Via Lattea Piste Guide — Every Level Catered For
The Via Lattea is widely regarded as an intermediate's paradise, but there's excellent terrain for all ability levels — from gentle nursery slopes for beginners to challenging off-piste for experts. Here's a guide to what you can expect.
🗺 Official Via Lattea Piste Map
Download the official Via Lattea piste map (PDF) from the resort authority website. The map covers all five resorts and is updated at the start of each season.
Skiing by Ability Level
Beginners — Green & Easy Blue Runs
The main nursery slopes, magic carpets, and ski school meeting points are at the top of the Sportinia plateau (approx. 2,000m) — not at the village base. Complete beginners should take the Prariond–Sportinia chairlift up from the village at the start of the day, carrying their skis or board.
Wide, gentle pistes with magic carpets. Main meeting point for ski school group lessons. Take the Prariond–Sportinia chairlift from the village to reach them.
Once confident, the Sportinia plateau area has several easy blue runs for building speed and technique before progressing to the wider ski area.
Intermediates — Blue & Red Runs
Sauze d'Oulx is genuinely at its best for intermediate skiers. The blue and red runs that link the five Via Lattea resorts are long, varied and consistently enjoyable. A competent intermediate can ski from Sauze all the way to Montgenèvre in France and back in a single day — a memorable experience.
Link all five resorts in a single day — a classic intermediates' challenge. Best done on a clear-weather day.
The Olympic runs from Sestriere offer wide, well-groomed red pistes with excellent views.
Advanced — Black Runs & Off-Piste
Advanced skiers will find some excellent black runs, particularly at higher altitudes around Fraiteve (2,820m) and in the Sestriere area. The real reward for experts is the extensive off-piste terrain accessible from the top lifts — particularly after a fresh snowfall.
The descent from 2,820m back towards Sauze includes some of the steepest accessible terrain in the area.
Extensive off-piste terrain available — always ski with a guide if you're unfamiliar with the mountain. Off-piste guide →
🏂 Snowboarding in the Via Lattea
Snowboarders are well-catered for across the Via Lattea. Terrain parks and freestyle areas are available — check the Via Lattea website for current park locations, as these change each season. Be aware that some of the flatter linking runs between resorts can be awkward for snowboarders — check the piste map carefully when planning the full Milky Way tour.