The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Sondrio

From the top of Mottolino mountain (Valfin lift) ski on the ridge piste for 100 metres. Then get out the groomed piste and start descending the slope towards east and the evident valley called Vallaccia....

From the top of Costaccia cablecar follow the "Costaccia" piste for 500 metres, then leave the piste just before the crossroad with the blue "Valandria" piste. Go left off the piste and find the best way through the trees, staying skiers right if in doubt....

From the top of the Carosello 3000 II gondola follow the right-hand branch of the "Polvere Sinistra" piste until the crossroad where this piste meets the "Federia Polvere Sinistra" piste ....

From the top of M. Sponda chairlift, take the blue "Delle Cime" piste that follows the ridge leads to the Mottolino gondola top station. Once below 2500 metres, you can decide to leave the piste wherever the skiing looks best and start heading down the open slopes of the Colombina....

From the top of Valfin Monte Neve chairlift, head towards the black piste of Valfin and keep traversing to the the information board with a beacon check and freeride rules. You can traverse more to the first rocks exactly under the Monte della Neve top....

From Passo d'Eira draglift go up the groomed road that leads under the Monte Crapene. You can either walk or ski tour up the track (100 vertical metres, 20 minutes) but also take advantage of a skidoo service located right at the beginning of the track....

From Costaccia top station head left to the wooden cross facing the valley of Livigno. Descend just under it and at first keep to the right above a shoulder with some bigger trees....

From the top of Valfin Monte Leve chairlift take your skis off and start hiking up to the top of Monte della Neve (80 vertical metres, 15 minutes). Once on the top follow the large ridge with skis on, heading south....

From the top of Fedaria chairlift start skiing right on the "Federia Sinastra" piste towards Pizzo Cantone peak. Before the piste starts turning right, get off piste and put skins on....

From top of the Federia chairlift follow the "Federista Sinastra" piste for 300 metres, then head left off the piste towards the meteorological instruments, then climb up easily to the top of the small hill by walking or sidestepping for around 10 minutes....

This line runs on the side of Canalone and is a bit steeper and narrower but usually less crowded. Pay attention to the cliffs; making a wrong turn could end in serious danger!! The line starts under the Groppera lift, ski traversing on your left leaving Diavolo on your right....

Madesimo's Canalone is well known all over the Alps; it's a 900 metre run with a constant pent of 30-35 degrees. It's never too steep and is really nice to ski but often crowded....

The first part is the same as the Camosci line. Ski under the lift, keeping left, then leave Camosci on your right and lower down enter the couloir. The first part is the steepest then the angle flattens down....

This line goes through the rock bars below Pizzo Gropera and is not easy to navigate (even for experts!) The line starts under the Groppera lift. Ski down keeping to your left then ski under the cables until the slope starts to narrow....

This Couloir starts just under Pizzo Gropera and it dominates the whole valley underneath (Val di Giust). The line starts under the Groppera lift. Traverse on your left and pass the Cavallina line....

This couloir is a variation to the more famous Canalone run but steeper and more difficult to locate. Usually it is less crowded then Canalone. From Groppera start traverse a bit on your left to enter a couloir which goes down parallel to the Canalone....

A nice couloir/face that descends from Pizzo Groppera. It is usually less crowded then Canalone and a little bit steeper.Usually the snow is great and the skiing is fantastic with a great view across the mountains....

If conditions allow this is a great day doing a circular route from the Martello Hut. It is an easy angled skin from the Zufal to the Martello Huts- an hour and a half should be plenty of time....

This is a stunning 2000m day involving 2 major summits- early start required. Descend gently from the hut to take you onto the open slopes beneath the glacier. Take the R hand of the 2 major glaciers as you look at them, passing to the N of the obvious Zufallspitze....

The Branca Hut has so many amazing peaks and is such a great location it seems rude not to spend a few nights here. Pizzo Tresero, 3594m, is an obvious and fine objective, with a number of different descents....