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    Italy, Europe

    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
    4m
    The Overview
    MF
    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
    4m
    Annual snow
    The Terrain

    10 runs across 20 km of piste

    Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) spreads 10 runs across 20 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 65%, with 3 beginner runs to find your feet and 1 advanced or expert run when you want to push.

    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
    4 m
    Annual snow
    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.

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    Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) Trail Map

    Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) trail map↓ Download PDF
    Terrain split
    10
    runs
    Beginner30%
    Intermediate65%
    Advanced5%
    Expert0%
    20 km of piste
    Resort Stats
    Elevation
    Base960m
    Summit2120m
    Annual snowfall
    4m
    Season
    2025 - 2026
    6 Dec 2026 - 29 Mar 2027
    Trail coverage
    10 runs
    20 km

    About Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)'s trail map

    Explore Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo)'s full trail map with 10 runs across the mountain, colour-coded by difficulty and shown alongside the terrain split. Use it to plan a day that matches your ability, find lift-served pockets of your favourite grade, and see how the resort links together. Download the piste map (PDF) ↗

    More Rosskopf (Monte Cavallo) intelligence: snow report, lift system, webcams, resort overview.