Vemdalen operates as one of Sweden’s major winter sports destinations in the Jämtland region, offering skiers access to three distinct mountain areas on a single lift pass.
The destination comprises Vemdalsskalet, Björnrike, and Klövsjö/Storhogna, which collectively provide 49 kilometres of alpine pistes alongside more than 155 kilometres of cross-country trails. Rather than functioning as a single, sprawling village, the resort relies on a network of distinct bases connected by road. Skiers tend to navigate between these sectors to follow the sun and snow conditions. Vemdalen sits higher than many Swedish ski areas, with base elevations starting near 592 metres and lifts reaching 946 metres, which supports a long season running from late November into April. The area appeals to domestic and international visitors seeking a quieter alternative to the busier slopes of Åre, focusing instead on family-oriented infrastructure, consistent snow cover, and efficient modern lifts.
Mountain culture & milestones
Skiing in the Härjedalen region developed gradually. The village of Vemdalen traces its roots back to the 1600s, long before alpine sports arrived, and it retains a strong sense of local heritage. You can still see 18th-century churches and traditional timber buildings scattered across the valley.
Organised winter sports gained traction here in the mid-1930s. The first established ski slope opened in Klövsjö in 1935, followed by the Hovdebacken run in 1938, which effectively placed Vemdalen on the Swedish skiing map. For decades, local ski clubs and independent operators expanded the lift networks slowly. By the 1960s, the pace of development accelerated as the area gained popularity among Swedish families who valued the reliable inland climate over coastal resorts.
SkiStar acquired the destination in 1999, which led to a major consolidation of the three ski sectors under one management umbrella. Since then, the focus has shifted towards modernising the infrastructure. The company has heavily invested in rapid express chairlifts, replacing older drag lifts to reduce queuing times. For the 2025–2026 winter season, a significant expansion called Hovde Syd opened at Vemdalsskalet, adding new blue and red runs along with a dedicated family park. Despite this commercial expansion, Vemdalen maintains its low-key Swedish mountain culture, where cross-country skiing and outdoor winter living hold as much importance as downhill performance.
Valley bases: where to stay
Vemdalen does not have a single central hub that connects all the skiing. Instead, accommodation spreads across three distinct bases, each serving a different demographic and offering varying levels of convenience. You will need to choose your base based on whether you prioritise ski-in/ski-out access, nightlife, or proximity to cross-country trails.
Base
Atmosphere
Access
Ideal for
Vemdalsskalet
Lively, commercial centre
Express lifts, central
Groups, varied skiing
Björnrike
Quiet, sunny
Ski-in/ski-out
Families, beginners
Klövsjö/Storhogna
Secluded, rustic
Linked by lift/plateau
Advanced skiers, cross-country
Vemdalsskalet functions as the commercial centre. It has the highest concentration of sports shops, restaurants, and bars arranged around Skalets Torg. If you want a traditional resort atmosphere where you can walk from your accommodation to the lift and the pub, this is the most practical choice. It gets busy during Swedish school holidays, but the layout handles the crowds reasonably well.
Björnrike sits further south and caters specifically to families. The slopes here face south, catching whatever winter sun is available, and the lodgings are almost entirely ski-in/ski-out cabins and apartments. It lacks the evening energy of Vemdalsskalet, but parents appreciate the convenience of stepping directly onto the snow.
Klövsjö and Storhogna appeal to those who want a quieter trip. Klövsjö has steep, challenging alpine runs, while Storhogna is known for a high-altitude hotel with a winter garden and extensive cross-country tracks. Staying here feels more secluded. The connections between these three bases rely on a ski bus or private car, as you cannot ski from one to the other.
Ski sectors at a glance
The destination offers 62 slopes and 44 lifts, divided into three separate networks. They share a single lift ticket, but you have to drive or take the bus to switch between them.
Sector
Predominant slopes
Terrain character
Vemdalsskalet
Blue and red
Varied cruisers over two mountains
Björnrike
Green and blue
Wide, sunny, south-facing bowls
Klövsjö/Storhogna
Red and black (Klövsjö)
Steep pitches and high-altitude plateaus
Vemdalsskalet spans two mountains: Hovdefjället and Skalsfjället. It provides the most varied terrain of the three sectors. The lifts here are fast, including several six-seater expresses that move skiers quickly out of the base area. You will find a mix of long cruisers and a few steeper pitches, particularly on the Hovde side. The recent addition of the Hovde Syd area has expanded the beginner and intermediate options on the southern flank.
Björnrike is straightforward and wide. The pistes run almost parallel to each other down a sunny, south-facing bowl. It contains a large children’s area and a dedicated snow park. The lift system here is efficient, featuring one of the longest express chairlifts in Scandinavia, which connects the base directly to the summit. It is an excellent sector for progressing beginners, though advanced skiers might find it repetitive after a few days.
Klövsjö and Storhogna link via a lift, making them a combined sector. Klövsjö holds a reputation among Swedish skiers as the skier’s resort because it hides some genuinely steep black runs, including a notoriously difficult mogul field. Storhogna, connected via a plateau, is flatter and entirely dependent on natural snow. It serves as the primary gateway for cross-country skiing, sitting right at the tree line.
The mountain & skiing
Alpine skiing in Vemdalen operates on a smaller scale compared to the Alps, with a maximum vertical drop of around 354 metres at Vemdalsskalet and 470 metres overall. However, the runs are well-designed to make the most of the topography. The grooming standards are exceptionally high, which is typical for SkiStar-run destinations. Pistes are wide, consistently corduroyed, and clearly marked, making the area easy to navigate even in flat light.
Beginners have excellent facilities across all three bases. The dedicated children’s areas, particularly in Björnrike, feature slow conveyor belts, gentle gradients, and themed obstacle courses. Instructors from the local ski school are highly visible, and the progression from green to blue runs feels logical. Once you master the nursery slopes, the blue cruisers on Skalsfjället provide a safe environment for building confidence.
Intermediates will get the most out of Vemdalen. The red runs are fast and undulating, particularly the Hildingsbacke cruiser which runs from the top of Skalsfjället all the way to the valley. The south-facing slopes of Björnrike allow for high-speed carving in the sun. Because the lifts are fast, you can rack up a significant amount of vertical descent in a few hours.
Advanced skiers have fewer options. The steep terrain is mostly confined to Klövsjö, where the black runs pitch sharply through the trees. The Hovdebacken run at Vemdalsskalet also offers a sustained steep gradient that often develops bumps. Off-piste skiing exists, particularly in the sparse birch forests near the tree line, but it requires local knowledge and a good snow year. The tree skiing can be tight, and the off-piste areas are not patrolled in the same way as the marked runs.
The village & après-ski
Vemdalen does not attempt to replicate the chaotic nightlife of larger European or even Swedish resorts. The atmosphere is distinctly relaxed and family-centric. Après-ski here usually involves a quiet beer by a log fire rather than dancing on tables in ski boots, though there are exceptions on weekends and public holidays.
Skalets Torg in Vemdalsskalet serves as the focal point for dining and evening entertainment. You will find a handful of solid restaurants serving traditional Swedish mountain fare – think reindeer, local trout, and cloudberries – alongside standard pizzerias and burger joints. The Högfjällshotell often hosts live music on Friday and Saturday afternoons, which draws a lively domestic crowd. However, by early evening, the focus shifts back to dining and returning to cabins.
In Björnrike, the evening options are heavily restricted to a few slope-side restaurants that cater to families. People tend to cook in their apartments or order takeaway. Klövsjö offers a highly regarded local brewery and bakery, which is worth a visit if you have a car, while Storhogna’s winter garden provides a serene, upscale environment for a quiet drink.
Non-skiing activities are woven into the village experience. Dog sledding, snowmobile safaris, and ice fishing are readily available. There are also several bowling alleys and small spa facilities attached to the major hotels, offering alternatives when the weather closes in. The overall vibe is practical and unpretentious; people come to Vemdalen to ski, spend time with their families, and enjoy the winter environment.
Snow & season
Vemdalen relies on its inland climate to guarantee snow. Unlike coastal mountains that suffer from Atlantic weather systems bringing sudden thaws and rain, the Härjedalen region experiences cold, stable conditions throughout the winter. The base elevation of 592 metres is relatively high for Sweden, ensuring that precipitation falls as snow rather than rain from late November onwards.
The season frequently starts in late November, with SkiStar deploying an extensive network of snow cannons to build a solid base on the main runs. By Christmas, the majority of the 62 slopes are usually operational. The coldest months are January and February, where temperatures can drop below -20°C. You will need proper thermal layers during this period, as the wind chill on the exposed chairlifts can be harsh.
March and April offer the best skiing conditions. The days lengthen significantly, the temperatures moderate, and the snowpack reaches its peak depth – averaging around 84 centimetres in March. Spring skiing in Vemdalen is highly regarded, particularly on the south-facing slopes of Björnrike where the afternoon sun softens the snow. The resort remains open until late April or early May, making it a reliable late-season destination. The cross-country tracks at Storhogna, which sit at a higher elevation on a plateau, hold their natural snow cover well into the spring.
Summer & year-round
When the snow melts, Vemdalen transitions into a quiet but active summer destination. The population shrinks back to its core of around 600 residents, and the focus shifts entirely to the natural environment. The mountains that serve as ski slopes in winter become accessible hiking and biking terrain.
Hiking is the primary draw. The region is laced with well-marked trails that range from accessible valley walks to demanding ascents of the local peaks. The hike to the Sonfjället National Park, located a short drive away, provides an opportunity to see brown bears and elk in one of Europe’s oldest protected areas. The lifts at Vemdalsskalet operate during the peak summer weeks, allowing hikers and downhill mountain bikers to bypass the initial climb.
Mountain biking has seen significant investment in recent years. There are purpose-built pump tracks and flow trails near the base stations, alongside hundreds of kilometres of cross-country cycling routes on gravel roads and forest paths. Fishing is also deeply ingrained in the local culture, with numerous lakes and streams holding trout and char.
The local Hembygdsgård, a heritage museum, opens during the summer months, offering a glimpse into the region’s agricultural past. While many of the winter restaurants close or reduce their hours, the core amenities remain available. The pace is slow, the daylight is almost endless in June and July, and the landscape is dominated by dense forests and wide-open fells.
Safety & mountain etiquette
Skiing in Sweden comes with a strong emphasis on personal responsibility and adherence to mountain rules. Vemdalen is generally a safe resort due to its well-groomed pistes and clear signage, but the winter environment in Härjedalen can be unforgiving if you are unprepared.
The primary hazard is the cold. Inland temperatures drop rapidly, and frostbite is a genuine risk on the higher, exposed lifts during mid-winter. You must dress in layers, cover all exposed skin, and take regular breaks indoors. The ski patrol monitors the runs and will close lifts if wind speeds reach dangerous levels.
Off-piste skiing outside the marked boundaries is permitted but not controlled. The avalanche risk in Vemdalen is generally lower than in the steep alpine valleys of Europe, but slides do occur, particularly in the steeper bowls of Klövsjö and off the back of Skalsfjället. If you intend to ski off-piste, you are expected to carry standard avalanche safety equipment – a transceiver, probe, and shovel – and know how to use them. Hiring a local guide is strongly recommended if you want to explore the backcountry safely.
On the pistes, standard international ski etiquette applies. The slower skier downhill always has the right of way. The Swedish ski patrol is strict about reckless skiing in crowded areas, particularly near the children’s zones in Björnrike. Cross-country skiers are expected to follow the directional signs on the tracks and yield to faster skiers approaching from behind.
Who it suits best
Vemdalen works exceptionally well for families, progressing beginners, and intermediate skiers who value quality snow and efficient lifts over massive vertical drops or wild après-ski. The dedicated children’s areas are superb, and the wide cruisers allow developing skiers to build technique without feeling intimidated.
It is also a practical destination for mixed groups where some members prefer cross-country skiing over alpine runs. The 155 kilometres of Nordic tracks are world-class, providing a genuine alternative to the downhill experience.
Expert skiers looking for endless steep couloirs or vast off-piste itineraries will find Vemdalen restrictive. The challenging terrain is confined to a few specific areas, and you will likely exhaust the black runs in a couple of days. Similarly, groups looking for loud, late-night clubbing should look elsewhere; the evening entertainment here is decidedly muted. Vemdalen appeals to those who want a reliable, hassle-free, and authentically Swedish winter holiday.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Åre Östersund Airport, located approximately 120 km from Vemdalen. Alternatively, the region is accessible by rail. The nearest train station is Röjan, which sits roughly 20 km from the resort bases. During the winter, night trains run directly from southern Sweden to Röjan, with connecting bus services delivering passengers to Vemdalsskalet, Björnrike, and Klövsjö.
Deadline: February 13th
Winner Announcement: February 14th
