Cross-country skiing in the Puster Valley: trails around Kronplatz and Dolomiti NordicSki
The Puster Valley is one of the best-known cross-country regions in the Alps. From the Übersteinerhof in St. Lorenzen you reach the trails around Kronplatz, the Antholz Valley with its biathlon arena and the Dolomiti NordicSki network, one of the largest trail networks in Europe.
Dolomiti NordicSki: one pass, over 180 trails
Dolomiti NordicSki links eight cross-country regions in South Tyrol, East Tyrol and the Veneto: Antholz Valley, Gsies Valley-Welsberg-Taisten, 3 Zinnen Dolomites, Ahrn Valley, Seiser Alm Dolomites Val Gardena, East Tyrol, Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val Comelico. Over 180 trails for classic and skating technique are groomed daily.
With the Dolomiti NordicSki pass you can use the whole network or just one region. Depending on snow, the trails open in early December, guaranteed from 8 December, with good conditions into March. Many areas can be reached by bus and train.
Cross-country trails in the Puster Valley and around Kronplatz
Around Kronplatz there are 162 km of trails of every difficulty. Our tips from the farm:
- Sonnenloipe in the Antholz Valley: 5.5 km of flat trail from Oberrasen to Antholz Niedertal, with artificial snow and views of the Rieserferner peaks
- Südtirol Olympic Arena Antholz: around 20 km of trails at the biathlon centre, plus the lake trail across the frozen Antholz lake
- Gsies Valley: around 50 km of trails in an unspoilt side valley, home of the Gsieser Tal Lauf race
- 3 Zinnen Dolomites near Toblach: around 200 km of trails in the UNESCO World Heritage area, a Tour de Ski venue
- Trails near Bruneck: Reischach and Pfalzen cross-country trails, close to the farm
- Rodeneck and Lüsen Alm: a demanding 17.9 km high-altitude trail with Dolomites views
- St. Vigil in Enneberg: trail towards Pederü in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park
High-altitude trail on the Plätzwiese
At around 2,000 m lies the Plätzwiese, a wide high plateau in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park. The 5.7 km loop crosses the plateau with just 121 m of ascent, right below the Hohe Gaisl, and suits beginners too. Thanks to the altitude, snow often lasts until the end of March.
The road leads through the Prags valley to Brückele. From December to April the road up to the Plätzwiese is open only before 10 am and after 3 pm, and winter tyres or snow chains are compulsory. Alternatively, a shuttle takes you up from Brückele.
Biathlon World Cup in Antholz
Every January the Südtirol Olympic Arena Alto Adige in the Antholz Valley hosts the Biathlon World Cup. Other highlights of the cross-country season in the region are the Tour de Ski in Toblach, the Toblach–Cortina race and the Gsieser Tal Lauf.
A cross-country holiday in a farm apartment
After training, the parlour with its wood stove warms you up, your gear dries in the boiler room, and in the large kitchen-diner you cook whatever you need after a long day on the trails. Beginners are welcome too: the cross-country centres have ski schools and rental shops.
Fancy a change? Try tobogganing and snowshoeing or a day of skiing at Kronplatz.
Included
South Tyrol Guestpass included in the price
With the Guestpass you travel on public transport across South Tyrol during your stay at no extra cost. We hand it to you on arrival.
- Puster Valley railway and regional trains
- City, regional and ski buses
It also gives you a reduced-price weekly programme. Full details are available from the Bruneck tourist office.
Questions about cross-country skiing in the Puster Valley
What is Dolomiti NordicSki?
A network of eight cross-country regions in South Tyrol, East Tyrol and the Veneto with over 180 trails. One pass covers all trails in the network, or you can choose a single region.
When are the trails open?
Depending on snow from early December, according to Dolomiti NordicSki guaranteed from 8 December, into March.
Which trail is good for beginners?
The Sonnenloipe in the Antholz Valley runs flat for 5.5 km from Oberrasen to Antholz Niedertal and, thanks to artificial snow, is skiable all winter.
Where is the Biathlon World Cup held?
At the Südtirol Olympic Arena Alto Adige in the Antholz Valley, every January.
