Manzaneda ski resort

Manzaneda ski resort is Galicia's only winter sports station, tucked into the mountains above the small town of A Pobra de Trives, in the province of Ourense.

Where exactly is the resort?

Manzaneda sits in the Serra de Queixa range, in the Terra de Trives district, at altitudes reaching close to 1,800 metres. This is the highest corner of Galicia, near the Trevinca massif, the region's tallest mountain area. A Pobra de Trives itself lies in the valley below, a short drive from the slopes, while the trip up from Ourense city typically takes around an hour and a half to two hours by car. For skiers from northwestern Spain, it's the only chance to hit the slopes without a longer journey to the Pyrenees or Sierra Nevada.

What can skiers expect on the slopes?

The resort's runs are spread across roughly 1,500 to 1,800 metres of elevation, adding up to around 15 kilometres of skiable terrain. The mix of difficulty levels suits a wide range of abilities: green runs for absolute beginners, blue runs for those building confidence, red runs for more capable skiers, and a handful of black runs for the most demanding descents. Several lifts serve different sections of the mountain, and a snowpark adds freestyle features for boarders and skiers looking for jumps and rails. There's also a roughly 5-kilometre cross-country loop, left ungroomed, for those who prefer touring over downhill runs.

Is there anything to do here outside ski season?

Yes — the surrounding terrain doesn't sit idle once the snow melts. Hiking trails and mountain biking routes wind through the pine forests and rocky ridges of the Serra de Queixa, drawing visitors even in the warmer months. The landscape itself, with its exposed granite outcrops and sweeping mountain views, gives the area appeal well beyond the ski season, making Manzaneda a worthwhile stop for outdoor activities year-round.

Who is this resort best suited for?

Manzaneda has a reputation as a compact, family-friendly station — smaller than Spain's major ski destinations, but noticeably less crowded as a result. It works well as an introduction to skiing for children and first-timers, though the black runs give more experienced skiers something to work with too. Because of its moderate altitude and Galician location, snow conditions vary considerably from year to year, and the season here tends to be shorter and less predictable than in the higher Pyrenees.

Frequently asked questions

Is Manzaneda the only ski resort in Galicia? Yes, it's the sole operating ski station in the entire Galicia region, making it a unique fixture on the winter sports map of northwestern Spain.

At what altitude are the ski runs located? The runs stretch from about 1,500 metres up to nearly 1,800 metres above sea level, within the Serra de Queixa mountain range.

How many runs are available for skiers? The resort offers runs across all difficulty levels — green, blue, red and black — adding up to around 15 kilometres, complemented by a snowpark and a cross-country skiing loop.

How long does it take to drive there from Ourense? The drive from Ourense to Manzaneda usually takes around an hour and a half to two hours, depending on road and mountain weather conditions.