Passo Tonale

Passo Tonale, Italy

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Passo Tonale

Just over the border from the Val di Sole and Trentino, Ponte di Legno is linked to year round skiing at Passo Tonale via a gondola which opened in 2006.

Summary

The Italian ski resort of Passo Tonale is in the Italian Dolomites at an altitude of 1,880m, with 87km of marked runs.

Passo Tonale is part of the Skirama Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta area with access to 380km of downhill skiing, with 319 marked pistes, served by a total of 150 ski lifts. In addition to the skiing in Passo Tonale itself (87km of pisted ski runs), the appropriate ski Lift Pass will allow you to ski or snowboard in the other Skirama Dolomiti Adamello-Brenta ski resorts of Folgaria - Lavarone - Fiorentini, Folgarida / Marilleva, Madonna di Campiglio, Monte Bondone, Paganella Ski, Pejo, Pinzolo and Ponte di Legno.

The ski resort itself is at 1,880m, so skiing or boarding back to the resort is usually possible. With ski lifts as high as 3,030m, skiing and snowboarding is assured throughout the season.

Ski Area Stats

Passo Tonale Overview

Passo Tonale and neighbouring Ponte di Legno offer the best of both worlds - high altitude skiing in the sunny Val di Sole with an easy cable car link to the Presena Glacier for snow certainty and the off slope facilities in Ponte de Legno.

Passo Tonale, located on the border of Trentino and Lombardy regions in the Val de Sole, has a mix of unattractive apartment blocks alongside some traditional style buildings. Ponte de Legno is a charming little town that has maintained its traditional character, but is less convenient for the slopes. It's possible to ski down to the town from Tonale (snow permitting) and a new gondola link that opened in 2007 makes it possible to ride back up (Previously it was a bus ride back up).

Tonale has become increasingly popular with international tourists in recent years and is now one of the leading Italian destinations for skiers from abroad, particularly the UK where the six largest operators, together controlling 80% of the market, all offer trips here.

 Notable Ski Runs

The longest possible descent in Passo Tonale is 11km long and the most difficult run is the 'Pista Panabiso, Lunghezza'.

Skiing

Passo Tonale's 100km of runs serve skiers of all standards. Trails are generally wide, sunny (sometimes windy too!) and above the treeline. There are six beginner lifts at village level - which unlike in many ski resorts is snowsure all season round.

Intermediates perhaps have thre most to enjoy. A local favourite is the 4.5km run down from the Cima Bleis covered quad chair, or the Valbiolo trail to the east, accessed by another fast quad.

Experts are not forgotten. The Paradiso run is one of the best, dropping a stomach-lifting 700m over its 2km length. The world famous off piste Pisgana slope is also here, one of the most challenging in Europe, at 14km long with a 2000 metre vertical drop - one of the world's greatest. Travel by ski lifts from Passo Tonale to Bocchetta degli Sciatori (2980m), descend to Rifiugio Mandrone (2449m) then climb up the Passo Valletta to the peaks of Monte Venezia (3290m). After admiring the stunning view you begin your descent along the western Pisgana hanging glacier.

Ponte de Legno has a small local ski area of its own separate to the main ski area at Tonale and centred on the Valbione area below Cima Salimmo. There's a good variety of trails with near 100% computerised snowmaking cover.

The Presena glacier is open throughout the winter season, then normally remains open from May to August, with five trails between 2738m and 3016m on the glacier served by drag lifts. They are reached by a cable car and chairlift from high altitude Tonale (1883m). There are two easy, two medium and one black run.

The Skipass Super Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta is a pass of apparently ever increasing size centred on Italy's Val di Sole. It includes the lift linked area of Madonna di Campiglio, Folgarida and Marilleva and the recently added 'White Highlands of Trentino' area, plus Monte Bondone and Pinzolo amongst others. In total more than 300km of runs. Some of these resorts have a coach service linking them.

Passo Tonale and Ponte di Legno also participate in the giant Lombardy ticket of six days only duration which covers 800km of skiing and more than 20 areas in and around Lombardy, including Livigno and Bormio.

There are a variety of pistes to suit all levels of skier ability, from Beginner to Expert.

Snowboarding

Rated highly for boarders, thanks to its wide open powder bowls, fast easy uplift and high value pricing. A snowpark for snowboarders can be found under the Tonale-Valena ski lift. All trails are open to snowboarders and the most dedicated will want to hire a guide in order to make the famous Pisgana off piste

Aprés Ski

Passo Tonale has plenty of good places for apres ski, although these can be quiet during the week outside holiday periods. Popular venues include the Magic Pub, UFO bar, Crazy Horse (Good happy hour) and Club Heaven which play good music and has a great atmosphere. Both the bombardinos and the hot chocolates are good if you need warming up after getting in from skiing. The Antares disco and another in the Paradiso hotel are also highly recommended.