Aosta Valley Winter: a Complete Guide to the Best Skiing, Snowshoeing, and More
Aosta Valley, tucked into and against the towering Italian Alps, is an absolute haven for winter sport enthusiasts. Every year, the first snowfall transforms the region into a veritable utopia of downhill and cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and more. This guide highlights the best snowbound activities and where to find them, to help maximize your Aosta Valley winter.
Jump to:
- Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
- Cross-Country Skiing
- Snowshoeing
- Ice Skating
- Dogsledding
- Christmas Markets
- Thermal Baths
Downhill Skiing and Snowboarding
With a staggering 24 ski resorts within Aosta Valley, you’ll find everything from world-class courses to family-friendly slopes.
While there’s a locale for every ability level and interest, we’ve spotlighted a few of the most popular and distinctive resort areas below.
Best “blend” of everything: Breuil-Cervinia
Straddling the border with Switzerland, Breuil-Cervinia gives you the unique claim of skiing from one country to the other. This resort is perhaps the best “blend,” offering a little bit of everything to everybody.
Numerous blue and red runs make it a good choice for beginners and intermediates, while heli-skiing is an option for thrill-seekers.
The town itself is comfortable, with both midrange and upscale cafes, restaurants, and hotels.
Best ski town: Courmayeur
As one of the more established villages in the region, Courmayeur is the classic Alpine ski town, with charming architecture and plenty of amenities in an old town that appears straight out of a storybook.
Courmayeur is one of the more high-end mountain towns (a particular favorite among the posh Milanese set), although there are plenty of mid-tier restaurants and accommodations as well.
The local ski area is well-suited for intermediate runs, while the Mont Blanc cable car provides access to more challenging terrain, including the off-trail Vallée Blanche descent into Chamonix, France.
Best for advanced skiing: La Thuile
Adrenaline junkies may opt for La Thuile, where expert skiers can push their boundaries with challenging black runs, as well as off-trail and heli-skiing.
Meanwhile, novice and intermediate skiers will still find plenty of beginner, blue, and red tracks. You can also enjoy cross-border skiing here, with runs crossing into France.
Tucked into the farthest reaches of Aosta Valley, La Thuile retains a certain authenticity of the older ski resorts that haven’t been fully discovered by the masses.
Best variety: Monte Rosa
With over 180 km. of tracks crisscrossing its four valleys, Monte Rosa has plenty of variety for both skiing and other snowy activities.
Champoluc is the most famous and traditional resort on Monte Rosa, with stunning views of the surrounding glaciers. For a smaller resort and less crowds, head to either Brusson in Val d’Ayas, or Gressoney for intermediate-to-advanced skiing in unspoiled natural environs.
Best for families and children: Pila
This family-friendly resort is just a 30-minute drive from the town of Aosta, and has lots of gentle beginner runs and other snow-based activities like tubing for children.
However, there are also just enough black runs, off-trail, and heli-skiing options to keep the more experienced skiers in your party from getting bored.
Cross-Country Skiing
Aosta Valley boasts hundreds of kilometers of cross-country trails, making it easy to get your fix anywhere in the region.
But to help narrow down your options, we’ve highlighted some of the more popular (and extensive) trail networks below.
Cogne
At the gateway to Gran Paradiso National Park, Cogne is the undisputed heart of cross-country skiing in Aosta. Here, flat valleys are surrounded by towering mountain peaks, creating 80 km. of trails winding through pristine forest.
The town itself has multiple loops, while the nearby valleys of Sant’Orso and Valnontey offer a quick escape into immaculate snowy wilderness. You can view some of the sample itineraries here.
Courmayeur
Val Ferret, just outside of Courmayeur, sits in the shadow of Mont Blanc and provides some truly jaw-dropping Alpine vistas.
There are 22 km. of groomed, interconnected trails here, snaking between the quaint villages of Planpincieux and Lavachey. Explore some suggested trails here.
Breuil-Cervinia
Near the Matterhorn, the tracks by Torgnon (a 35-minute drive from Breuil-Cervinia) offer plenty of variety. Two different directions of trails alternate between beautiful forest and wide-open expanse looking out towards the iconic Matterhorn. You can read more about the trails here.
Brusson
More advanced cross-country skiers may prefer the small village of Brusson, which hosts both ski and biathlon competitions.
The 25 km. of trails have something for all ages and abilities, but experienced skiers will enjoy the more difficult thrills near Trois Villages. Learn more.
Rhêmes-Notre-Dame
Farther removed from the crowds, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame is a good option for those who want to feel truly immersed in nature.
There are 17 km. of trails to explore, while the more isolated location heightens your chances of spotting the iconic chamois and ibex near Gran Paradiso National Park. Learn more.
Snowshoeing
As with cross-country skiing, you’ll also find plenty of snowy trails ideally suited for snowshoeing.
Many of the region’s popular summer hiking trails are still accessible via snowshoes during the winter months. You’ll get a different perspective of Aosta’s spectacular alpine backcountry, currently blanketed in pristine snowfall.
While you can’t go wrong snowshoeing anywhere in Aosta, a few recommended spots include:
Brusson
With a bevy of cross-country skiing tracks, Brusson also offers multiple snowshoeing trails. Expansive meadows are interspersed with thick groves of fir and pine, providing both scenic viewpoints and the solitude of winter forest.
You can opt to snowshoe out to the village of Salomon (6.2 km roundtrip) or take the Roe Deer path to Crépin (4.3 km). The ascent up to Arp Refuge is great for those looking for a bigger workout (10.25 km). Meanwhile, the quick 30-minute Col du Joux Woodpecker loop is perfect for families and children (1.5 km).
Champoluc
The popular resort area of Champoluc has numerous options for snowshoeing in the neighboring environs.
One of the easiest loops starts at Antagnod and makes a short climb up trail #105 to the hamlet of Barmasc and its “big bench” photo spot (3 km).
You can also trek out to Mascognaz (11.6 km) or cross the Verra woods up to Rifugio Ferraro (8.2 km).
Cogne
Valnontey, at the gateway to Gran Paradiso National Park, is one of the most photogenic valleys within the park. Multiple trails crisscross the valley, allowing you to snowshoe as far as you wish.
Easier routes loop from the Cogne village center up to the hamlets of Serve and Gimillan (8.4 km).
Those desiring a bigger adventure may enjoy trekking out to the famous Lillaz Waterfalls (9.9 km) or push up the ascent to Vittorio Sella Hut (11 km).
Courmayeur
The mountains outside of Courmayeur include 22 km. of the well-groomed Val Ferret network, along with a few nearby rifugio trails.
Rifugio Bertone is accessible from Courmayeur, winding up through the neighborhoods to connect to the trail (for 8.7 km roundtrip).
Meanwhile, Rifugio Bonatti requires you to pick up the trailhead outside of town, but rewards with some truly epic scenery. There are multiple trail options leading to Bonatti, including either Lavachey (4.4 km. roundtrip) or Arnuova (11 km.).
Ice Skating
While Aosta has plenty of indoor rinks (including the Olympic-grade Courmayeur Sport Center), there’s something magical about skating outdoors in the crisp mountain air.
Some of the best outdoor skating rinks in Aosta are highlighted below. Each of the following locations also offers on-site rentals.
Lake Gover (Gressoney-Saint-Jean): This scenic alpine lake, framed by tall pine trees and looking out towards Monte Rosa, turns into a natural skating rink during the winter months. It’s typically open from early December – mid March, and has a bar/restaurant along the southeastern shore.
Cervinia Fun Park (Breuil-Cervinia): Open between November – March, the rink also has a restaurant and bar, along with après ski and DJs. It’s open for extended hours during Christmas time.
Lake Brusson (Brusson): The quaint Lago di Brusson freezes over in winter, creating a natural rink that’s open from December – February. There is also a bar on-site.
Dogsledding
You can find dogsledding in both Courmayeur and Breuil-Cervinia, where local snow-loving huskies will whisk you through a forested, winter wonderland.
You can book directly with either Dogsledman in Courmayeur or The Husky Experience in Breuil-Cervinia.
Christmas Markets
Adding to the magic of the season, Aosta Vally boasts four different Christmas markets during the holiday months.
Decorated in the traditional Alpine style, each market comes alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmastime. Carolers stroll and the aroma of roasting chestnuts wafts through the air, as holidayers peruse the wooden stalls for local handicrafts, regional foodstuffs, and other treats.
Most markets remain open until Jan. 6, the Epiphany, when Italian tradition dictates that La Befana, an old witch similar to Santa Claus, delivers presents to children to close out the holiday season.
The largest Christmas market is Marché Vert Noël in the town of Aosta, which takes over the piazza in the historic town center.
Chatillon, one of the region’s primary ski resorts, comes in a close second. Its Le Petit Marché au Bourg market hosts over 100 wooden stalls, retailing traditional handicrafts and regional bites.
Elsewhere in the valley, enchanting Gressoney-La-Trinité hosts its traditional Weinachtmärt in the shadow of Monte Rosa, while you can also catch Nöel au Bourg in the small village of Bard, just before the Piedmont border.
Thermal Baths
Once your skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating have left you feeling chilled and sore, you can treat yourself to a restorative soak in one of the region’s famous thermal baths.
Aosta Valley’s baths have been attracting visitors for millennia, ever since the ancient Romans first discovered the hot springs and sought out their healing properties. Patrons credit the waters with everything from improving circulation to healing gastrointestinal and respiratory ailments. But those simply looking to unwind in a spa-like setting will find that, too.
Two of the region’s most popular baths include Pré-Saint-Didier and Saint-Vincent, each of which have been operating since the early 19th century.
Both locations offer a host of thermal pools, saunas, steam baths, spa treatments, and more. We recommend booking treatments in advance.
Even if you’re not visiting in winter, Aosta Valley boasts a wealth of outdoor-centric activities year-round. You can check out our guide to the best things to do in Aosta Valley for more ideas to fill the non-snowy months.
Featured image of Courmayeur courtesy Pasquale Cantone.
