Skiing in Piana di Vigezzo
Piana di Vigezzo is a simple but beautiful ski area with a kids’ lift and challenging slopes
Piana di Vigezzo ski area (Valle Vigezzo, IT)
Around 75 minutes from Lakeview Cannobio Camping & Resort, after a winding drive through the Valle Cannobina into Valle Vigezzo, you’ll reach the small village of Prestinone with the Piana di Vigezzo ski area.
Piana di Vigezzo at a glance
- Location: Prestinone (Craveggia) in Valle Vigezzo, Piedmont (Italy)
- From Cannobio: around 75 minutes through Valle Cannobina
- Lift: gondola with 8-person cabins, around 1,000 m of elevation gain
- For beginners: platter lift and conveyor belt at the top station
- Higher up: three chairlifts, mostly challenging slopes
- Snow: snowmaking possible
Gondola and kids’ area
From there, the Piana di Vigezzo gondola with 8-person cabins climbs around 1,000 vertical metres up into the ski area. At the top station, next to the mountain hut and the ski school base camp, there’s a small but very nice platter lift for children and a conveyor belt for beginners. The short kids’ slope is ideal as a practice hill and can be machine-made if snow conditions are poor.
Three chairlifts of older construction, but in good condition, lead further up to the ski area Piana di Vigezzo. Here you’ll find more challenging slopes that are very well groomed and can also be snowmade. The runs are quite long and scenic. In good weather, the view of the Alps is gigantic!
Valley run and our verdict
An official valley run back down to Prestinone isn’t possible. In very good snow conditions, it might be doable through the forest; in summer, a fairly steep hiking trail and an MTB downhill route lead to the valley station. So far, though, we’ve preferred the safe way back on the lift.
Piana di Vigezzo is a small and simple, yet lovely, family-friendly ski area with lots of charm. For younger children, however, there’s only the practice hill—unless they already have more advanced skills. For a few hours of skiing during a Lake Maggiore holiday, though, it’s more than enough and a nice change of pace.
A great trip in summer too
The gondola also runs in summer, taking hikers, mountain bikers and paragliders up. And if you’re in Valle Vigezzo anyway: the Centovalli Railway stops in Santa Maria Maggiore.
A note from us: Lakeview is open from mid-March to early November; in winter we’re closed. For a summer trip on the gondola, stay with us in Cannobio, around 75 minutes away, in a mobile home on Lake Maggiore, in a holiday apartment with lake view or on a pitch for campers and tents.
Insider tips from locals
To make your excursion extra special:
- For small children, we recommend the manageable practice slope.
- For the return journey, we recommend the gondola rather than the forest trail.
- From our own experience, the area is perfectly adequate for a day’s skiing.
- Families save here: children often ride free. We recommend booking online.
Questions and answers
A charming little, family-friendly ski resort with well-groomed slopes—some of which are challenging—and a great view of the Alps when the weather is nice.