A long climb from the valley floor

The Daolasa–Val Mastellina route is built in two legs. The first carries you from Daolasa at 814 m up to this intermediate station at the Malghetto di Mastellina (1,373 m) — a climb of about five minutes — and the second continues from the Malghetto to the Bassetta del Monte Vigo at 2,040 m, taking roughly seven minutes more. Across both sections the lift climbs a vertical drop of 1,226 m along about 4,410 m of inclined cable, for a total journey of some 15 to 20 minutes from valley to alpine ridge.↗↗

What makes the ride worth taking purely for the view is the panorama it opens onto: the rugged red towers of the Brenta Dolomites to the south, the white tongue of the Presena glacier and, beyond Passo Tonale, the green heart of the Stelvio National Park. Reaching that high-altitude world without breaking a sweat is exactly the appeal the local tourism offices promote, and the gondola is one of the easiest ways in the valley to do it.↗↗

The intermediate station at Malghetto di Mastellina

The spot marked on the map — the Malghetto di Mastellina at 1,373 m — is more than a mere stopover. In the summer season the lift offers a descent at this intermediate station, from which a handful of mountain paths set off across the Mastellina basin, an old high-pasture landscape dotted with malghe (alpine dairies) and backed by Monte Vigo and the Spolverino ridge. It suits visitors who want a gentler walk at mid-height rather than going all the way up to the 2,040 m ridge, or who wish to combine a short stoll with the return ride.↗

In winter the same station simply becomes a passage point on the way up to the Bassetta del Vigo: the cabins transfer automatically between the two sections, so skiers do not need to step off to continue climbing toward the 2,040 m terrain.↗

Skiing, and the 'road-rail-cable' link

For skiers, the gondola is a convenient way into the wide Folgarida–Marilleva ski area. At the top you reach open slopes such as the Mastellina and the long Mastellissima run, linked by groomed skiways to Marilleva, Folgarida and, with lifts and runs further along, to the Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo sectors — together some 150 kilometres of interconnected piste. A small Family Park Daolasa and gentle nursery slopes near the upper station make it a friendly entry point for beginners and families too.↗↗

The base of the lift, rather than the intermediate station itself, is the logistical star: the Daolasa stop on the Trento–Malé–Mezzana railway opens right in front of the cable-car entrance, so you can arrive by train and be on the mountain within minutes. This seamless train-to-cable-car interchange — described by promoters as the first 'road-rail-cable' system in Italy — makes the Daolasa gondola one of the few ski-area access points you can genuinely reach without a car.↗↗

Planning your visit

In the warmer months the lift runs for sightseers and hikers on a summer schedule — typically from late June to mid-September — with an early-afternoon break, usually around 08:30–12:45 and 14:00–17:15, and a continuous service through the busy peak weeks. The exact dates and daily timings shift year to year, so it is worth confirming the current calendar before you go; the lift is operated by Funivie Folgarida Marilleva (ski.it).↗↗↗

The cableway is notably accessible. The valley station has reserved parking bays, an elevator up to the ticket hall and boarding area, an accessible ticket lane and a dedicated toilet, and the cabins are entered level with the ground with no step to climb. The Malghetto intermediate station is likewise step-free on the platform, and staff oversee boarding and alighting and can be alerted to give a passenger extra time or help.↗

Dress for the altitude difference even in summer: the valley floor at Daolasa can be warm while the ridge and the mid-mountain pastures are cooler and exposed to wind. If you plan to disembark at the Malghetto di Mastellina, allow time for the paths there and keep an eye on the afternoon closing of the summer service so you can ride back down.