February 11, 2026, 4:45 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Several cross-country skiing centers in Italy are raising the alarm: Tourists are increasingly causing damage to the trails, which are painstakingly and laboriously prepared. For the operators, this means not only more work but also high costs and safety risks. A ski center in northern Italy is now drawing significant attention with a public appeal.
The operators of the ski center “Centro Fondo Alpe Coe” in the Trentino-South Tyrol region report pedestrians and snowshoers using the freshly prepared cross-country trails despite clear prohibitions. These trails are intended exclusively for cross-country skiers and are thus being damaged. Similar situations are recurring in many parts of Italy, straining not only the equipment but also the patience of the operators.
Operators’ Appeal: “This Really Hurts”
In a Facebook post, the cross-country center “Centro Fondo Alpe Coe” makes an urgent plea to tourists to adhere to the rules on the trails. The officials are at their wits’ end: “We beg you on our knees: Do not use the trails with winter shoes or snowshoes.” These would irreparably damage the tracks and endanger the safety of the skiers.
“We have created special paths for pedestrians and snowshoers, clearly marked with yellow signs,” the post continues. These routes have been designated to avoid conflicts. Nevertheless, the trails are repeatedly ignored: Pedestrians leave tracks in the snow, destroying the freshly prepared cross-country tracks. This not only costs time and money to prepare the trails multiple times a day but also nerves: “Selling tickets to skiers and then being surprised by groups of rude and inattentive pedestrians who ruin everything and pose a danger to the skiers really hurts.”
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Comments Show Anger and Demands
In the comments under the Facebook post of the ski center “Centro Fondo Alpe Coe,” there is outrage and support for the operators. Some are calling for more controls and sanctions: “If they started imposing fines, word would get around, and perhaps certain incidents would not happen again.” Fines are mentioned as an example, as it is legally prohibited to use ski trails with anything other than skis. The situation is seen as dramatic: “This is an attack on nature and other athletes.” Some comments report that many visitors apparently do not even know where they are. They use the trails like ordinary hiking paths, and when informed, they often react with incomprehension. “The only way to curb these inconveniences is to set up checkpoints along the trails and penalize those who ignore them.”
A Widespread Problem in Northern Italy
The incidents are not limited to a single location. Operators from several regions in northern Italy report similar problems—damage, footprints on classic trails, and increased risks. Especially at night, when trail maintenance workers prepare the trails for the next day, they encounter pedestrians directly in front of their vehicles—a dangerous situation in poor visibility. According to a local report by “Il Dolomiti,” trail maintenance workers in the Campomulo cross-country area on the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni recently faced such a situation. A particularly drastic incident occurred in Festiona, Piedmont region. As reported by “Südtirol News,” unknown individuals damaged the freshly prepared trails with vehicles at night and additionally placed logs to block them, just before the season opening.
The operators are asking not only for respect but also for an awareness of responsibility and safety, as the trails are strictly prohibited for non-ski-specific use. In many provinces, legal regulations support this, but enforcement remains difficult and inconsistent. Some operators have already hired private security services to protect the trails and control access at night. Others are calling for more fines and strict enforcement of existing rules to deter improper use.