Pozza-Buffaure: Our First Date with the Underdog of Val di Fassa

First Time Skiing Pozza - Buffaure

Getting to Buffaure - Pozza & Parking

Trento to Val di Fassa - Our Recommended Route

At this point we’ve been to the Fassa valley enough times that we have our favorite access route. We don’t take the SP71 from Trento anymore. It is the shortest by distance but it’s the windiest too and that’s just not fun early in the morning with a car full of gear. There are not many places to overtake so if you get stuck behind slow traffic, you’re in for a long and annoying drive.

Instead, we like to take the A22 from Trento to Egna first. You pay about 2 EUR in tolls but you probably save that on fuel as the highway is way more efficient than the mountain road. And it’s faster too.

From Egna we take SS48 and cross the mountains to Castello-Molina in Val di Fiemme. Only the initial part is steep uphill with some hairpins but luckily, there are many places to overtake and it’s even mandatory for trucks to let you pass in some places! Love that.

You pop into Val di Fiemme just below Cavalese and from there the main road going up is not too winding and not too annoying. It’s only about 30km/30min from there to Pozza.

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Parking in Buffaure - Pozza

The snow conditions did not warrant an early start, so we took it easy and we arrived in Pozza at around 10. As we drove through the town, we (mostly David) got a little nervous. There were many cars and it seemed that people were scrambling to find parking.

Well it turns out that those were just people, like us, not yet familiar with the area. As we drove further, we saw a huge parking lot. Sure, the part right by the gondola station was already full, but that doesn’t matter. The parking lot stretches along the road, and more importantly along the red “Panorama” slope, much, much further up.

So it doesn’t really matter where you park. From the car you just get on the red slope, ride down to the gondola station and when you’re coming back, you exit the red slope wherever you parked. Pretty convenient.

And you know what’s the best? The entire parking lot is still free.

Skiing Buffaure

First Turns & Warming Up on the Pozza Side of Buffaure

We put our boards on and rode down to the Buffaure gondola station. There’s a public bathroom there and there’s also a lively bar right by the station. We didn’t try it but it looked like a good spot for a quick morning coffee. What we liked the most was that there was no line for the lift at all. There was literally nobody there. Amazing for 10am start.

We took the gondola up and we immediately liked what we saw. Already from the gondola, you get pretty amazing views of the Fassa Valley, but when you make it to the top an even better view opens up.

You can see into Val San Nicolo and the peaks surrounding it. Val San Nicolo is a dead-end valley with just a small road that only goes about halfway in. This makes the view different than what you see in some of the other areas. There are no roads, no other chairlifts, no hotels, just unspoiled nature. We liked that. A lot.

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There are also these huge wooden chairs up there. They’re kind of funky and they make for an excellent spot to take the views in. They’d also make for a great “Dirtbag Lunch Break” so if you’re looking for where to eat your slope-side sando, this might be your spot.

Once we’re done messing with the chairs, it’s time to warm up.

Right below the top station of the Buffaure gondola, there is a huge ski school area with a magic carpet lift. So if you’re looking to do your very first turns, try there.

We take the blue run to the Buffaure di Sotto chair lift, it’s not the longest but it’s good for beginners. There’s also a bit steeper, but equally short, red run there. The chairlift itself is pretty slow and so we don’t spend a ton of time there and move on.

There’s a reasonably long red “Panorama” and black “Vulcano” slope going back down to the gondola but since we want to explore, we leave those for later.

Col de Valvacin & El Zedron Stop

Instead, we take the Valvacin chairlift up to Col de Valvacin (2,372m). Col de Valvacin is the highest point of this side of the Buffaure area and the views up there are amazing. There are two medium-length red runs around that lift that we liked and lapped a couple of times. But not before we stopped for a quick summit coffee at El Zedron Location Copy GPS .

El Zedron is a hut literally burrowed into the mountain. The interior feels like a warm, cozy cave and the windows frame your view of the mountains. The huge sun terrace opens up into the scenic Val san Nicolo.

Cozy Hut Stop

Sometimes when the weather is winning or when our legs are sore, it's time to warm up and take a break in a nearby cozy hut.

El Zedron Location Copy GPS

A quick coffee and cake stop to catch a breath at the top of Col de Valvacin.

Two coffees and a fat slice of cake with cream

10.00 EUR

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Ciampac Basin Overview

Fueled by coffee and cake, we decided to go check out the Ciampac basin on the other side of the ski area. From Col de Valvacin, we took the red no. 5 down to the Orsa Maggiore chairlift. I really liked that slope but unfortunately it’s not the longest.

From the Orsa Maggiore chair lift, we noticed a ton of terrain on both sides that looked like it would be a lot of fun on a powder day. Some parts are not directly accessible from the chair lift which means they will stay unspoiled longer and it might even be worth the short hike or even bringing my splitboard.

There’s a red slope no. 12 under the lift too. It’s not the steepest but it’s 2.1km long and when groomed, it lends itself to some fast looooong sweeping turns with the view of the Cattinacio group on the other side of the Fassa Valley.

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Once we were done with the no. 12, we tipped over to the other side into the Ciampac basin. It sits above the town of Alba surrounded by a crown of peaks: Crepa Negra (2,534m), Sas Porcel (2,481m), Sas de Roces (2,618m), and Monte Colac (2,715m). They’re not the highest summits in the Dolomites but they give the area the true alpine feel.

You drop in from Sas Porcel and you have a choice of a black and red slope. The black is not deadly, but it does pack a respectable angle. Both of the steep runs are quite short and quickly mellow out as the basin opens up. It’s a fun area.

The only downside is that the chairlifts are a bit oddly staggered and if you want to do the runs in their full length, you have to take two chairlifts instead of one. We recommend skipping the bottom part and just lap the Roseal-Giumela lift. Eventually you can also do the Sasso di Rocca old-school ski lift that goes right under Sas de Roces and services a nice wide red.

At the bottom of the basin, you will find another ski school area, a bunch of huts, a pizzeria, and the top station of the Alba-Ciampac gondola. Aaand a decent lunch spot too!

Dirtbag Lunch Break

We like to save our coin for the après ski brewskis so we're often serching for the best lunch break spots where we can enjoy our home-made sandos in peace.

Sunny Ciampac Benches Location Copy GPS

There are two south-facing benches right by the exit of the Alba-Ciampac gondola. An excellent spot to eat your sando on a sunny day. 4 stars because there will be people coming out of the station constantly.

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After lunch, there’s only one more run left. And that’s the black no. 10. It goes from Ciampac down to Alba. It drops about 650m over 2.2km. Fun. It has steep sections and also sections where you can rest a little. Some of the steepest parts also have an easier variant so you might be able to do it even if you are not the strongest rider.

If you do want to check Alba but you don’t feel like riding the black run, you can take the gondola down. Once you make it down, you covered the entire Buffaure ski area. From there you can either take the Col-de-Rosi cable car and go to the Belvedere area (Stay tuned for our post from Belvedere) or you can return back to Pozza.

Getting Across Buffaure (Timing & Lift Count)

Based on our data it took us about 40 minutes to cross the entire Buffaure ski area. It takes 3 lifts on the way from Pozza to Alba and it takes 4 lifts to get back to Pozza. If you don’t make it, Pozza and Alba are also connected by ski bus that’s included in the ski pass and usually goes till way later than when the lifts close.

Quick Summary of the Buffaure Ski Area

After our first visit to Buffaure on a sunny day, the verdict was unanimous: “We like it here.” It’s got decent skiing, killer views, and good huts. It connects to the Sella Ronda circuit via the Belvedere ski area and most importantly: it’s not boring. We’ll definitely be back!

Where to Stay in Pozza di Fassa (Ski Base)

We’re definitely leaning Pozza. When we visited in the summer, we stayed at Hotel Laurino Website Location and we had a really good experience. But there are also plenty of other options in Pozza and its vicinity:

Where to stay around Pozza Buffaure - Val di Fassa

Here's a map of the accommodations in the area. We also included some of the places we visited and the parking spots for better orientation.

In full transparency, we do get a commission if you book through our map. But don't worry, it's not coming from your pocket! The prices you see are the same as what you'd find on the booking platforms directly. And it helps us keep the site running.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the altitude/elevation of Pozza Buffaure - Val di Fassa?

The elevation range is 1,350m - 2,420m.

Is Buffaure worth a visit if I’m already skiing Sella Ronda?

Yes. Buffaure is quieter and more low-key than the main Sella Ronda circuit, with great views and solid terrain. It also works well as a gateway if you want to connect to the bigger areas later in the day.

Where’s the best place to park for Buffaure?

The free lot right by the Buffaure gondola in Pozza di Fassa is the top choice. If you’re approaching from the other side or want to be closer to the Sella Ronda connection, the Alba lot is a workable backup.

What are the best runs in Buffaure?

Start with the Panorama red or the Vulcano black while they’re freshly groomed. The upper runs off Col de Valvacin and the reds/blacks on the Ciampac side are fun too.

Which side should I ski first: Buffaure or Ciampac?

Hit Ciampac earlier in the day because it cools down once the sun drops behind Sas Porcel. Buffaure faces west and is great in the afternoon sun.

Is Buffaure beginner-friendly?

There are mellow areas near the gondola bases on both sides, plus a dedicated ski school zone near the top of the Buffaure gondola. Stronger intermediates will have more fun on the red/black terrain.

How long does it take to connect from Buffaure to Sella Ronda?

We timed roughly 40 minutes from the Buffaure gondola base in Pozza to the Belvedere cable car in Alba. The connection is mostly good skiing rather than endless traverses.

Can I take the gondola down instead of skiing steep runs?

Yes. Both the Buffaure and Alba-Ciampac gondolas run in both directions, so you can skip the steeper descents and still get back to parking.

Where’s a good on-mountain break spot?

Rifugio El Zedron is an easy top-mountain stop for coffee and cake with big views. The huts in the Ciampac basin are lively if you want a longer break.