Selva: piste guide

Selva’s own slopes cover both sides of the valley. The lower slopes are wooded, with open slopes higher up.

Selva | Resort guide

The local piste map exists in several variations. The maps show neither names nor numbers for the runs, which can be confusing. Piste signing provokes some criticism.

Extent of the slopes

The Danterc?pies gondola goes off eastwards to start the clockwise Sella Ronda circuit and serves lovely red runs back to Selva. On the other side of the valley, the Ciampinoi gondola goes south for the anticlockwise circuit via Plan de Gralba and accesses several shady pistes, leading back down to Selva and Santa Cristina, including the famous downhill run.

In Santa Cristina, another gondola accesses Ciampinoi, and an underground train links the lift base to a gondola on the outskirts for the sunny Seceda area. In this sector, runs descend to Santa Cristina or to Ortisei – a red run of about 7km. And from Ortisei a gondola on the other side of the valley takes you to and from Alpe di Siusi – a gentle elevated area of quiet, easy runs, cross-country tracks and walks. You can proceed from here to the backwater Monte Pana (which is connected to Ciampinoi) by bus, but it’s a slow affair.

Fast lifts

The main access lifts are gondolas, and there are lots of fast chairs above them, so progress can be quick.

Snow reliability

The slopes are not high – most are between 1,500m and 2,000m. Natural snowfalls are erratic, but the snowmaking is exceptionally good. The grooming is very good too – ‘morning cruising is fantastic’. Problems arise only if it is too warm to make snow.

For experts

There are few challenges, essentially no moguls and a low likelihood of powder. There are few major off-piste routes because of the nature of the terrain, and off piste is prohibited in places.

The Val Gardena World Cup piste, the Saslong, is one of several steepish runs from Ciampinoi. It is open to the public much of the time. There are also good reds down the same hills. The long red runs from Danterc?pies are good.

For intermediates

There is a huge amount of skiing to do, in several areas. Competent intermediates will love the red and black descents from Danterc?pies and Ciampinoi to Selva (but more timid intermediates may find them too steep and/or crowded).

The blue runs in the Plan de Gralba area are gentle – great for building confidence; the red run to get there from Ciampinoi is a real obstacle – it’s steep and crowded and can be icy – so you might want to go by road.

The quiet red and black runs at Mont de Seura, above Monte Pana, are worth exploring.

The gentle Alpe di Siusi above Ortisei is ideal for confidence-building. The red runs that dominate the map are mostly of blue gradient and quiet.

The Seceda sector has good red and blue runs at altitude, and splendid runs to the valley – an easy blue/red to Santa Cristina and the beautiful red Cucasattel, passing through a natural gorge to Ortisei.

For beginners

The village nursery slopes below the Danterc?pies gondola are excellent – spacious and convenient. There are lots of gentle, long runs to progress to, but they are at Plan de Gralba and Alpe di Siusi, and reached by road. There are better places to start.

For boarders

Selva attracts few boarders. There’s little to challenge experts, and off-piste opportunities are limited. The main valley lifts are all gondolas or chairs. There are three terrain parks and a couple of half-pipes.

For cross-country

There are 115km of trails, all enjoying wonderful scenery and almost half at altitude. The 12km trail up the Vallunga valley is particularly attractive, with neck-craning views all around and has really good tracks for skate and classic styles. 

Where to Ski and Snowboard

This guide is taken from Where to Ski and Snowboard, edited by Chris Gill and Dave Watts. Chris now produces Where to Ski guides to individual countries. Find out more and receive an exclusive book discount.