Arabba Marmolada Skiing & Snowboarding
Arabba Marmolada ski resort has the best snow quality, highest elevation, only glacier skiing and longest ski runs in the Dolomites. On those four points alone, Arabba Marmolada is one the Dolomites 'go to' ski resorts.
The Arabba Marmolada ski resort has many different faces. The beautiful, forested valley at Malga Ciapela is a world away from the glacier on the Dolomites highest peak, Marmolada. The steep northerly aspect piste trails into Arabba are the opposite of the sunny & gentle rolling pistes towards Passo Campolongo. The high alpine areas near Passo Padon, Passo Pordoi and the Belvedere are different again. The one common factor is that they are all in the same ski resort, and that is what makes Arabba Marmolada such a great skiing area.
In Arabba the north facing ski slopes from Porta Vescovo are the Dolomites best advanced pistes (with a nod the steeps at Cortina!). On the opposite side of the valley below the Sella massif, the slopes are a beginner and intermediates paradise on sun soaked, perfectly groomed piste. Further up towards the Belvedere & Passo Pordoi, a broad off piste interspersed with trails will please everyone hunting powder.
Arabba-Marmolada Skiing Highlights
The Arabba Marmolada skiing highlights are a rite of passage according to Powderhounds. They are only to be undertaken when there is no powder because skiing powder ALWAYS takes priority. Tick off the following when at Arabba Marmolada.
- Ski the three long, fast advanced runs (Fodoma, Sourasass & Raccordo Ornella-Sourasass) down the shaded face below Porta Vescovo into Arabba.
- Try a non-stop descent of the highest & longest run in the Dolomites – the 12km & 1820m vertical La Bullunese. Head to Malga Ciapela & take the 3 cable cars to the top of the Marmolada glacier. Visit the WW1 museum on the way. From 3,265m at Punta Rocca near the summit of Marmolada, ski the glacier down to Passo Fedaia at 2,057m, then wiz through the valley past speeding cars on the adjacent road, finishing with a long schuss in a forested valley to Malga Ciapela at 1,446m. Wonderful!
- From Passo Fadaia in the Marmolada sector, wait for a car to travel along the adjacent road & race it down towards Malga Ciapela. You should win, but it depends on who is behind the wheel in the opposing car - the Italians do love a race!
- Complete the world famous Sella Ronda before lunch. The 40km long Sella Ronda links Arabba to three other ski resorts around the Sella massif. Best done early & in an anti-clockwise direction, the journey visits Alta Badia, Val Gardena & Val di Fassa before returning to Arabba.
- Do the backcountry version over the Sella massif from Arabba into Alta Badia via the steep Val Mezdí (Dolomiti Superski pass required to get back). Access is via the Pordoi Pass cable car. From the top of the cable car, after a short climb up, one dives into a gnarly & deep gash running up the side of the Sella massif above Colfosco. Return via ski lifts as per the Sella Ronda.
- Challenge yourself to ski the 80km+ Great War Tour (Dolomiti Superski pass required). The route follows sites important from the ‘White War’ fought in the Dolomites during WW1. As well as including the best elements of Arabba Marmolada, it also traverses Civetta & Cortina & Alta Badia ski resorts. The best direction is anti-clockwise as it only requires two buses (instead of three). Start early to get look at the museum on Marmolada. Enjoy the Armentarola trail down for the Lagazuoi & take the horse tow option. The tour is long & requires constant movement so don’t dilly dally! Alot of groups fail to finish!
- Explore off-piste options in the cold north-aspect terrain east of the Belvedere towards Arabba. Wide alpine bowls & tree skiing opportunities exist. Plan exits well, as unplanned descents can end at a road rather than a lift.
- Challenge yourself to ski some of the famous (& not so famous) couloirs on the flanks of the Sella massif. Use the cable car from Passo Pordoi for access. Get a guide if unsure.
- Near days end, take the Le Pale lift to the sunniest après ski in Arabba on Bec de Roces. Enjoy the ski back direct to Arabba, where you can continue at the festivities at the base of the Burz lift. Dine at Miky’s Grill in your ski boots.
Ski Lifts
Historically one of the major let downs at Arabba has been the disparate lift system. Many of the worst lifts or missing links have been remedied in recent seasons, but some problems still exist. The link between Arabba & Marmolada, the most important link in the entire resort (in our humble opinion), is a chairlift up to Passo Padon from the Arabba side (called Padon I). Yet it is so old & slow that it may as well be called the romantic chair, because it certainly gives one lots of time to get to know the person next to you. Shame it is in one of the coldest parts of the resort too. Rug up! The good news is that there are plans to replace the Padon I chair with a new 6-seater by season 24/25. Lets hope so.
Another intriguing sets of lifts at Marmolada are the two super-long Val d'Arei I & II J-bar surface tows. They act as a link from Malga Ciapela (the Marmolada cable car base) up the the Padon II chairlift. Joyously (particularly for snowboarders, these twos are being replaced for season 24/25 by a new gondola with 10-seat cabins.
There are several sections where one can easily miss important linking lifts, particularly when trying to cross the road near Arabba. The excellent Arabba Fly lift serves no specific ski trails but simply (& conveniently) traverses the road, removing the need to walk between the lift bases in the village. However, particularly on the Porto Vescovo side, many (& we mean many) skiers consistently miss the chair & end up too low; necessitating a walk up to the lift, a walk across road like the good old days or a long lift ride back up to ski down for a second crack at getting it right! Not the resorts fault necessarily, but one does wonder!
On a powder day during the high season, the queues at Malga Ciapela for the Marmolada cable cars can be horrendous. Be there early, do one run & head out to Passo Padon. The wait is only worth it if planning on a backcountry descent for fresh lines.
Lift Passes
As with most Dolomites ski resorts, two lift ticket options exist, but now a third one has emerged, the IKON Pass. The local Arabba-Marmolada lift pass is around €7-8 cheaper per day than the second option, a Dolomiti Superski pass.
A Dolomiti Superski pass gives one unfettered access to the interlinked ski areas that make up the Sella Ronda, Armentarola & Great War Tour ski trails. Ski lifts & piste trail link Arabba Marmolada to Val Gardena, Val di Fassa & Alta Badia. Buses link to the Cortina & Civetta ski resorts which are also valid with a Dolomiti Superski pass.
All lift passes are 5% cheaper is pre-purchased online at least 2-days before you intend to ski.
Check out the gargantuan ski trail map for Dolomiti SuperSki below.
Anyone with an Ikon Pass can ski up to 7-days shared between: Arabba-Marmolada, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Kronplatz/Plan de Corones, Alta Badia, Val Gardena/Alpe di Siusi, Val di Fassa/Carezza, 3 Peaks Dolomites, Val di Fiemme/Obereggen, San Martino di Castrozza/Rolle Pass, Rio Pusteria - Bressanone, Alpe Lusia - San Pellegrino, Civetta. Holders of an Ikon Pass can ski for free for 7-days, with no blackout period. Holders of Ikon Base Plus Pass and Ikon Base Pass can ski for free for 5-days with no blackout periods. You can go directly to the chairlift or gondola with your valid Ikon Pass as there is no need to stop at a local ticket window. The Ikon Pass is valid in the Dolomites from 15 November to 15 April in a given season.
Trail Map
The Arabba Marmolada ski trail map is a reasonable rendition of the lifts & piste trails within the ski resort. A caveat though; boundary definition between Arabba & the adjoining resorts of Val di Fassa & Alta Badia is poor on the trail maps, read signage carefully if not skiing with a Dolomiti Superski Pass.
Snowboarding Arabba Marmolada
Arabba-Marmolada terrain is generally snowboard friendly with very few surface tows & no real flats or inclines. Some long traverses exist (Belvedere to Arabba), but they are paced well enough to maintain momentum if you point it.
On-Piste Terrain
Despite having one of the Dolomites smallest number of piste trails (only 63km), Arabba Marmolada skis a lot BIGGER than most. The long, advanced trails and descents & from Marmolada make for great day on the groomed.
Novice & Beginner
The Arabba Marmolada ski resort is one of the least beginner friendly in the Dolomites. Small, learn to ski areas exist near the main village bases at Arabba & Malga Ciapela, but progression terrain is limited & is mainly in the form of linking trails. Beginners should head to the beginner’s paradise on the plateau at nearby Alta Badia.
Intermediate & Advanced Groomerhounds
The north-aspect piste trails below the Porta Vescovo are amongst the Dolomites best groomers. Excellent fall line on cold, dry snow makes is the place to ski for advanced & intermediate Groomerhounds. The Carpazza chair lift is marvellous for fast turnarounds.
Off Piste, Freeride & Backcountry Terrain
A range of classic off-piste descents exist in & around Arabba from the Porta Vescovo, Passo Padon & the Belvedere. Beyond that, the freeride backcountry routes off the Marmolada glacier have the inherent dangers & knowledge requirements attached, but skiable vertical is huge & snow quality excellent on its north-aspect slopes in to Passo Fedaia. The Sella massif, accessible from the cable car at Passo Pordoi (just in Val di Fassa), has a range of the Dolomites' best known & visually stunning backcountry routes. Several descents can be quite busy, Forcella Pordoi, Val Lasties & Val Mezdí, but others including the Joel couloir & Val delle Fontane (plus a host of others) are less well known.
If in doubt about your skills, or you just want to find the best lines without the need to navigate, get a local mountain guide via our Arabba-Marmolada Ski Lessons & Guiding page.