Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)
20km of slopes above medieval Sterzing in South Tyrol, 960-2,120m. Home to Italy's longest toboggan run. Ortler Skiarena pass valid.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
6 Dec 2026
Closes
29 Mar 2027
Days open
113
Annual snow
0.8m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) rises directly above Sterzing/Vipiteno in the Eisacktal valley of South Tyrol, offering 20km of slopes between 960m and 2,120m across 10 marked runs. The mountain sits on the sunny side of the main Alpine divide, roughly 20km south of the Brenner Pass and 50km from the Austrian border - a position that delivers more winter sunshine than many nearby resorts, with views extending across the Stubai Alps, Zillertal Alps and out to the Dolomites.
The terrain leans heavily intermediate, with seven of the ten runs graded red and a bias toward open, well-groomed pistes on the upper mountain. A dedicated beginner area with carpet conveyors sits at the gondola top station, and a new funslope added for the 2025-26 season introduces jumps, waves and banked turns for those looking for something beyond standard groomed runs.
Rosskopf is also home to Italy's longest illuminated and artificially snow-covered toboggan run - a 10km descent dropping 900m of vertical from the gondola mountain station through forest back to the valley base in Sterzing. Singled out by ADAC testing in 2011 as the best toboggan trail in German-speaking Europe, the run operates on Tuesday and Friday nights until midnight.
The resort is part of two pass networks - the Ortler Skiarena, which connects 15 South Tyrolean ski areas across more than 300km of pistes, and the Wipptal Skiverbund, which links Rosskopf with Ladurns, Ratschings-Jaufen and Kalcher Alm for a combined 50km on one pass. Children aged five and under ski free when accompanied by a paying adult.
1160m
Vertical
10
Runs
20 km
Piste
0.8m
Annual snow
The Terrain
10 runs across 20 km of piste
Rosskopf is the small ski area above Sterzing, South Tyrol's northernmost town, with 20 kilometres of piste across 10 runs. The mountain climbs from 960 to 2,120 metres, giving a 1,160-metre vertical that suits its size better than the numbers suggest. Grading is firmly intermediate: 30% beginner, 65% intermediate and 5% advanced, with no expert pistes. The slopes face the sun and are mostly open and well groomed, with a beginner zone at the gondola top station. Just five lifts cover everything, so the area is easy to learn and quick to ski, and it rarely feels crowded.
The main trail is the long valley run of roughly 5.5 kilometres, which finishes beneath the concrete pillars of the Brenner motorway on its way back to town, a surprisingly memorable sight. The Telemix Panorama lift mixes chairs and cabins to reach the summit, and a funslope adds jumps and banked turns. Freeriders and advanced skiers will find almost nothing here. Rosskopf suits families, beginners and relaxed intermediates, and it pairs neatly with the 10-kilometre toboggan run for an evening out, plus the easy train link from Innsbruck or Bolzano.
Terrain split
10
runs
10 runs across 4 grades
Beginner3 runs · 30%
Intermediate7 runs · 65%
Advanced1 run · 5%
Expert0 runs · 0%
Time it right
When to visit Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)
The 2025-26 season at Rosskopf ran from 5 December 2025 to 6 April 2026, a compact winter window typical of a south-facing mid-altitude South Tyrolean resort. Snowmaking covers 100% of the ski area's slopes, which is the critical factor in maintaining consistent conditions across the 960m base - one of the lower valley bases in the region - and ensuring the toboggan run operates from opening day.
Average annual snowfall at Rosskopf sits at 3.7 metres, with the upper mountain around 2,100m holding natural snow reliably through February. Snow depth peaks in February, when the upper mountain averages around 85cm. The resort records 59 sunny days per season on average, slightly below the Italian average of 63 but consistent with its exposure on the Eisacktal's eastern ridgeline.
January and February are the most reliable months for all-mountain conditions, with cold temperatures keeping the groomed red runs in good shape and the beginner zones well covered. The combination of snowmaking coverage and altitude means Rosskopf typically holds serviceable conditions through to early April even in moderate-snow seasons.
The proximity to Sterzing means the resort suits a short-stay skiing format as much as a dedicated ski week - a morning on the slopes can be combined with an afternoon in the town's medieval streets, which host a well-regarded Christmas market from late November through early January.
Season 2025 - 2026
6 Dec 2026
Opens
29 Mar 2027
Closes
113
Days open
0.8 m
Annual snow
The record
Historical snowfall at Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)
Daily snow reports at Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) go back to 2017, 10 winters on the books. Open the record to compare winters, lifts and piste.
55 cm
Snowiest day
3 Feb 2019
20 cm
This winter · 2026-27
so far
74 cm
Typical winter
average of complete seasons
Winter totals
cm
Past wintersThis winter
Getting there
Getting to Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo), and where to stay
Rosskopf sits directly above Sterzing/Vipiteno in the Wipptal (Eisack valley), the natural corridor connecting the Brenner Pass to the rest of South Tyrol. Sterzing is Italy's northernmost town, positioned at 948m at the foot of the pass and less than 20km from the Austrian border. The gondola base station sits a five-minute walk from the town's pedestrian zone, making Rosskopf one of the most walkable ski resorts in South Tyrol.
Innsbruck is the closest city, approximately 58km north via the A22 Brennero-Modena motorway - around 45 minutes by road. Bolzano is roughly 59km to the south, and the regional hub of Bressanone/Brixen sits 30km down the valley. Milan is accessible in approximately three hours via the A22.
Rail access is among the best of any ski resort in northern Italy. Sterzing station sits on the main Brenner rail corridor, served by regional trains from both Innsbruck and Bolzano as well as intercity services. The gondola base is a short walk from the station, making a car-free visit straightforward. Neighbouring stations at Gossensass/Colle Isarco (5km) and Freienfeld/Campo di Trens (6km) also connect to the valley bus network.
Drivers approaching from the north take the A22 motorway from Innsbruck over the Brenner Pass, exiting at Sterzing. From the south, the same motorway connects via Bolzano and Bressanone. Parking is available near the gondola valley station, a short distance from the town centre pedestrian zone.
Where to stay
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Hotels and lodges near Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo), powered by Stay22.
Good to know
Frequently asked
When is Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)'s ski season?
Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)'s 2025 - 2026 season typically runs from December 6 through March 29. That window is roughly 113 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) have?
Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) lists about 20 km of piste of marked terrain spread across 10 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)?
Trail grading at Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) breaks down roughly as 30% beginner, 65% intermediate, 5% advanced. With a strong beginner share, Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) have?
Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) operates 5 lifts across 4 lift types. The fleet includes 2 surface lifts, 1 gondola, 1 6-person chair, and 1 quad 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)?
Base elevation at Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) is about 960 m (3,150 ft), with the summit around 2,120 m (6,955 ft), giving roughly 1,160 m (3,806 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) get each season?
Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) averages about 83 cm (33 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) lift tickets and how much do they cost?
Published single-day adult pricing on SnowStash currently spans €20 to €65, 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) before I go?
SnowStash pulls together 5 live mountain webcams, a downloadable piste map, and the daily snow report for Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo). 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 Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) located?
Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) 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.
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