Pila Ski Area

The ski area includes three blue runs, 22 red runs and four black runs. This compact network of wide red and long blue pistes and excellent nursery slopes makes Pila an ideal ski resort for beginners, families, weekenders and intermediate skiers who don’t want to ski all day, everyday for a week but want some variety when they do decide to ski.  

Pila’s ski lift system is modern, with high speed chairlifts and gondolas covering all the main runs, and virtually no queuing. The pistes are well groomed, clearly marked and invariably crowd free with breathtaking scenery including panoramic views of the Aosta Valley, from Mont Blanc to the Grand Combin and from the Matterhorn to the Monterosa.

From the lower part of the resort, the Chamole chairlift leads to a delightful quiet area with a choice of tree lined, red runs.  This area is also accessible from the Nouva chairlift higher up the village. Just above Pila 2000 the Leisse chairlift and Gorraz – G. Grimod cable car transport skiers into the heart of the ski domain with its dense network of scenic red pistes.

Pila’s longest run, a blue piste of almost 6km, winds its way from the top of the Leisse chairlift all the way back to the village and is broken down into segments that are separately accessible to beginners without them having to ski the full 6km descent. The 4-man Grimod chairlift serves the extensive snow park and this sheltered snowy bowl is also ideal for beginners to practice on. Higher up the resort, the two Couis chairlifts lead to Pila’s steepest, highest altitude slopes, the freeride zone, and some stunning view points.

Although only three of Pila’s 29 runs are blue runs, there are short unclassified beginner’s runs to the sides of some of the magic carpet lifts. Additionally, some of the reds are quite wide, not too steep and are suitable for beginners. The sheltered nursery slopes get plenty of sunshine, which makes Pila a good choice for novices and young children to learn to ski, and facilities include a number of centrally located magic carpet lifts serving dedicated play areas for children.

More accomplished skiers can race against the clock on Pila’s timed slalom run which is open to all.  With a regulation start, gates along the way and a photo finish, it is a great place to have some fun as well as to track progress!

With a total piste extent of only 50km or 70km depending on which statistics you belive (50 seems a better estimate to us) and just four black runs, advanced skiers and boarders will not find Pila’s groomed runs very challenging, but there are opportunities off-piste including a dedicated freeride zone in the high altitude area served by the Couis chairlifts and plenty of off-piste skiing through the trees in the many woods that border the pistes. There are some more serious itineraries that require a climb (and if you’re sensible, a guide too).

Much of the accommodation is just a stone’s throw from the slopes, but ther is an efficient ski bus service for those staying further away from the pistes. Staying down the mountain in the hostoric town of Aosta is also possible: the ride up on the gondola to Pila takes about 20 minutes.