m
Annual snow
The Terrain
59 runs across 67.5 km of piste
Passo San Pellegrino spreads 59 runs across 67.5 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 57%, with 18 beginner runs to find your feet and 8 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
59
runs
59 runs across 4 grades
Beginner18 runs · 30%
Intermediate34 runs · 57%
Advanced8 runs · 13%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Passo San Pellegrino
Passo San Pellegrino operates from late November through to early April, with the 2025-26 season running from 30 November 2025 to 6 April 2026. The season extends into early spring with reliable conditions supported by full snowmaking coverage across the pisted area and the high-altitude terrain above 2,000m holding natural snow well into March.
Annual snowfall averages 3.5 metres across the ski area. The north-facing Col Margherita sector performs particularly well through the core winter months, with the compact snow surface that makes La La Volata suitable for FIS speed racing also delivering excellent piste conditions for recreational skiers. The sunnier slopes on the Trentino side of the pass benefit from good morning light and afternoon warmth that makes late-season skiing from late February onward particularly appealing.
The 2025-26 season included the Women's Alpine Ski World Cup downhill and super-G at La Volata in early March 2026, following previous World Cup hosting in 2021. The area is part of the Val di Fassa Piste Azzurre racing programme and has hosted the Italian national alpine team for training over multiple seasons, reflecting the quality and consistency of the race terrain.
The extended pass network under the Dolomiti Superski umbrella gives season visitors significant range - a Dolomiti Superski pass opens up 1,200km of pistes across 12 interconnected areas, making Passo San Pellegrino a practical base for exploring the broader Dolomites network without returning to the same terrain each day.
Season 2025 - 2026
30 Nov 2025
Opens
6 Apr 2026
Closes
127
Days open
4 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Passo San Pellegrino, and where to stay
Passo San Pellegrino sits 13km from Moena in the Val di Fassa, reached via State Road 346 from the Ronchi junction in the valley. From Moena the drive takes around 15 minutes in normal conditions. Falcade, on the Veneto side, is accessed on the same road descending from the pass through the Biois valley. The pass sits at the boundary between the provinces of Trento and Belluno, making it one of the few ski areas in the region that straddles two administrative regions.
The primary motorway approach from the north is via the A22 Brenner motorway, exiting at Egna-Ora and following the SS48 through Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa to Moena - approximately 45km from the motorway exit. From the south, the Belluno approach via the A27 motorway connects through the Agordo valley and Falcade on the Veneto side of the pass.
Nearest airports are Bolzano to the north-west, around 60km, and Verona Villafranca to the south, around 160km via the A22. Innsbruck Airport in Austria is around 120km north across the Brenner. Rail access runs to Trento or Bolzano, from where the Trentino Trasporti and SAD bus services provide daily direct connections to Moena. From Falcade, connections run via Belluno on the Veneto rail network.
Moena is the main services hub for the area on the Trentino side, with a full range of accommodation, restaurants and shops within the Val di Fassa. Falcade provides a quieter, more self-contained base on the Veneto side with direct gondola access to the ski area from the village centre.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Passo San Pellegrino, powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Passo San Pellegrino's ski season?
Passo San Pellegrino's 2025 - 2026 season typically runs from November 30 through April 6. That window is roughly 127 calendar days, though daily operations depend on snow cover, weather, and lift maintenance.
Resorts in Italy, Europe often announce firm dates closer to winter; check the live snow report before you travel if you are planning around opening weekend or spring closure.
How much skiable terrain does Passo San Pellegrino have?
Passo San Pellegrino lists about 67.5 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 59 named runs. That footprint is what most riders experience on a lift-served day. Side-country or hike-to terrain may sit outside these published numbers.
Use the trail map to see how the mountain is laid out and where the longest fall-line runs connect back to base.
What is the terrain like at Passo San Pellegrino?
Trail grading at Passo San Pellegrino breaks down roughly as 30% beginner, 57% intermediate, 13% advanced. With a strong beginner share, Passo San Pellegrino suits families and first-time visitors who want forgiving warm-up terrain before exploring further upslope.
Percentages describe the resort's published piste mix, not vertical metres. A mountain with modest "expert" stats can still feel demanding if the steep terrain is long or exposed. Read the trail map alongside these numbers when planning your route.
How many lifts does Passo San Pellegrino have?
Passo San Pellegrino operates 19 lifts across 8 lift types. The fleet includes 8 quad chairs, 4 t-bars, 2 surface lifts, 1 aerial tram, 1 gondola, 1 8-person chair, 1 6-person chair, and 1 double chair.
Lift mix affects how quickly you can lap your favourite zones. Gondolas and trams move big crowds to mid-mountain, while shorter chairs and surface lifts often serve learning areas or local pods. Check the live snow report on ski days for real-time open/closed status.
What is the elevation and vertical drop at Passo San Pellegrino?
Base elevation at Passo San Pellegrino is about 1,190 m (3,904 ft), with the summit around 2,513 m (8,245 ft), giving roughly 1,323 m (4,341 ft) of vertical from base to top.
Higher start heights usually mean colder, drier snow holding longer into spring, but also thinner air and faster weather changes. Pack layers if you are riding from village level to summit lifts in one day.
How much snow does Passo San Pellegrino get each season?
Passo San Pellegrino averages about 350 cm (138 inches) of natural snowfall per season. That is a long-term climate figure. Any single winter can run well above or below it depending on storm track and temperature.
For trip planning, pair this baseline with the live snow report and webcams: fresh cycles show up in overnight totals and summit cameras long before season averages tell you much about today's surface.
Where can I buy Passo San Pellegrino lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans €25 to €83, depending on date band and whether you are buying peak or regular windows. Multi-day products (multi-day passes, season passes) usually lower the per-day cost if you are staying several days. Tickets can be bought online through the resort's official checkout (linked from our lift tickets page) or at on-mountain ticket windows, subject to availability.
Buying ahead of peak holidays and weekends generally saves money and guarantees access on sold-out days. Before you commit, scan the snow report and webcams so you are paying for conditions that match your expectations.
How can I check snow and mountain conditions at Passo San Pellegrino before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 3 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Passo San Pellegrino so you can plan from home. Webcams refresh on a short interval and are the fastest way to judge visibility, wind exposure, and whether storm snow is still falling.
The snow report adds structured totals, base depth where available, and lift/trail status when the resort publishes it. Use both together: cameras show what it looks like right now, and the report summarises numbers your group can compare day to day.
Does Passo San Pellegrino have a trail map?
Yes. The downloadable PDF/image map is better for offline planning, marking meeting points, and understanding the full mountain layout at a glance.
Both versions are on the trail map page for Passo San Pellegrino. If you are navigating with kids or meeting friends across separate lifts, screenshot or print the static map and keep the live map open on your phone for operational updates.
Where is Passo San Pellegrino located?
Passo San Pellegrino sits in Italy, Europe. That regional context matters for travel planning: airport transfers, snow tyres, and typical storm patterns all follow geography as much as resort marketing.
Browse nearby accommodation from the resort page if you are comparing village-base vs valley-base stays; where you sleep changes your first lift of the day more than most trail stats do.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
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.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
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.
4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
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.
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
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.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
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.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
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.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
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%.
26 Aug 2026