Conca dell'Alben · 1,030-2,000 m
Winter in Oltre il Colle and Zambla
Cross-country skiing from the Colle di Zambla, snowshoeing to the huts, ski touring on Alben and Arera. With the right snow it is one of the few cross-country basins in the Bergamo Prealps.
The cross-country centre at the Colle di Zambla is the reason the Oltre il Colle basin stays busy in winter. The tracks start less than 150 metres from the pass, near the Centro Sportivo Valle, and run west through the woods below the north face of Monte Alben, to Pian della Palla, the Conca dell'Alben and towards Valpiana: 16 kilometres according to the Sci Club Valserina, VisitBrembo and the Pro Loco, 13 according to the Scuola Sci Oltre il Colle.
The track crosses land owned by the municipalities of Oltre il Colle and Serina and private property, and the two municipalities have entrusted its management to the Sci Club Valserina under an agreement. You ski classic and skating; the first section, from Zambla Alta to the Crocetta, is floodlit for night skiing. The start is at about 1,290 metres and the highest point, on the Costa de la Spada, at about 1,420.
It is a low-altitude centre that relies on natural snow, with partial artificial snow according to the ski school. Thanks to the north-facing position, the Sci Club writes, when it snows you can ski until late spring; because of the low altitude, however, Waterwind notes that snow conditions are not always the best. In the 2025-26 season the track was open: on 21 February 2026 Waterwind skied the whole black run.
For downhill skiing the basin is no longer a resort: the Alpe Arera lifts were closed in 1996. What remains are the beginners' slopes at the Conca dell'Alben and on the Costa Nebel in Zambla Alta, where the instructors of the ski school work.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about winter
How many kilometres of cross-country tracks are there at the Colle di Zambla?
16 kilometres according to the Sci Club Valserina, VisitBrembo and the Pro Loco, from Zambla Alta to Valpiana; the Scuola Sci Oltre il Colle gives 13 kilometres. In 2022 the Sci Club listed three tracks: 5 kilometres blue, 7.5 purple and 13 green.
Can you ski at night at Zambla?
The section from Zambla Alta to the Crocetta is floodlit for night skiing, according to the Sci Club Valserina and VisitBrembo. The rules published in 2019, however, gave hours of 8 am to 5 pm and banned entry between sunset and dawn: ask the Club about evening openings.
How much is a ticket for the Zambla cross-country track?
We found no published prices for the 2026-27 season: on 1 October 2026 the Sci Club website could not be reached. The 2019 rules provide for a ticket paid at the track entrance or a personal season pass with a passport photo, and free entry up to the age of ten.
Where can you hire cross-country skis at Zambla?
At Edo Sport, via Prealpina 892 in Zambla Alta, about 200 metres from the Colle: it hires complete cross-country ski sets for adults and juniors, also for the whole season, without booking while stocks last. Telephone 0345 95285.
Is there a cross-country ski school at Oltre il Colle?
Yes, the Scuola Sci Oltre il Colle, founded in 1981, with 11 instructors teaching cross-country skiing, downhill skiing and Nordic walking, also to pupils with disabilities. Contacts: 350 1230498, info@scuolascioltreilcolle.it.
How do I find out whether the cross-country track is open?
The Sci Club Valserina publishes the state of the tracks on its website, which however could not be reached on 1 October 2026. The safest way is to phone the Scuola Sci Oltre il Colle (350 1230498) or Edo Sport (0345 95285) before setting off.
Winter
All winter pages
Winter · 2 minutes
Cross-country skiing at the Colle di Zambla
Cross-country skiing at the Colle di Zambla: 16 km of tracks below the north face of the Alben, 1,290–1,420 m, classic and skating, with a floodlit section.
Winter · 2 minutes
Snowshoe walk to the Capanna 2000 from Plassa
Snowshoe walk to the Capanna 2000 from Plassa di Zambla Alta: about 750 m of ascent and 10 km there and back, with the road to the Alpe Arera closed in winter.
Winter · 2 minutes
Snowshoe walks at the Colle di Zambla and in the Conca dell'Alben
Easy snowshoe walk from the Colle di Zambla to Pian della Palla and the Conca dell'Alben: 5.6 km almost flat beside the cross-country track, below the Alben.
Winter · 2 minutes
Ski touring and winter ascents on Arera, Alben and Menna
Ski touring and winter ascents from Oltre il Colle: Pizzo Arera from Plassa, Monte Alben from the Colle di Zambla and Cima di Menna from Zorzone, with CAI data.
Winter · 2 minutes
Ski lifts at Zambla and the Alpe Arera: what is there today
Ski lifts in Oltre il Colle today: the Conca dell'Alben drag lift and magic carpet, run by the Sci Club Valserina, and what remains of the Alpe Arera ski area.
Winter · 2 minutes
Ski school and equipment hire at Zambla
Scuola Sci Oltre il Colle and ski hire at Zambla: cross-country and downhill instructors, lessons and courses with 2025-26 prices, ski hire at Edo Sport.