Arabba / Marmolada

Arabba is the most technical ski area on the Sellaronda, with direct access to the Marmolada glacier (3,342 m, the highest mountain in the Dolomites). It sits between Passo Pordoi and Passo Campolongo, and it’s where the Sellaronda gets serious: real black runs, descents on the glacier, and the longest run in the Dolomites (12 km from Punta Rocca to Malga Ciapela).

Why Go Snowboarding

If you’re an advanced rider, Arabba/Marmolada is probably the most rewarding area in the whole Dolomiti Superski. The Marmolada has something unique in Italy: you ride a glacier up to 3,269 m, with near-powder conditions even late in the season. The Bellunese (12 km and 1,800 m of vertical from Punta Rocca to Malga Ciapela) is a run to do at least once. On the Arabba side the reds are fast and the blacks are demanding: great for high-speed carving. And since you’re on the Sellaronda, you can switch areas during the day and head toward Corvara, Canazei, or Val Gardena.

Terrain & Slopes

The 60 km of official runs are split into about 40 trails between Arabba and the Marmolada sector (Malga Ciapela). Of the 38 runs between Arabba and Marmolada only 5 are black (about 13%): not many in proportion, but Arabba’s blacks are among the most technical in the area. The Padon and Burz will test any rider. The Marmolada glacier adds 800 m of vertical on hard-packed snow, among walls of rock and ice you won’t see anywhere else. The Dolomiti Superski lift ticket gives you the whole network, 1,200 km of runs.

Snowpark

Funpark Arabba is the Dolomiti Superski fun slope at almost 2,000 m, at the Le Pale chairlift between Burz and Bec de Roces: small jumps, rollers, banked turns, and obstacles for all levels. Arabba has no park with rails and boxes: for real freestyle, head to the nearby Sellaronda parks (Val Gardena, Alta Badia).

Getting There

Car: from the south, leave the A27 at Belluno/Ponte nelle Alpi and follow the SS51 and the Agordino valley via Caprile to Arabba; from Val di Fassa take the SS48 over Passo Pordoi, and from Cortina come over Passo Falzarego. In winter the passes can close: always check conditions. Bus: Dolomiti Bus from Belluno. Train: the nearest stations are Brunico (50 km), Belluno (70 km), and Bolzano (75 km).

Tips

Arabba is a small, authentic village, far less touristy than Cortina or Selva. For the glacier, the best time is January to April, and late in the season it’s the glacier that gives you the most reliable conditions. The Dolomiti Superski day ticket opens up more areas but it’s expensive: worth it if you plan to move around to other ski areas. The Marmolada sector at Malga Ciapela (on the Veneto side) can be reached by car or bus, or from Arabba on the lifts of the link. For the glacier, freshly sharpened edges are strongly recommended.