Funasfjallen Resort Transfer Guide

Funäsfjällen is a large ski area in Sweden’s Härjedalen region. It is not a single mountain, but six separate ski hills sharing one lift pass. You will not find a purpose-built mega-resort here. The villages are working towns, and the skiing is spread across different valleys. The area gets heavy natural snowfall and rarely sees the lift queues common in the Alps. The downhill skiing covers 147 slopes, ranging from steep drops to sheltered forest runs. It is also home to the Nordic Ski Center, a massive 300 km network of cross-country tracks. The nightlife is quiet. People come here for the snow and the space, rather than the après-ski. The scale of the region is deceptive. Because the ski areas are spread out along the valley floor, you do not get the visual impact of a massive interconnected bowl like you would in France or Austria. Instead, you get distinct pockets of skiing, each with its own microclimate and terrain style. This fragmentation means you have to plan your day and rely on the ski bus or a car, but it also spreads the crowds out. Even during the Swedish school holidays in February, you can usually find a quiet corner of the mountain. The local culture is deeply tied to the landscape. The area is home to Sweden’s southernmost Sami population, and reindeer herding remains an active part of the local economy. You are just as likely to see a herd of reindeer crossing the road as you are a group of skiers. This grounds the resort in reality. It does not feel like a theme park built for tourists; it feels like a remote mountain community that happens to have excellent skiing.

Mountain culture & milestones

Reindeer herding by the indigenous Sami people shaped this part of Härjedalen long before anyone built a chairlift. Sami culture remains a visible part of the valley today. The Mittådalen Sami village is one of the oldest in the region, and their herds graze across the very mountains that skiers now use. Recreational skiing developed slowly in the mid-20th century. Local farmers and enthusiasts cut the first trails by hand. Ramundberget, for example, started in 1936 when a local couple opened their mountain farm to guests, offering simple lodging and access to the snowy peaks. The six ski hills operated independently for decades, each building their own surface lifts and carving out their own local following. They eventually realised that by linking their ticketing systems, they could offer a destination that rivalled the bigger resorts further north. The creation of the Fjällpasset changed how people skied the valley, turning it from a collection of local hills into a major national destination. The valley’s biggest milestone, however, was the creation of the Nordic Ski Center. Local operators worked together to link the villages with groomed trails, forming the longest continuous cross-country track system in the world. This project cemented Funäsfjällen’s reputation among Nordic skiing purists and ensured that the area would draw visitors even when the alpine trends shifted. Today, the balance between preserving the historical mountain culture and updating the ski infrastructure is carefully managed. You will see modern gondolas running alongside traditional timber-clad farmhouses, reflecting a community that respects its past while investing in its future.

Valley bases: where to stay

You have several villages to choose from, depending on what kind of skiing you want outside your door. Funäsdalen is the main town and the commercial heart of the region. It has the most shops, cafes, and restaurants, and sits directly beneath the steep, imposing runs of Funäsdalsberget. The village is built around a large, flat lake, which freezes solid in winter and becomes a thoroughfare for snowmobiles, dog sleds, and cross-country skiers. Staying here means you have easy access to the supermarket, the pharmacy, and the systembolaget (the state-run liquor store), making it the most practical choice for self-catering groups. A modern gondola leaves right from the village centre, whisking you up to the peak in minutes, meaning you can stay in town and still be on the first lift. Ramundberget is located at the very end of the valley road, where the ploughed tarmac stops and the wilderness begins. It is a ski-in/ski-out base that attracts freeriders and families who want to be as close to the snow as possible. Because it sits at the end of the line, there is no through-traffic, giving it a secluded, almost private feel. The architecture here leans heavily into the traditional mountain farm aesthetic, with dark timber buildings, turf roofs, and a distinct lack of neon signs. It feels like a high-altitude retreat rather than a commercial resort. Tänndalen is the largest base for intermediate cruising, with modern apartment blocks and hotels clustered near the lifts. It is spread out along the valley floor, meaning you often have to walk or drive a short distance to the lifts unless you book one of the newer ski-in/ski-out complexes. The focus here is on convenience, fast access to the wide, sunny slopes above, and providing a comfortable base for families who want modern amenities without the bustle of a larger town. If you want quiet, Tännäskröket and Kappruet are small outposts that work well for cross-country skiers and families with young children. Tännäskröket is tucked away in the forest, offering beautiful timber cabins that feel entirely removed from the commercial ski world. Bruksvallarna is another key base, though it is almost entirely dedicated to cross-country skiing. It is the epicentre of the Nordic Ski Center, and staying there means you step out of your door directly onto world-class tracks, with the alpine lifts just a short bus ride away.

Ski sectors at a glance

The Fjällpasset covers six separate hills. Funäsdalsberget has the biggest vertical drop at 314 metres, with steep pitches and fast descents. The mountain rises sharply from the village lake, and the runs here are genuinely steep by Swedish standards. The black runs under the gondola are often used for race training, and the off-piste on the backside of the mountain holds snow well after a storm. Ramundberget has natural halfpipes and widely spaced birch trees, which makes it the main draw for freeriders. The terrain here is playful. You can spend all day popping in and out of the trees, finding small drops and wind lips. It also has excellent snow parks, which keeps the teenage freestyle crowd happy. Tänndalen is the largest sector, filled with wide blue and red runs for cruising. It is a wide, open mountain that catches the sun, making it perfect for long carving turns. The lift system here is the most modern in the valley, with fast chairlifts that keep the queues moving even on busy weekends. The smaller hills have specific uses. Tänndalsvallen is mostly for beginners, offering a safe, enclosed area where novices can learn without faster skiers rushing past. Tännäskröket is sheltered by the forest, which is useful when the wind closes higher lifts. The runs here are cut through dense pines, providing excellent visibility on flat-light days. Kappruet is a single-lift hill with a quiet, old-school feel. It is the kind of place where the lift operator knows everyone’s name and the pace of the day is entirely dictated by the weather. A free ski bus runs between all six areas, meaning you can easily switch mountains if the conditions change.

The mountain & skiing

With 147 slopes spread across the valley, the skiing rarely feels crowded, even during peak holiday weeks. Intermediates have the most options, especially on the wide groomers at Tänndalen. The grooming teams here take their jobs seriously, and the corduroy is usually immaculate first thing in the morning. You can lay down wide, fast turns without worrying about sudden drops, narrow bottlenecks, or unexpected ice patches. The lifts in Tänndalen are efficient, meaning you spend more time skiing and less time standing in line. Advanced skiers usually head to Funäsdalsberget for steep piste laps, or to Ramundberget to ski the birch forests after a snowfall. The tree skiing in Ramundberget is some of the best in Scandinavia. The birch trees are naturally spaced perfectly for skiing, allowing you to carry speed through the glades without feeling like you are constantly dodging trunks. Ski touring is also huge here. Many locals slap climbing skins on their skis and head up the peaks that are not serviced by lifts, finding untracked powder days after the last storm has passed. The off-piste terrain is vast, but it requires local knowledge to navigate safely. Beginners have dedicated learning zones with surface lifts at the base of almost every hill. The Swedish approach to teaching kids to ski is very relaxed, and you will see massive groups of toddlers following instructors through small obstacle courses and fun parks. Because the sectors face different directions, you can use the ski bus to follow the sun or hide from bad weather. If the wind is howling at Tänndalen, you simply pack up and head to the sheltered runs at Tännäskröket, ensuring that a stormy day does not mean a lost day on the mountain. The cross-country skiing deserves its own mention, as it is a major draw for international visitors. The Nordic Ski Center offers 300 kilometres of prepared tracks that connect the villages, the valleys, and the high mountain plateaus. The tracks are groomed for both classic and skate skiing, and there are numerous warming huts along the routes where you can stop for a waffle and a coffee. It is entirely possible to spend a week here, get an incredible workout every day, and never set foot on an alpine ski.

The village & après-ski

Après-ski here means a quiet beer and a sauna, not table-dancing in ski boots. Funäsdalen village has the most dining options. The restaurants focus heavily on local Härjedalen ingredients, such as reindeer, char, and cloudberries. You will find menus featuring slow-cooked game stews, locally caught trout, and desserts made with berries foraged from the surrounding bogs. There are a few bars near the main lifts where people gather when the lifts close. You might find a local troubadour playing acoustic guitar, or a DJ playing classic Swedish pop, but the volume rarely reaches the deafening levels found in the Alps. The local breweries, such as Härjebrygg, supply the taps, and the conversation usually revolves around the day’s snow conditions. However, the evenings are generally quiet. Most visitors eat dinner, use the sauna, and go to bed early to ski again the next day. The sauna culture is deeply ingrained here. Almost every cabin and apartment has one, and the ritual of sweating out the cold after a day on the mountain is a non-negotiable part of the trip. If you want to party until 3 AM, you are in the wrong valley.

Snow & season

The ski season is long and reliable. The valley sits far inland and high enough to catch heavy natural snow from early winter. The alpine lifts usually open in December and close in late April. The cross-country tracks often open in October and last into May. By April, the days are incredibly long, allowing for late-afternoon ski touring under bright, sunny skies. Temperatures stay consistently cold mid-winter. It is not uncommon to see the thermometer drop below -20°C in January and February. This keeps the piste snow chalky and preserves the powder in the trees for days after a storm. You rarely have to deal with the freeze-thaw cycles that plague lower resorts, meaning ice is rarely an issue. The cold weather also means the snow crystals stay light and dry, providing excellent conditions for off-piste skiing. The resorts use snow cannons to build the base on the main runs, but natural snow covers the rest of the mountain. In recent years, the resort has also started using snow farming – saving large piles of snow under insulating sawdust over the summer – to guarantee an early October opening for the cross-country tracks in Bruksvallarna. This draws national ski teams from across Europe who come here for early-season training before the natural snow begins to fall in earnest.

Summer & year-round

In summer, the ski tracks become hiking and mountain biking trails. The high tree line makes it easy to walk up into the alpine tundra without technical climbing gear. The area promotes a concept called the “Gold Tours” (Guldturer), which are well-marked, family-friendly day hikes that lead to waterfalls, viewpoints, and old mountain farms. Mountain bikers use the lifts on Funäsdalsberget for downhill riding, and pedal the cross-country loops in the valley. The cycling infrastructure has grown massively, with machine-built flow trails and technical singletrack drawing riders from across the country. People also come to fish the local rivers for trout and grayling, and to visit the Muskox centre in Tännäs, which breeds the animals for conservation. You can take a guided tour to see these massive, Ice Age survivors up close. The villages stay open year-round, driven entirely by outdoor tourism. The summer days are long, with the sun barely dipping below the horizon in June, allowing you to hike or ride late into the evening.

Safety & mountain etiquette

These mountains are not as tall as the Alps, but the weather is often harsher. Temperatures drop quickly, and wind above the tree line can cause severe wind chill. You must dress in proper layers, and carrying an extra insulating jacket in your pack is always a good idea. The weather can change from bright sunshine to a whiteout blizzard in minutes. Avalanches happen here. If you ski off-piste at Ramundberget or Funäsdalsberget, you need a transceiver, shovel, and probe, and you must check the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) avalanche forecast. Do not assume that because the mountains are rounded, they are safe from slides. On the cross-country trails, do not walk or skate over the classic tracks. The groomers work hard to set those tracks, and ruining them with boots or skate skis is considered incredibly rude. Finally, give space to any reindeer you see on the mountain. They are not wild animals; they belong to the local Sami herders, and stressing them during the harsh winter months can be dangerous for the herd.

Who it suits best

This valley works best for families, cross-country skiers, and freeriders who want quiet slopes and cold snow. It is a good choice for mixed groups where some people want to ski alpine and others want to ski Nordic tracks. The sheer variety of terrain across the six hills means that a family with differing ability levels can easily find something that works for everyone. It does not work well for skiers who want to cover 50 kilometres of linked pistes without taking off their skis. You have to ride the bus to change mountains, which breaks up the flow of the day if you are used to the massive interconnected systems of France or Austria. It is also the wrong choice if you want loud après-ski. If your ideal ski holiday involves dancing on tables at 4 PM, you will be deeply disappointed here.

Getting there

– Nearest airports: Røros Airport (75 km), Sveg Airport (135 km), Trondheim Airport (210 km), /wiki/airports/ostersund/ (220 km) – Nearest rail hub: Röjan station or Östersund Central

Written by the Alps2Alps editorial team.

External links

– [Funäsfjällen Official Tourism Site](https://www.funasfjallen.se/) – [Fjällpasset Lift Information](https://funasdalen.se/en/winter/skiing/skipass/) – [Nordic Ski Center](https://www.funasfjallen.se/vinter/skidakning/langdskidakning/) – [Swedish Avalanche Forecasts (SEPA)](https://www.lavinprognoser.se/)