Cross-country ski trails in Val Gardena

"Zenter de Pudejè" (cross-country ski centre) announce the trail signs in the Ladin language alongside German, Italian, and English. The Gardena Valley is widely renowned for winter sports. Where the famous Saslong slope hosts the world's top skiers each year for the FIS Ski World Cup, there are also numerous cross-country ski trails, set against the striking backdrop of the Dolomites.

Cross-country ski trail network

The valley features 50 kilometres of well-maintained cross-country ski trails across all difficulty levels. The main hubs are the centre at Monte Pana in Santa Cristina and the Vallunga centre near Selva Gardena. These connect directly to the high-altitude trails on the Alpe di Siusi, which can be accessed with the same ticket. Together, they create a network spanning 133 kilometres.

The Monte Pana Plateau above Santa Cristina Valgardena accounts for about a quarter of this total, with around 30 kilometres of trails. The large 'Palusc' meadow is a popular starting area, and clear signposting makes it easy to combine different routes. Highlights include the demanding 'Val Scura' trail and the broad 'Palusc' trail, which is ideal for beginners. An eight-kilometre connecting track leads directly from Monte Pana up to the Alpe di Siusi.

In the Vallunga valley near Selva Gardena, a year-round sports centre was developed based on a concept by the German Ski Association (DSV). The trails here cover 19 kilometres, leading from the Carabinieri sports centre to the end of the valley, in the heart of the Puez-Odle Nature Park. The route provides groomed tracks for classic diagonal stride as well as parallel lanes for skating.

Cross-country ski tickets

At the Monte Pana-Alpe di Siusi cross-country ski centre, you can choose between day tickets, weekly tickets, and season passes. These tickets do not include rides on the ski lifts.

An alternative is the Dolomiti NordicSki pass. It is Europe's largest cross-country ski carousel, connecting 900 kilometres of trails across the Dolomites under a single ticket. The Monte Pana-Alpe di Siusi area is part of this network. In Vallunga, cross-country skiing is free of charge.

Equipment hire

Trying cross-country skiing for the first time? The Santa Cristina Ski and Cross-Country School runs private and group lessons directly at the Monte Pana Plateau. You can also hire all necessary equipment on site and use the heated changing rooms.

Ski preparation and waxing services for personal gear are available on request. Vallunga also has its own cross-country ski school and hire shop, located right next to the biathlon centre.

Getting there and places to eat

The Monte Pana Plateau sits at an altitude of 1,600 metres and can be reached by car along a two-kilometre mountain road. From Santa Cristina, the Monte Pana Chairlift also travels up to the plateau (with free parking at the valley station). Vallunga lies further up the valley and can be reached by car or by bus routes 360 (Chiusa-Val Gardena) and 358 (to the "Dantercepies" stop).

You can arrive at the Alpe di Siusi via the Alpe di Siusi Cable Car from the third village in the valley: starting from Oltretorrente, opposite the centre of Ortisei. In winter, the three villages of Val Gardena offer plenty of options to stop for a meal or warm drink in their restaurants and bistros.

During the festive season, when the Ortisei Christmas Village and 'Mountain Christmas' in Selva Gardena welcome visitors, stopping by the villages is especially atmospheric. Alternatively, there are also places to eat directly at Monte Pana.