Winter hikes at Catinaccio

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More than just skiing: Ciampedie is a winter paradise waiting to be explored on foot. Whether you are looking for an alternative to the slopes or simply want to unplug, put on your snowshoes or crampons and let the silence of nature embrace you. Walking up here is a deeply regenerating experience for both body and mind, elevated by the breathtaking spectacle of the Catinaccio Group cloaked in white.

Two wonderful high-altitude itineraries await you:

  • Ciampedie Plateau Loop: An easy loop trail through the woods offering panoramic views over the Val di Fassa and the Dolomites. It is perfect for a relaxing stroll and highly suitable for families with children.
  • Ciampedie-Gardeccia Walk: A charming trail that leads into the heart of the basin, where alpine refuges stand ready to warm you up with traditional local flavours. The route starts at Ciampedie and heads toward Pian Pecei, either following the forest trail or taking the Pian Pecei-Ciampedie chairlift (which is included in the Vigo-Catinaccio cable car return ticket). Once at the Pian Pecei plateau, walk around the Prà Martin chairlift station and shortly after turn right onto the forest road leading to the Gardeccia basin—a unique natural amphitheatre far from the ski slopes. In Gardeccia, you will find four alpine huts open during the winter season. These mountain refuges are the ideal pit stop for winter hikers, snowshoers, crampon enthusiasts, and sledding lovers. From the Gardeccia basin, if conditions permit, you can continue along summer trail no. 546 toward the Vajolet and Preuss refuges, and further up to Passo Principe along trail no. 584. Please note that from Gardeccia onward, the hike becomes more demanding; we highly recommend hiring a mountain guide and checking trail conditions in advance.

GUIDED HIKES

Want to experience the mountains on an even deeper level? Join our guided excursions with a local guide. They will reveal the secrets of the alpine environment, the history of the area, and the unique curiosities that make this valley so special.

Choose the excursion that suits you best and sign up!

CIAMPEDIE LOOP: Perfect for families

More information soon

CIAMPEDIE-GARDECCIA WALK: Complete with a mountain hut stop and hot tea.

More information soon

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Catinaccio Thematic routes in Winter

Discover the themed trails in the heart of the Rosengarten! THE BLUE RAVEN AND THE MAGIC WORD This new and exciting thematic route for families is available in winter too! Thanks to the illustrated booklet, this path will introduce both adults and children to the story of the Blue Raven, the guardian of the mountain who lost a magic word that once illuminated the Dolomites. Along the nine-stage trail, you’ll rediscover the ancient value of Val di Fassa’s legends, bringing their symbolic characters to light and listening to the silent voice of nature. Stage by stage, children will help the Blue Raven find the letters lost in the woods to reconstruct the magic word and give voice to the characters of ancient legends such as the Salvan, Vivana, Stria, Krampus, and King Laurin. It’s a self-guided path which consists in a simple walk around the Ciampedie valley, accessible either from Pera by chairlift or from Vigo by cable car.

Catinaccio mountain refuges in winter

The vast Ciampedie plateau boasts a rich gastronomic offering that satisfies every palate. Right next to the arrival station of the Vigo-Catinaccio cable car, there are no fewer than four mountain huts to choose from, all featuring breathtaking views of the Catinaccio and the surrounding Dolomites. On the right is Rifugio Bellavista, with its large sun terrace, while in a fairly central position we find Rifugio Ciampedie, the classic alpine hut where you can still breathe in the authentic mountain atmosphere. On the left, instead, are Rifugio La Zondra, which offers traditional local dishes, and Baita Checco, featuring delicious reinterpretations of ancient Ladin and Trentino recipes by Chef Matthias. A little further along is Rifugio Negritella, also well-known for its high-quality cuisine and panoramic rooms overlooking the Catinaccio Group. For those staying overnight, a small but well-equipped wellness centre is also available for moments of pure relaxation at high altitude. Finally, there are the mountain huts in the Gardeccia area, some of which are also open in winter and can be reached on foot starting from Ciampedie or Pian Pecei.

Winter hikes at Catinaccio

More than just skiing: Ciampedie is a winter paradise waiting to be explored on foot. Whether you are looking for an alternative to the slopes or simply want to unplug, put on your snowshoes or crampons and let the silence of nature embrace you. Walking up here is a deeply regenerating experience for both body and mind, elevated by the breathtaking spectacle of the Catinaccio Group cloaked in white. Two wonderful high-altitude itineraries await you: GUIDED HIKES Want to experience the mountains on an even deeper level? Join our guided excursions with a local guide. They will reveal the secrets of the alpine environment, the history of the area, and the unique curiosities that make this valley so special. Choose the excursion that suits you best and sign up! CIAMPEDIE LOOP: Perfect for families More information soon CIAMPEDIE-GARDECCIA WALK: Complete with a mountain hut stop and hot tea. More information soon

Ski School and Ski School area Catinaccio

HIGH ALTITUDE SKI SCHOOL AREA Learning to ski has never been this fun! Whether you are an absolute beginner or a little champion looking to improve your technique, Ciampedie is your perfect destination. Incredibly easy to reach, the Vigo Ski School area is located just a few steps from the exit of the Vigo-Catinaccio cable car, making it the perfect spot to take your first steps on skis. Right next to the beginners’ slope, you will also find the Kinderpark—an oasis of pure snowy fun for the little ones. There are then the blue slopes Cigolade, Ciampedie-Pian Pecei, Vajolet 1, and Vajolet 2, ideal for practicing and enjoying a wonderful day of skiing in the Dolomites through King Laurin’s woods. The ski area also features thrilling red runs like the Thoeni, and the legendary Alberto Tomba black slope, offering a total of 14 km of perfectly groomed trails. SKI SCHOOL VIGO Since 1970, the Vigo Ski School has been blending tradition with innovation, offering group courses and private lessons for every skill level. Today, a team of 60 professional instructors is ready to teach you skiing and snowboarding with a secret ingredient: fun! The ski school dedicates extraordinary care to […]

High-altitude maze at Buffaure

BUFFY’S LAIR It is called ‘Buffy’s Lair‘ and it is a massive wooden maze. And massive it truly is! Its dimensions are genuinely impressive: it covers a remarkable 400 square meters, divided into many small corridors. The maze was created by Trentino artist Franz Avancini, using mostly wood and natural materials. A true work of art, just like the ones this artist has long accustomed us to. Buffy’s lair is situated next to the Buffaure Refuge, just a few steps from the arrival of the cable car. This is an original project designed for children, but one that will certainly intrigue and thrill adults as well. Everyone can venture inside the wooden corridors in search of Buffy the rabbit’s lair. Along the way, you might stumble upon three hidden alcoves containing various surprises. In short, it will be fun for all ages to find yourself momentarily lost among games and optical illusions, such as the hilarious upside-down room. A fun and engaging way to forget about the world “outside” and get back to your childhood. Finally, hidden at the center of the maze is the most anticipated surprise: a giant sculpture made of woven branches depicting Buffy the rabbit itself. […]

Artwork on the slopes at Buffaure

At Buffaure, you don’t just ski; you immerse yourself in a perfect blend of slopes, dreamy snow-covered landscapes, and artworks that make the experience even more magical. Next to the ski runs, in fact, you can admire a majestic eagle, a pack of wolves, as well as charming thrones and truly curious seating installations. The Buffaure ski area hosts numerous wooden artworks created by Franz Avancini—a Trentino artist who has been on the scene for over twenty years with countless spectacular creations to his credit—and Marco Nones, another artist who lives and works in Val di Fiemme, known as a performer and exponent of environmental art. The artworks by Marco Nones that make up ‘The Seated Path’ are only visible in summer, as they are positioned along the panoramic ridges connecting Col de Valvacin to Sella Brunech. THE PACK OF WOLVES Skiing down from Col de Valvacin toward the Buffaure plateau, just below Baita Cuz, you will come across five highly impressive wolves—six meters long and nearly two meters high—covered in a weave of branches gathered from the local forest floor. A true wonder created by artist Francesco Franz Avancini. ‘For each wolf,’ Avancini explains, ‘my collaborators Igor and Simone […]

Panorama Ski Tour

The Ski Tour Panorama winds along a remarkable seventy kilometers of perfectly groomed slopes, offering skiers breathtaking views of the most iconic Dolomite peaks in Val di Fassa.

Ski school and Ski school area Buffaure

HIGH ALTITUDE SKI SCHOOL AREA The Buffaure area also features the ‘Salvan’ blue slope, named after the legendary character who inhabits these woods. This easy slope completes the resort’s offering alongside the more challenging red slopes, including the highly popular ‘Panorama’, and the daring ‘Vulcano’. With its peak gradients of 38%, a vertical drop of 566 meters, and a total length of 2.5 km, the ‘Vulcano’ has always attracted countless enthusiasts to the circuit in search of a moment of pure adrenaline. The 1650 meters long slope is served by the ‘Buffaure di Sotto’ lift. It allows the little ones and the less experienced (included those who arrive from the connected Sellaronda circuit), to ski downhill in one of the most scenic areas of the Fassa valley, with an incredible view that especially in the first part of the track, embraces the main peaks of the Dolomites: from Sassolungo to Sassopiatto, from Catinaccio to Sella Group and Marmolada. The ski school practice area is situated uphill, in the Buffaure basin. Three magic carpets will help the less experienced to become confident with skiing and snowboarding, among tunnels, skittles and the silhouettes of the Salvan characters. You can also rely on […]

Buffaure mountain refuges in winter

Experience pure high-altitude flavours in the stunning setting of the Buffaure Ski Area, where authentic Alpine hospitality meets the breathtaking panorama of the Val di Fassa Dolomites. Here, five exceptional mountain huts are ready to delight your senses, blending the flavours of ancient Ladin and Trentino traditions with refined culinary creations, all prepared with care and passion. Once you reach the Buffaure basin, you can choose between the modern, finely renovated Chalet la Bolp and the warm welcome of Rifugio Buffaure, famous for its spectacular, sun-drenched terrace. If you want to touch the sky with your fingertips, take the modern Buffaure-Col de Valvacin cable car to reach an altitude of 2,354 meters. Awaiting you up there is Rifugio El Zedron, which offers a spectacular view of the Marmolada to admire while savouring high-altitude delicacies. For those seeking a rejuvenating stop along the slopes, Baita Cuz proves to be a true oasis of peace nestled in the heart of the mountain. In addition to excellent cuisine, this lodge offers exclusive panoramic suites, ideal for treating yourself to the dream of falling asleep and waking up surrounded by the silence of the peaks. Finally, descending towards Pozza di Fassa, right at the […]

Ski Room & Rental Buffaure

AT BUFFAURE YOU FIND EVERYTHING YOU NEED Tired of carrying your heavy and bulky ski equipment, which sometimes makes your car dirty, back and forth from the hotel? In Buffaure there is the solution that suits you! The heated ski room where you can leave your equipment in total safety and find it the next day perfectly dry and ready for a new day on the snow. The ski room which opens directly onto the free car park at the departure point of the “Pozza- Buffaure” cable car is equipped with 200 lockers that can accomodate up to 400 pairs of skis or snowboards and related boots. And in order to provide total comfort, at the end of the day you can access it directly from the door at the end of the track, right where you finish. The ski room is open every day from 8 am to 7 pm non- stop. It also offers a ski service both for the following day and on demand, so it is available for a short pit stop for waxing or other needs. The ski room offers the possibility of renting skis for all ages, for a carefree experience on the slopes. […]