A Guide to Cross Country Skiing in Sälen, Sweden

Sälen is one of the most popular skiing destinations in Sweden for both cross country skiing and alpine skiing. Located around 6 hours from Gothenburg, it is the perfect destination for a long weekend away. Sälen is one of the most well-known cross country skiing locations for both beginners and experts. This is due to it being the home of the Vasaloppet, Sweden’s biggest cross country skiing race and the oldest cross country race in the world. The race is 90km long and takes place every March, following the route that Gustav Vasa took in 1520 when fleeing the troops of Christian II.

Other than the Vasa Loppet, Sälen is a beautiful place for beginners to learn to ski, with beautiful flat tracks in several different resorts. It is also a good destination for experienced skiers, with harder and longer tracks that connect the resorts together.

This guide to Cross Country Skiing in Sälen includes

Useful phrases in Swedish
Where to stay in Sälen
Hiring cross country skis
Where to Cross Country Ski in Sälen

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Useful phrases in Swedish

Längdskidor: Cross country skis
Skidor: Skis
Spår: Track
Stuga: Cottage
Vandrarhem: Hostel
Elljusspår: A track that is lit when it is dark

Where to stay in Sälen

There are several options when picking accommodation in Sälen that fit every type of traveller and every budget. These are:

Cabins and Bed and Breakfasts

Gästhus Nornäs

Gästhus Nornäs is a very cosy bed and breakfast located just north of Kläppen. They have a sauna and BBQ available, as well as the possibility to book tours for you such as dog sledging or snowmobiling. This is a bit of a cheaper option as it is further away from the main skiing resorts, however, if you have a car and don’t mind the drive it is a great option!

Book it here!

Joängets Fjällgård

Joängets Fjällgård is a super cosy place to stay. With room for 5 people, this cottage is a great accommodation option if you are travelling in a group. We have stayed here several times with friends and love having somewhere that is completely our own. In the cabin, there is a kitchen and you have access to a sauna.

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Vandrarhem

STF Sälen Torgåsgården

This is somewhere we have returned to several times as we love the simplicity of it. A Vandrarhem, or hostel, Sälen Torgåsgården is run by the Swedish Tourism Association. If you are a member of STF you can get a little discount making it a cheaper option. Here, you have a private bedroom but a shared bathroom and kitchen. It is a great place if you want to do your own cooking but don’t mind bumping into other people while you’re there.

This vandrarhem is located just 10 minutes south of Kläppen so is a great base for those ski tracks.

Book it here!

Hotels

Sälens Högfjällshotell

Sälens Högfjällshotell is one of the more luxury options near Sälen. It is located in Högfjäll so there are ski tracks right outside for alpine skiing and connections to good cross country tracks. At the hotel there is a bar, several restaurants, a sauna and a gym. It is the perfect place to return to after a long day on the slopes.

Book it here!

Olarsgården Hotell

Olarsgården Hotell is another more luxury option. This hotel is located in Lindvallen so is optimal for exploring the cross country tracks in the Skistar resorts. The hotel is big but cosy, surrounded by forest with amazing views of the snow. There is a restaurant and sauna to enjoy here!

Book it here!

Hiring cross country skis in Sälen

Being an alpine area, there are many different places to hire skis in and around Sälen. Most resorts run by Skistar have hire shops with fairly good prices. It is recommended to book these in advance, however, they can also be borrowed on the day. It can, however, be a little cheaper if you hire your skis outside of Sälen, for example in Mora, and take them with you from there.

Where To Cross Country Ski in Sälen, Sweden

Kläppen Ski Resort

Kläppen is one of the smaller resorts in the Sälen area, with a mixture of alpine and cross country skiing tracks. In total there are 4 tracks that run in the valley, on the mountain, and down the mountain. This is a great place for beginners as you can first practice in the valley as the track is flatter, and then eventually make your way up to the picturesque mountain track.

To cross country ski at Kläppen you must purchase a ski pass. This costs around 115kr for one day, 225kr for two days, and 420kr for 4 days. You can book these in advance but it is not necessary as they can also be bought at the welcome centre on arrival. You can find all the information here.

The cross country tracks at Kläppen are:

Älvspåret (13km)
Bergspåret (24.5km)
Toppspåret (6.1km)
Myrspåret (9.4km, 7.7km or 5.6km)

My favourite of these tracks is Toppspåret. To access this track, you take the gondola from the welcome centre to Toppstugan. From here, you follow the blue signs into the forest. This track is incredibly picturesque, and in my opinion, it is the best cross country skiing track in Sälen. This track is also great for beginners as there are very few steep hills and it is less frequented by those training for racing.

You can either do the 6.1km track and then take the gondola back down, or you can extend your ski to include the Bergspåret. This takes you across and down the mountain so you end up at Tranantorget and can take the gondola back down from there. The first section of this track is quite steep and best for those who have experience skiing down hills.

Hundfjället/ Tandådalen

Hundfjället and Tandådalen are two skiing areas located quite close to each other. Here, there are 4 relatively easy cross country tracks. These tracks are all at the base of the mountain and run around lakes and through forests.

To cross country ski at Hundfjället and Tandådalen you must purchase a ski pass. This costs around 85kr for 1 day, 176kr for 2 days, and 352kr for 5 days. Included in your ski pass is access to the ski bus which takes you to all the different Skistar resorts in Sälen.

You can find out more here https://www.skistar.com/en/ski-destinations/salen/winter-in-salen/services/?fo=51465

The cross country skiing tracks at Hundfjället and Tandådalen are:

Green (3km)
Red (2.5km)
Orange (2.7km with lighting)
Kalvan Runt/ Blue (11km)

Alternatively, you can take the track towards Rörbäcksnäs. This is quite a long and difficult route depending on the track you take and is recommended for more experienced skiers.

The best of the tracks at Tandådalen is the Kalvan Runt, an 11km cross country skiing trail that runs around the base of the mountain. Along the way, there are several fire pits and wind shelters for fika breaks.

Lindvallen

Lindvallen is another of the popular cross country skiing areas in Sälen, with 5 tracks of different difficulties that run across and above the mountain. Lindvallen is owned by Skistar and when you buy a ski pass you also get access to the tracks at Hundfjället and Tandådalen. The ski pass costs around 85kr for 1 day, 176kr for 2 days, and 352kr for 5 days.

The cross country skiing tracks at Lindvallen are:

Green (1.5 km and lit)
Blue (2.5km and lit)
White/Green (3.5 km)
White/Blue (4.5 km)
Red 5 km

Here, the white/blue track is one of the best, offering some hills as well as some flat tracks meaning you can both do classic cross country skiing as well as skating for sections.