The Best Backcountry Skiing Routes in Trentino-Alto Adige

One of the biggest assets of Innsbruck when talking about skiing is the position where the city is located: in no time you can drive on the highway in any direction - south, north, east or west - chasing the best snow conditions within a wide radius....

Okay, Monte Stivo might not be the very first ski touring destination that comes to your mind! It's a really nice summer hike up to the peak for tasting good local food and sipping a fresh cold beer at Rifugio Altissimo but yes, it is also a classic ski touring route in the southern part of the Trentino region and it offers a landscape that you won’t probably find anywhere else around here - an extraordinary 360° panorama that will indeed leave you breathless: Lake Garda, Vallagarina, Val d’Adige, Val del Sarca and, further on, the Brenta Dolomites group....

This off-piste is not really a line because it is close to a piste. However, if you are looking for powder after a snowfall you will find some under this chair because it is not many peoples' first choice....

This line is just about a couple of hundreds metres long. It is easily visible from Giggijoch but it doesn't get tracked that quickly. It fits perfectly if you decide to go to Gaislach after a run through the snowpark in Sölden....

This is one of the classic off-pistes on Giggijoch and starts at the top of the Roßkirplbahn. There are different variations of this line, because the field is quite open. Beside the open field the line is not the steepest and intermediate skiers can have a lot of fun here, especially after a big dump....

Tucked at the end of a valley, this isn't the kind of ski tour you stumble across so its popularity is explained by its quality rather than its ease of access....

This is an easy day up the valley to the hut. It can be combined with some skiing off the lifts in Vent before you start skinning to get you ski legs going, or further skinning above the hut as desired....

Saying that a Dolomites ski tour is scenic is rather like saying that snow is white - it's guaranteed! However, even by the extraordinarily high local standards, this is a gorgeous journey into perhaps the most stunning part of the whole Dolomites....

Located just 30 minutes away from Innsbruck, this is one of the most classical peaks in the Brenner area - specifically at the end of the remote Valsertal. This tour pretty often offers good snow all along the route thanks to the high elevation of the starting point....

Wait for a good snowfall and then show everyone your skills; this is a perfect off-piste run for creative riders. Ride down with smooth turns between the cliffs and rocks, or use some natural take offs or cliffs for airtime....

If it snows hard in Sölden, the heaviest snowfall will be on the glacier. The weather on the glacier during snowfall is extreme and is usually followed by strong wind. In these conditions the glacier is closed for tourists....

This one is one of the easier lines on Gaislachkogl. It's easy because the face is open, simple to follow and there is barely any chance of falling down cliffs. Start right on top of Gaislachkogl, then follow the fence on the right of you....

This off piste is a classic one, especially after a big snowfall. No hike is required and the line is quite long and the last part is a little steep. Because it is often windy during snowfalls in Sölden, this line can get dangerous....

This one is similar to the “Gaislachkar”, but the beginning is on a totally different spot and to get there a short hike is required. At the level of the lake, the lines come together and become one big off-piste....

The beginning of the line is nearly on top of Gaislachkogl. This entry is the same as the entry for the off-piste of the left side of the avalanche barrier or the “Gaislachkogl off-piste variation”....

This is a classic off piste of Sölden. No hike is required and it´s very good visible from the chair. The difficulty of the line depends on the amount of snow - at the beginning of December or end of April there are more cliffs....

The beginning of the line is nearly on top of Gaislachkogl. This entry is the same as the entry for the off-piste of the left side of the avalanche barrier or the “Gaislachkogl off-piste variation”....

This is a beautiful off-piste line, just make sure there is enough snow, otherwise you will get some scratches in your gear. The character of this line is not challenging, but rich in diversity....

This off-piste line follows a wide, open face. There are no trees on the entire face but orientating yourself is quite easy. Just look out for some cliffs and don't jump them without checking the landing first....

This is one of the two main off-piste lines down from the infamous mountain Roßkirpl. The hike is not as long as the one to the top of mountain. Compared with the difficulty and level of danger the other line down from Roßkirpl it is more challenging....