In the winter, access to the mountains is made difficult for walkers by deep snow. Of course, experts can use crampons and ice-axes or off-piste skis, but most snow-lovers prefer the less risky options of downhill or cross-country skiing. Modena's Apennines have a consolidated downhill ski tradition. The five points of access to the Monte Cimone slopes (Passo del Lupo, Lago della Ninfa, Cimoncino, Polle and Montecreto) are gateways to 50 km of pistes (20 of them served by snow cannon) connected in a "carousel" pattern, no less than 24 lift facilities of various kinds (the cable-car and four-seater chair-lift from Passo del Lupo to Pian Cavallaro at the foot of Monte Cimone, as well as 3 three-seater and 6 two-seater chair-lifts and 13 ski-tows), which can all be used with a single ski-pass. The Doccia, Fiumalbo pistes are on the other side of Monte Cimone, and downhill skiing is also available at Piane di Mocogno and Piandelagotti.

Cross-country skiing is a more recent introduction to the Modena Apennines, except for at Frassinoro, the home of one of the sport's great champions. All the same, the area now offers no less than 12 cross-country skiing centres, with trails of varying length and difficulty. There are three around Monte Cimone, at Le Polle (Riolunato), Lago della Ninfa (Sestola) and Cimoncino (Fanano), and a fourth in the nearby valley of Ospitale, around Capanna Tassoni. There are others at Frassinoro (Tonino Biondini), Piandelagotti (Bosco Reale), S. Anna Pelago (Piana dell'Acqua Chiara), Barigazzo (Ducale Vandelli), Lama Mocogno (Piane di Mocogno), Pavullo (Airfield), Serramazzoni (La Fondaccia) and Montecreto (Cervarola).