Sellaronda Green Route Anti Clockwise
While the Orange route is the “sportier” option, the Green (Anti-clockwise) route is the favorite for those who want a more relaxed pace, fewer steep faces, and some of the most dramatic “up-close” views of the Sella Massif.
Starting from Corvara, the Green route follows the sun throughout the day—meaning you stay in the light as it moves across the valleys.
1. The Strategy: Navigating the “Lift Heavy” Start
The Green route from Corvara starts with a bit of a “shuttle” feel through Colfosco.
The Start: Take the Borest Gondola (#34) from Corvara to Colfosco. This is a flat, scenic connector.
The Climb: From Colfosco, you take a series of lifts (Sodlisia and then the Plans-Frara gondola) to reach the Passo Gardena.
Tip: Because the first 30 minutes involve several lifts, don’t feel like you’re “falling behind.” Once you crest the Passo Gardena, the real skiing begins.
2. Key Sectors & Highlights
The Dantercepies Descent: This is one of the best runs in the Dolomites. It’s a long, sweeping red that takes you from the Gardena Pass all the way down into Selva Val Gardena. It’s wide, fast, and offers a stunning view of the “Chedul” valley.
The City of Stones (Città dei Sassi): After taking the Ciampinoi gondola from Selva, you’ll ski through this “natural labyrinth.” It’s a gentle trail that winds between massive boulders that fell from the Sassolungo thousands of years ago. Kids and photographers love this section.
Passo Pordoi to Arabba: This is a high-altitude, open cruise. The descent into Arabba on the Green route is much gentler than the steep “walls” you encounter on the Orange route, making it perfect for intermediate legs.
3. Best Lunch Spots (Green Route)
Ütia Jimmy (Passo Gardena): Stop here early for a coffee or a late lunch. It has a high-end feel, a beautiful sun terrace, and sits right under the dramatic Cir peaks.
Baita Vallongia (Val Gardena): Located on the descent toward Plan de Gralba. It’s a traditional hut famous for its homemade cakes and “Gröstl” (potatoes, bacon, and egg).
Rifugio Salei (Passo Sella): On the Green route, this is perfectly timed for a midday meal. It has a massive outdoor bar and very consistent Italian cuisine.
4. The “Black Run” Detours
If your friends want to spice up the Green route, there are three perfect “loops” they can do while you wait at a hut:
The Saslong (Santa Cristina): When you reach the top of Ciampinoi, they can drop down the Saslong World Cup Downhill (Black/Red) and meet you back at the bottom of the Sochers chairlift.
Porta Vescovo (Arabba): When you arrive in Arabba, they can take the Funifor cable car up to Porta Vescovo to ski one of the blacks (like Fodoma) and meet you 20 minutes later at the Arabba Fly chairlift.
Important “Green” Timing Tips:
The “Selva Gap”: In Selva, you have to walk across the village (about 200m) or take a small shuttle/train to get from the Dantercepies side to the Ciampinoi side. Follow the green arrows carefully—it’s easy to get distracted by the shops!
3:30 PM Rule: Even on the “easier” Green route, you must be at the Campolongo Pass by 3:30 PM. From there, it’s a quick final run down into Corvara.
Avoid the Wind: The Green route involves several high-altitude chairlifts (especially around Passo Sella and Passo Pordoi). If it’s a very windy day, the Green route is more likely to have lift closures than the Orange route, which uses more gondolas.
If you ski at a steady, expert-intermediate pace and do not stop for coffee, lunch, or photos, the Green Sellaronda (Anti-clockwise) takes approximately 3 to 3.5 hours to complete from Corvara.
Here is the technical breakdown of that time:
1. The Time Split (No Stopping)
The Sellaronda is essentially 50% skiing and 50% sitting on lifts.
Lift Time (~2 hours): The Green route is slightly “lift-heavy” compared to the Orange. You will spend roughly 120 minutes physically sitting on chairlifts, gondolas, and cable cars.
Skiing Time (~1 to 1.5 hours): There are approximately 23km of downhill skiing. If you are a competent skier who doesn’t need to stop to check the map, you will cover this distance in 60–90 minutes of active movement.
2. Why “No Stopping” is harder than it sounds
Even if you skip the mountain huts, two factors will influence your time:
Lift Queues: On a Friday in March, queues at bottlenecks (like the Borest connector in Colfosco or the Ciampinoi gondola in Selva) can add 15–30 minutes to your total “active” time.
The “Selva Transition”: The Green route requires a short walk/shuttle across the town of Selva Val Gardena to get from the Dantercepies side to the Ciampinoi side. This usually takes about 10–15 minutes on foot with skis.
The “Speed Demon” Itinerary (Green Route)
If you want to treat the Sellaronda as a fitness challenge rather than a tour, here is your timeline starting from Corvara:
09:00: Board the Borest gondola in Corvara.
09:45: Reach Passo Gardena (after the Colfosco and Plans-Frara lifts).
10:15: Arrive in Selva (after the long Dantercepies descent).
10:45: Reach Passo Sella (after the Ciampinoi gondola and City of Stones).
11:30: Reach Passo Pordoi (after the Lupo Bianco/Belvedere section).
12:00: Arrive in Arabba.
12:30: Back in Corvara (after the Campolongo Pass).
Important Advice for Friday, March 20th:
While a 3-hour “pure” ski time is possible, most groups take 5–6 hours because of the scenery. March 20th is technically Spring—the sun is warm, and the terraces are very tempting.
If you do the “Speed Run” in the morning, you will finish by 12:30 PM, leaving you the entire afternoon to head back out and do the Hidden Valley or tackle the Black Runs your friends wanted to see.
Would you like me to suggest a “Double Loop” plan for your friends who want to maximize their ski mileage that day?
he compleet Sella Ronda in the Dolomiti Super Ski. Start in Corvara. Counter Clockwise
This version which is the counter clockwise route 1 hours 36 minutes 18 sections – this does not miss much out March 2024.
I Completed My First Ever Ski Tour – Sellaronda – This is on a Snowboard – as is the Green route which is anti clockwise and suppose to be easier.
