Best places to cross-country ski in Sweden
Where to cross-country ski in Sweden
Sweden has some of the best cross-country skiing in the world so whether you’re a local Swede who wants to expand your horizons beyond your home trails, or an international adventurer who wants to experience the best that Sweden has to offer, these Nordic skiing hot spots should be at the top of your list.
In this guide we’ve listed a couple of Sweden’s amazing destination cross-country ski resorts as well as some of the smaller, yet nonetheless awesome, Nordic centers that service their local communities. You can’t really say you’ve experienced cross-country skiing in Sweden without checking out both.
Destination cross-country ski areas in Sweden
Cross-country skiing in Orsa Grönklitt
Trails: 130 kilometers Day pass: 190 SEK (90 SEK for 7-16 year olds and seniors) Ski rental: yes Website Trail tip:
- Kallbolsrundan Classic – 16 kilometers
- Utsiktsspåret – 6-kilometer skate track with a great view
As one of Sweden’s premier destination Nordic centers, Orsa Grönklitt is the epicenter of cross-country skiing in Sweden. The season lasts from November to April and features lighted trails from 6 a.m. to sunrise, and from sunset until 9 p.m. This resort provides the closest thing to a mountain resort feeling that you’ll find in Sweden with tracks running through forests and over hills.
Everyone from families to elite Nordic athletes will find what they need to stoke their passions including a fully equipped Längdcentrum featuring a wax service, ski coaches, wax room, café, and a cross-country ski store with equipment sales and rentals with a try-before-you-buy policy.
Cross-country skiing in Sälen
Trails: 300+ kilometers Day pass: prices vary between the four ski areas Ski rental: yes Website Track tip:
- Salomon Sprint Challenge at Lindvallen
- Vasaloppspåret – 90 kilometers. Start in Berga By and ski as far as you want!
- Kalven runt – 11 kilometers of easy terrain at Tandådalen. Classic.
- Hemsfjällrundan – 9 kilometers
Home to the famous Vasaloppet cross-country ski race, Sälen is one of the most well-known places to cross-country ski in Sweden. The Sälen Nordic center is actually a massive network of several cross-country ski areas: Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen and Hundfjället. Each area has its own appeal. For instance, if you’re introducing little ones to our wonderful sport, it’s good to know that Lindvallen has the most kid-friendly trails.
Also, one of the most unique aspects of skiing at Sälen later in the season is to skate on skare (Swedish for frosty snow) where skiers venture out at sunset and skate over the frozen snow for miles in every direction and without following trails. It’s super easy, super fast (30kph!) and stunningly beautiful. That, along with the mouth-watering waffles at Hemsfjällstugan are not to be missed!
Women's cross-country ski clothing
Men’s cross-country ski clothing
Cross-country skiing near Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and beyond
For the most part, the ski centers listed below service a local clientele and rely on man-made snow when the temperature drops below freezing.
Cross-country skiing in Borås
Trails: over 27 kilometers Day pass: prices vary between three Nordic centers Ski rental: yes Websites:
Located within 45 minutes drive from Gothenburg and around 3.5 hours from Malmö, Borås is the place for Nordic ski lovers in southern Sweden. There are three different Nordic centers in Borås, all of which are really good:
- Borås GIF Knektås – lighted until 10 p.m. Monday to Sunday, and from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. when the artificial snow trail is open. Dressing room with sauna. Bring a headlamp and ski the seven-kilometer adventure track through the forest for a magical experience.
- Borås SK – lighted from 6 a.m. until it gets light, and from dusk to 10 p.m. Recipient of the 2017 Stora Skidspårspriset (Great Ski Track award).
- Hestra IF Borås – lighted from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. every day, and also from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. during ski season. Biathlon range, ski playground, and free equipment loans for kids.
Cross-country skiing in Billingen Skövde
Trails: 52.1 kilometers Day pass: 90 SEK (under 16 ski free) Ski rental: yes Website
Billingen Skövde is another place that provides remarkably good tracks in southern Sweden. While there is plenty of stadium skiing in southern Sweden, Billingen Skövde stands apart with its great atmosphere and a more natural feeling. Tracks are lighted during opening hours and there is a changing room with shower facilities inside the Billingecenter as well as Restaurang Berget.
Cross-country skiing in Ågesta
Trails: 26.4 kilometers Day pass: free Ski rental: No Website Facebook
Located just outside Stockholm, the crew at Ågesta do an outstanding job with what they have using both natural and artificial snow. The tracks are lighted from 6 a.m. until dawn and again from dusk until at least 10 p.m. so you can get your fix before and after work or school. Ågesta Stallcafé serves coffee and be sure to sample their homemade baked goods.
Cross-country skiing in Högbo Bruk
Trails: 52 kilometers Day pass: 200 SEK (free for under 10 years, 120 SEK for 11-15 year olds, 160 SEK for 65+) Ski rental: yes Website Website
Located just outside Stockolm, Högbo Bruk is one of the most convenient Nordic centers for Stockholm skiers to get their fix. Weather permitting, the season starts as early as November, and once there is enough natural snow to fall so that the entire trail system is open, there is no longer a charge for skiing (although voluntary contributions are appreciated). There is a challenging, 600-meter track where you can perfect your technique and boost your heart rate, areas for playing ball sports with your skis on, and a ski play area for the smallest skiers. There is also coaching available for everyone from beginners to advanced skiers, a wax shop, and the changing room with shower and sauna is included in the price of your pass.
Cross-country skiing in Falun
Trails: not exactly sure but quite a lot Day pass: prices vary between ski areas Ski rental: yes Website
Featuring great snow and many kilometers of fantastic tracks, Falun is famous for its outstanding cross-country skiing. So much so that it’s the home to World Cup races and will also host the 2027 Nordic World Ski Championships. There are numerous Nordic ski centers within a short drive, which provide a wide variety of options including the Lugnets Skidstation (Swedish National Park for Cross-Country Skiing) to the wilderness trails north of Bjursås. In Falun, there is something for everyone.
Cross-country skiing in Lassalyckan skistadion (Ulricehamn)
Trails: 38.4 kilometers Day pass: 100 SEK (free for under 16) Ski rental: yes Website
The Nordic center at the Lassalyckan skidstation is one of the biggest artificial snow facilities in the Nordic region and serves as host to many World Cup races. And even though the best Nordic skiers in the world compete here, the center is also suitable for regular skiers, too. Trails are lighted until 9 p.m. every night and Hotel Lassalyckan provides food starting on New Year’s Day. For those who’d prefer their own cooking, there are rest stops with barbecue facilities along the trails. Changing rooms with toilets, shower and sauna can be found at the Ulricehamn IF clubhouse and are open to everyone.
Cross-country skiing in Östersund
Trails: 89 kilometers Day pass: 80 SEK (45 SEK for seniors, free for under 17) Website
Östersund is home to the Swedish National Arena for Biathlon and Östersund Ski Stadium and as a result, many professional skiers choose to train here. Within a 15-minute walk from the center of Östersund, Nordic skiers can access competition and exercise tracks, lighted tracks and also take advantage of the public waxing hut and Nordic ski coaches. The ski tracks are linked to the hilly, forested terrain of Spikbodarna and also the peaceful trail at Torråsen where dogs and sledding are allowed.
Stop reading, go skiing!
Clearly there are loads of great Nordic centers (especially in Northern Sweden) that are not mentioned in this guide. But hopefully you’ve not got a better understanding of the wide variety of cross-country ski trails that can be found in Sweden. All that’s left to do now is grab your skis and get after it!
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