Ponte di Legno - Tonale

Ponte di Legno is a family-friendly ski resort located within the Northern Italian regions of Trentino-Alto Adige and Lombardy. The resort offers 41 slopes in four different ski areas, including on the stunning Presena glacier (3,000 m/9,842 ft), where experienced skiers can enjoy one of Italy’s premier downhill slopes: Pista Paradiso. The resort inaugurated this challenging black run in 1963 and continues to entice skiers with its 45% gradient and adrenaline-fuelled 3 km (1.7 mi) descent. Modern ski lifts and snow-making machines adorn the resort’s slopes. The resort regularly grooms and checks the pistes, ensuring comfortable skiing in all conditions. Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski resort offers a mix of easy beginner runs, intermediate reds, and challenging blacks.

Location

Located in Valle Camonica in the province of Brescia, the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski resort resides in two Northern Italian regions: Lombardy and Trentino Alto-Adige. The ski resort is in the Central Alps, specifically the Southern Rhaetian Alps. The area is known for the Stelvio National Park - Italy’s largest national park - and the Stelvio Pass (2,757 m/9,045 ft), featuring a road with 70 hairpin bends built as Austria’s imperial Italian foothold in 1825. The highest peak in the resort is Cima Presena (3,068 m/ 10,065 ft), with views of Cima Presanella (3,556 m/ 11,666 ft), Cima Busazza (3,326 m/ 10,912 ft), Monte Adamello (3,539 m/ 11,610 ft), and the rugged peaks of the Dolomites in the distance.

Getting to and from Ponte di Legno-Tonale Ski Resort

You can reach the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area from several major cities, including Trento, Brescia, Bergamo, and Milan. Whether renting a car or taking a bus or train, there are plenty of ways to reach the ski resort.

By plane

You can reach Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski resort from several nearby airports:

• Milan Bergamo: rent a car or hop on a bus to reach Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski resort in two hours.
• Verona Valerio Catullo Airport: jump on a Fly Ski Shuttle bus or drive to Ponte di Legno in around two and a half hours.
• Milan Linate Airport: reach Ponte di Legno in just over two and a half hours by either car or bus.
• Milan Malpensa Airport: you can reach Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski resort in around three hours from Malpensa Airport.

By car

• From Lombardy: follow the A4 Milan-Venice motorway and exit at Brescia Ovest or Ospitaletto if traveling from the southeast or at Seriate when traveling from the northwest. In both cases, follow signs for Valle Camonica.
• From Trentino: Follow the A22 Brennero-Modeno motorway and exit at San Michele when traveling from the north or Trento Nord if traveling from the south. Then, take the SS43 toward Val di Non and the SS42 to Val di Sole until you arrive in Passo Tonale.

By public transport

• Bus: find bus services in Lombardy by checking SAB Autotrasporti and FNM Servizi, or travel from Trentino with Trentino Trasporti.
• Train: if you’re traveling in Lombardy, take a train to Edolo and then take a ski shuttle to Ponte di Legno. If traveling from Trentino, take a train to Trento, then take a train to Malè before taking a bus to Passo del Tonale.

Ski shuttle

A ski shuttle operates in Lombardy and Trentino to help skiers reach the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski resort. The shuttle covers the journey from Edolo train station to the ski resort, bringing skiers to both Temù and Ponte di Legno. The shuttle also connects Ponte di Legno with the Passo Tonale cable car. This service is free for anyone with a valid ski pass for two to 14 days.

The ski shuttle also operates on the Trentino side, offering a service from Dalasi, allowing skiers to reach Passo Tonale. The shuttle is integrated with local public transport, and you can find more information about the different options on the official site.

Season

Ponte di Legno ski resort is open from late November to mid-May, thanks to the Presena Glacier allowing for an extended season. The entire ski area generally opens from Mid December to the end of April. All slopes in the resort have snow cannons to generate artificial snow when needed.

Ski resort map

Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski resort offers a mix of 41 slopes for beginners, intermediate, and expert skiers. The resort comprises four skiing areas with diverse characteristics for a unique experience. Ski through pine and spruce forests in Temù and Ponte di Legno, wide open runs in Passo Tonale, rocky peaks, and breathtaking views on the Presena Glacier. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different ski areas:

Ponte di Legno

Ponte di Legno is best for intermediate and expert skiers. The area offers a mix of red and black pistes that meander through pine and spruce forests, opening up into stunning panoramic views. The most popular - and challenging - slopes in this area are the Angelo (15) and Corno d’Aola (14) slopes.

Passo Tonale

This area is perfect for beginner and intermediate skiers and has wide, open views and sunny slopes. Here you’ll find a mix of easy blue runs and snow parks for children and new skiers to learn and have fun. Intermediate skiers can enjoy the winding panoramic red runs.

Presena Glacier

Experience skiing on an Alpine glacier where a mix of black, red, and blue runs await. Enjoy panoramic views at 3,068 m/ 10,065 ft and ski down the celebrated Pista Paradiso black run, a challenging adrenaline-fuelled slope with a 45% gradient taking you all the way down to Passo Tonale. Experienced skiers can also find freeriding opportunities up on the Presena Glacier.

Temù

A mix of wide, open slopes and picture-perfect forests provide the perfect backdrop for a day’s skiing. Temù is an excellent spot for intermediate and experienced skiers, thanks to a mix of black, red, and blue slopes.

Take a look at an overview of the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area with the official map.

Ski lifts and slopes

From slopes in snow-covered forests in Temù and Ponte di Legno to the rocky slopes of Tonale and vistas of the Presena Glacier, when skiing in Ponte di Legno-Tonale, you’ll find an exciting mix of well-groomed slopes for all abilities. The skiing area has quick, modern ski lifts with the highest safety standards. There’s plenty of fun for the whole family with Leolandia Fantaski, which includes a snow playground and ski area, tubing, sledding, a kids club, and babysitting services.

Slopes

• Total number of slopes: 41
• Total slope length: 100 km/ 62 mi
• Types of slopes: blue (10), red (25), and black (6).
• Longest slope: Pista Alpino (4.5 km/ 2.8 mi)
• Popular slopes: Pista Paradiso, Pista Alpino, Angelo, and Corno d’Aola

Ski lifts

• Total lifts: 28 (19 chair lifts, four cable cars, three ski lifts, and four magic carpets)
• Lifts operating hours: 8.30 am to 5 pm
• Top station: 3, 016 m/ 9,895 ft
• Base station: 1,121 m/ 3,677 ft
• Difference between stations (max vertical drop): 1,879 m/ 6,164 ft

Other features and services

• Artificial snow: Yes
• Night skiing: Yes
• Cross-country ski trails: 30 km/ 18.6 mi
• Snowshoe trails: 9.3 mi (15 km)
• Snowboard park: Yes
• Sled slopes: Yes
• Dogsledging: Yes
• Snow tubing: Yes
• Ice-skating field: Yes
• Ski rentals and boot fitting: Yes
• Ski school: Yes
• Ski guides and ski tours: Yes
• Outdoor stores: Yes
• Kindergarten: Yes

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing

Enjoy the picturesque winter scenery in the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area, with 30 km (19 mi) of cross-country skiing at two dedicated cross-country centers: Centro Fondo Valsozzine in Ponte di Legno and Centro Fondo Vermiglio in Trentino. Choose between eight different loops of varying levels and lengths for all abilities and rent your equipment directly from the cross-country centers, where you’ll also have access to changing rooms, showers, and a cafe. You can book private or group lessons at the center in Ponte di Legno and even try cross-country skiing at night in Trentino.

Non-skiers can also enjoy the beauty of the surrounding landscape by snowshoeing. There are more than 20 snowshoe trails in the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area winding through woods and valleys for total immersion in the winter scenery. Pick from 16 routes in Valle Camonica or five in Val di Sole, Trentino. Book an excursion with a local guide at the Scuola delle Guide Alpine Vallecamonica Adamenllo, or join a group excursion. If you go out on your own, always take an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe. At the beginning of February, you can even try a unique moonlit snowshoe walk, “la caspolada al chiaro di luna,” organized in Vezza d’Oglio.

Backcountry skiing

Discover the wild side of the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area by trying out the local backcountry skiing. You’ll find a mix of lengths and levels, from simple slopes to multi-day tracks that require experience and technique. You can access these areas with a ski pass and dedicated rental and safety equipment.

Follow tracks from the forest road that leads to Val Presena to Passo Paradiso (2,585 m/ 8,480 ft) and climb the Presena Glacier up to 3,069 m (10,068 ft) for breathtaking views of Monte Adamello (3,539 m/ 11,610 ft) and Pian di Neve (3,116 m/ 10,223 ft). Ski back down the way you came, or follow the on-piste slopes. Alternatively, take the ski lift to Passo Paradiso and follow the Pisgana track up to Passo Pisgana (2,953 m/ 9,688 ft) for a short uphill followed by a 2 km/ 1.2 mi descent down to Ponte di Legno.

For a multi-day experience, try the two-day tour of Monte Adamello, complete with 1,400 m/ 4,593 ft elevation gain and 3,000 m/ 9,842 ft of vertical drop. To access the route, take the ski lift to Passo Paradiso, where you can reach the Città di Trento mountain hut. From here, climb to Pian di Neve from here before reaching the Caduti dell’Adamello mountain hut. These huts provide camp beds and basic supplies. From here, you can climb to the top of Monte Adamello before descending to Ponte di Legno from Passo Venezia (3,227 m/ 10,587 ft).

Check the weather and read the local avalanche warning reports when backcountry skiing or going off-piste. We always recommend going with a guide. However, if you go alone, ask local staff about risk factors and local information and know your level and limits. Always take an avalanche beacon, shovel, and probe when skiing off-piste.

Ski passes in the Ponte di Legno - Tonale ski area

The Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski pass gives you unlimited access to four ski areas. You can access all ski lifts that connect the areas and towns in the ski area. Buy your hourly, daily, or two-day Smart ski pass in advance online via the official site’s online store for up to 25% off the total price.

Pick from daily to weekly ski passes and everything in between. You can find discounts for children; those under eight go for free with one paying adult. You can also get a deal with a family pass. Ski passes are usually the most expensive during the following periods:

• 7-11 December
• 26 December until 8 January
• 21 January until 12 March

Along with the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski pass, you can also use the following ski passes in the ski resort:

• Skirama Dolomiti-Adamello-Brenta ski pass: valid in Ponte di Legno-Tonale and the Skirama Dolomiti-Adamello-Brenta ski area, this ski pass gives access to 340 km/211 mi of slopes and 145 ski lifts.
• Valadaski ski pass: valid in the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area with access to a day’s skiing in the nearby Aprica ski area.
• ANEF Lombardy ski pass: gives access to all ski areas in Lombardy.
• Combi 1 ski pass: gives access to the entire Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area, plus one day’s skiing in the Skirama Dolomiti - Adamello - Brenta ski area.

Tourist information

Passo Tonale Tourist Information Center

Via Marconi, 7

38027 Malé

Tel: +39 / 0463 / 901280

Email: info@visitvaldisole.it

Ponte di Legno Tourist Information Center

Corso Milano, 37

25056 Ponte di Legno

Tel: +39 / 331 / 7148895

Email: info@prolocopontedilegno.it, info@turismovallecamonica.it

Dining

Choose from a wide variety of restaurants serving delicious local food. Go for a quick pit stop on the slopes or choose from a selection of restaurants based in one of the nearby towns for a taste of the local mountains:

• Roccolo Ventura mountain hut: located in the center of the Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area in the Adamello Regional Park, Roccolo Ventura is a traditional-style mountain hut set in the middle of the pistes offering skiers a quick break from the slopes. Choose from local dishes and book ahead for dinner and grilled meat.
• Ristorante San Marco: indulge in the delicious local cuisine at this elegant restaurant in Ponte di Legno, where you can find a wide variety of traditional food with a twist grown locally in Valle Camonica. Come here for the food and stay for the attention to detail and cozy atmosphere, with beautiful presentation and genuine mountain flavors courtesy of chef Marco Bezzi.
• Bar Ristorante Masoguera: take a break after a long day on the slopes at this typical welcoming mountain restaurant where you can dine on local food on the sunny panoramic terrace.

Lodging

You can find various hotels, apartments, farm stays, and hostels in Ponte di Legno, Passo Tonale, and the surrounding area. Check out these places when staying in the area:

• Hotel Savoia: just a stone’s throw from the slopes, Hotel Savoia in Passo Tonale offers a clean and comfortable stay. Dine in the hotel’s restaurant or take a break in the TV room while enjoying instant access to the center of the resort.
• R.T.A. Residence Mirella 2: located in the heart of Ponte di Legno, Residence Mirella 2 is set in a quiet and sunny area within walking distance of the Ponte di Legno ski lifts and ski bus stop. The hotel has a ski equipment room, parking, laundry service, and everything you need for a comfortable stay.
• Agriturismo Belotti: for an authentic feel of the local area, stay in this beautifully renovated local farmhouse just outside Ponte di Legno. Relax in the wood-heated sauna and hot tub after a tiring day on the slopes and unwind in the spa with relaxing scents and herbal teas. Once you’re back, you never have to leave, as the hotel has its own delicious on-site panoramic restaurant offering typical dishes with local ingredients.

Events in Ponte di Legno

The Ponte di Legno-Tonale ski area has recently started hosting a music festival, “Paradice Music - concerti di ghiaccio,” with its first edition in 2023. This event involves around 20 live performances over three months, from January to March, and takes place inside an igloo where musicians play unique instruments carved into the ice. Gourmet dinners with renowned chefs complement the event. You can buy tickets for the different events at any of the ski resort’s ticket offices.

Nearby towns

When in the area, check out some of these nearby towns and cities:

Brescia

Located between Milan and Verona, Brescia sits in the foothills of the Alps, making it a great place to stay for an active holiday. The city boasts a wealth of historical sites, such as the Roman Capitolino Temple ruins and the Duomo Nuovo, and gives easy access to the beautiful Lake Garda and Monte Maddalena (870 m/ 2,854 ft).

Bolzano

Known as the gateway to the Dolomites, Bolzano is nestled in the mountainous region of Trentino-Alto Adige. The city is surrounded by mountain peaks, making it the perfect outdoor playground for hikers, cyclists, trail runners, and skiers. The city has been a settlement since prehistoric times, and its extensive history means there are plenty of ancient churches and castles to explore.

Bormio

Further northeast, you can find Bormio, a small Alpine town where you can ski on the Stelvio slope, a firm favorite on the men’s downhill World Cup circuit. Bormio is also home to two thermal spas where you can relax and unwind after tiring days on the slopes: QC Terme Bormio Bagni Nuovi and QC Terme Bormio Bagni Vecchi. You’ll find panoramic pools, relaxing rooms, spa trails, saunas, steam rooms, and more in both spas.