Sauze d’Oulx

According to official data, the Sauze d’Oulx ski area comprises over 100 km of skiable terrain, 80 pistes and 13 lifts. The vertical drop begins at around 1,500 metres in the village and at Jouvenceaux, reaching approximately 2,700 metres at the Fraiteve hub. From here it is possible to continue towards Sansicario and Sestriere, entering the Vialattea network, with over 400 km of pistes across the Italian resorts of the Alta Val di Susa and the French Montgenèvre; the entire ski area reaches 2,800 metres at Monte Motta.

Sauze d’Oulx is particularly well suited to intermediate skiers, who will find a wide choice of red runs that are generally broad, flowing and full of changes in gradient. The Sportinia area, at around 2,000 metres, is the heart of the ski area and also features ski-school areas and easy runs for beginners and families. Black runs, steep sections through the woods and numerous off-piste routes provide good opportunities for more experienced skiers, especially after a snowfall.

The most iconic descent is the Gran Pista, a long, historic red run that winds through the forest down to Jouvenceaux. Skiing it from Fraiteve together with the runs leading into it produces one of the longest descents in the Vialattea, with around 1,300 metres of vertical drop. Also worth mentioning are the Pista 2000, technical and varied between Pian della Rocca and Clotes, the long Pista 12 from Col Basset and Rio Nero, which is more challenging in its upper section. The forests often ensure good visibility even on cloudy days, while the higher areas offer open views across the Alta Val di Susa.

The main access points are located in Sauze and Jouvenceaux and lead towards Sportinia, Clotes and the higher areas. The lift network is fairly complex, alternating fast chairlifts with older fixed-grip lifts: among the most efficient installations is the automatic four-seater Jouvenceaux–Sportinia chairlift, while some high-altitude connections may take longer. To complete the full itinerary towards Sansicario, Sestriere and the other Vialattea sectors, it is advisable to check which connections are open and carefully plan the return journey.

Sauze d’Oulx also holds an important place in the history of Italian skiing and, in 2006, hosted the Olympic freestyle events together with Jouvenceaux. The resort combines a large and enjoyable ski area with a livelier atmosphere than many other Alpine resorts, making it particularly suitable for groups of friends and skiers who want to continue their day in the village’s bars and venues.

In summer, the area is ideal for hiking, mountain biking and e-biking. The Sportinia and Rocce Nere lifts open during selected periods to assist hikers and cyclists heading towards Col Basset, Monte Genevris, Lago Nero and the Strada dell’Assietta. Panoramic trails, MTB routes and high-altitude itineraries thus complete the offering of a resort that remains active for much of the year.