Sella Ronda snow forecast

Skiing in Sella Ronda

The Sella Ronda is a ski circuit around the Sella massif in the Dolomites, linking four valleys and four passes: Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa, over the Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and Sella passes. The loop is about 40 km including lifts, with around 26 km on skis, and takes an average skier five to six hours. Orange signs lead clockwise and green signs anticlockwise, and it can be started from Selva, Corvara, Canazei or Arabba. All of it is covered by the Dolomiti Superski pass.

The circuit itself is mostly red and blue terrain, so a confident intermediate can complete it, but the lifts get busy at peak times and missing the last connection means a long taxi ride home. Start early and check lift closing times.

Each valley has its own flavour. Selva Val Gardena has a dense lift network, the famous Saslong World Cup piste and access to the Seceda. Alta Badia is known for gentle, well-groomed cruising that suits families and intermediates. Arabba is steeper and gives access to the Marmolada glacier, the highest skiing in the Dolomites at over 3,200 m and the area's best bet for snow late in the season. Canazei in Val di Fassa is lively and well placed for both the Sella Ronda and the Belvedere area.

The Dolomites are generally sunnier and drier than the northern Alps, and the resorts rely heavily on snowmaking, which keeps the pistes in good shape even in leaner winters. The main season runs from early December to early April. Verona, Venice, Innsbruck and Bolzano are the usual gateways.