Ortler Skiarena
Ortler Skiarena resorts are located mainly in the part of Alto Adige located west of river Isarco, up to the border with Switzerland and Austria, where border goes through the peaks of
Oetztaler Alps. The area gets its name from Ortles (Ortler) mountain range, with the highest peek at 3950 m.
Along Ortles-Cevedale group, on the border with Alta Valtellina there is glacier Stelvio which features the summer-only ski resort, Passo dello Stelvio that is not the part of Ortles Skiarena, and issues separate tickets.
Under the Ortles glacier there are two ski resorts Solda and Trafoi, located in Stelvio National Park with plenty of snow walking excursion routes. Solda with 40 km of downhill runs is also the biggest ski resort here.
The skiarea features another glacier Garwand located in Oetztaler Alps at 3200 m where one can find the ski resort Val Senales popular for summer skiing.
Between November and April Val Senales resort opens area below the glacier with 35 km of runs between 2000 m and 3200 m above sea level.
The central valley of region is Val Venosta with the main town Merano, which features one of the biggest ski resorts here – Merano 2000.
The other ski resorts are smaller, family-oriented with plenty of possibilities to rest outside of the crowded ski areas and to admire the great views of the Alps and Dolomites.
The beauty of Stelvio and Gruppo di Tessa national parks, ice on the lakes ( like Reischensee ) make the area perfect for walks with ciaspole, cross-country skiing,tobogganing and horse-driven sledge rides.
Running along the river Isarco motorway A22 connects Brennero Pass with Bolzano and Torino, and the ski resorts located west of A22 in the area called upper Valle Isarco belong to the Ortler Skiarena, while these located east of A22 form resort Valle Isarco, which is the part of Dolomites Superski area.
Before First World War Alto Adige territory belonged to Austrian-Hungarian Empire,thus all geographical places here have two names, Italian and German,
sometimes then ski resorts are more popular under their German names.
The Ortler Skiarena consists of 15 ski resorts, 14 of them are in Alto Adige and one (Minschuns) in Switzerland.
Up to last year another ski resort belonged to the group, it was Mendola-Ruffrè in Val di Non (Trentino), this year a separate resort.
Read more about Ortler Skiarena resorts :
Monte San Vigilio ( Vigiljoch )
Corno del Renon ( Rittner Horn )
Malga San Valentino ( Haider Alm )
[ on the photo: the tower of the church covered by the waters of lake Resia (near Maseben and Belpiano ski resorts)
courtesy of maxey]
