Val Gardena in spring

In spring, it's your chance to get to know Val Gardena away from the hustle and bustle. The ski season lasts until the beginning of April and exploring the slopes of the Dolomiti Superski ski area is fantastic when most winter sports enthusiasts have long since returned home.

From mid-April to the beginning of June, most of the lifts and huts – as well as many accommodation facilities – are closed. However, the Resciesa cable car and the cable car to the Alpe di Siusi open in mid-May, offering you the chance to enjoy unforgettable excursions. If you love solitary walks and intense nature experiences, it's worth keeping an eye on the weather forecast and spontaneously booking a holiday in Val Gardena.

From early to mid-June, Val Gardena is getting ready for early summer: the weather is often glorious at this time, most of the cable cars and accommodation are already open and it is still pleasantly quiet in the valley.

What would the "pale mountains", as the Dolomites are also known, be without the colourful blossoms on the Alpine meadows? In spring, flower lovers get their money's worth in Val Gardena. The snow has barely melted when the first crocuses in the valley stretch their blossoms towards the spring sun. It only takes a few days or weeks for the blossom to move from the valley to the higher altitudes and transform nature into a colourful sea of flowers.

If you want to explore blooming alpine meadows and take impressive nature photos, you should definitely embark on excursions to the Seurasas below the Mountain Pic, the Vallunga, the Seceda and the Col Raiser. Almost 800 different flowers and ferns await you on the Alpe di Siusi, the largest high alpine pasture in Europe, with an unforgettably beautiful spectacle.

Whether a holiday flat, guesthouse or hotel – Val Gardena also offers you cosy accommodation in Santa Cristina, Ortisei and Selva in spring. Plan your next holiday in Val Gardena now or wait for good weather and spontaneously book one of our highly recommended accommodations.

The melting snow in the mountains ensures that you are treated to a special spectacle here in Val Gardena in spring: for just a few days or weeks, the meltwater lake "Lech de Ciampedel" appears in the Vallunga – a shimmering turquoise-coloured mountain lake with a mirror-like surface from which individual tree tops protrude. A beautiful footpath leads from Selva into the Vallunga to this natural wonder, which disappears just as quickly as it appears.

Say goodbye to winter in the Dolomites and be there when the first events of spring take place in Val Gardena. The valley's event calendar has plenty of highlights in store for you in the first half of the year.

Early spring events

When spring begins, Val Gardena comes to life. Numerous events lure locals and visitors outside and create an exuberant atmosphere. The highlights of the beginning of spring include the Rock the Dolomites music event, the Südtirol Gardenissima giant slalom and the Spring Race Party fun event.

Late spring events

By the end of spring, the athletes in Val Gardena are back in top form. At the Dolomites Saslong Half Marathon at the beginning of June, athletes perform at their best in the race around the Sassolungo. Cyclists get their money's worth at the Sellaronda Bike Day when the four Dolomite passes of the Sellaronda are closed to car traffic for a day. The day before, the HERO Dolomites, the toughest mountain bike marathon in the world, takes place here.

At the end of the ski season – at least outside the Easter holidays – the pistes in the Val Gardena ski area are nowhere near as busy as they are during the main season. Enjoy the space on the piste and make the most of the longer days. A special kind of light awaits you in the afternoon. Bring your day of skiing to a cosy close and relax in one of the many huts with a refreshing drink.

Spring is a very good time of year to go ski touring. It is often still quite cold in the mornings and only gradually gets warmer at midday. This is how firn snow forms. You can even find powder snow on the northern slopes. Areas for ski tours around Val Gardena in spring are – depending on the conditions – the Sassopiatto, the Sella Group and the Puez-Odle Nature Park.

In spring, the contrast between mountain and valley is tremendous. If you want to go hiking in April or May, you have to reckon with low temperatures and snow at higher altitudes. It is therefore advisable to choose routes at lower altitudes such as the Poststeig, a hike to the Resciesa hut or from Ortisei to Pic. The closer summer gets, the easier it is to hike at higher altitudes. For this reason, always keep an eye on the weather forecast and find out about the current conditions in the mountains on-site. Insider tip: The Most Beautiful Hikes in Val Gardena.

Walks

The most beautiful thoughts come to mind on a walk in the mountains – or you simply think nothing at all and enjoy the moment with all your senses. In spring, you can walk along the picturesque paths in Val Gardena almost undisturbed on many days. The paths at lower altitudes are accessible in all weathers. Drift along or choose one of the themed trails where you can learn plenty of interesting facts about the history, nature and culture of Val Gardena during your walk.