Are there any off-piste and summit tours in Sälen?

Yes – there’s both off-piste and backcountry skiing in Sälen, although the terrain is gentler than in the western mountains. Freeriding offers skiing through the woods between the slopes, open mountain areas and the classic Väggen on Hundfjället, whilst the open mountain landscape beckons for smaller-scale summit tours. Here’s a guide to where to go, when conditions are at their best – and how to do it safely.

Short answer: yes – that’s what free-running looks like in Sälen

Sälen är inte Riksgränsen, och det är just poängen: här får du friåkning på tillgängliga villkor. Fjällen i dalgången är rundade och skogklädda upp till kalfjället, vilket ger en friåkning som domineras av skogsåkning – gläntor, hyggen och naturliga linjer mellan och utanför pisterna – samt öppna partier ovanför trädgränsen. Efter ett rejält snöfall kan skogen kring Hundfjället och Tandådalen leverera dagar som förvånar även vana åkare, med orörd snö bara minuter från liften. Ska du Rent a holiday home in Sälen som friåkare är läget nära liftarna därför halva upplevelsen. För den som vill kliva utanför liftsystemet helt erbjuder kalfjället turåkning med milsvid utsikt. Nyckeln i Sälen är timing: terrängen är lättillgänglig, men den begränsade fallhöjden gör att förhållandena – färsk snö och rätt vind – betyder allt för upplevelsen.

Väggen och andra kända offpiståk

The most talked-about run at Sälen is undoubtedly Väggen on Hundfjället – one of Sweden’s steepest marked runs, which, with its substantial gradient, is a rite of passage for experienced skiers. It is often left ungroomed and is then skied in an off-piste style; we have devoted a separate article to it at Väggen to Sälen and who it’s suitable for. As well as Väggen, you’ll find off-piste areas around the upper sections of Hundfjället and Tandådalen, wooded sections between the runs throughout the entire resort, and leeward slopes where snow accumulates after a wind. Which areas are at their best varies with wind direction and snowfall – local advice from lift staff, the ski school and guides is up-to-date information well worth asking for. Always respect barriers and closed areas: they are there for reasons that aren’t always visible from the lift.

When are conditions at their best?

Off-piste skiing in Sälen thrives on fresh snow. The best days typically occur during and immediately after snowfalls from December to March, when the forest offers sheltered skiing even in windy conditions – it is often there, rather than on the bare mountain, that the day’s finest turns are to be found. Mid-winter brings the lightest and driest snow, whilst late winter offers a different kind of treasure: sun-softened snow on a hard-packed base, longer days and stable conditions for tours on the bare mountain. The mid-week days outside the school holidays offer longer-lasting untouched snow – during the winter half-term, fresh lines are skied over within hours, whereas in mid-February they can remain untouched for days. Keep an eye on the forecasts before your trip and be prepared to plan your days around the weather: a day on the groomed runs when the wind picks up, a day in the woods when it’s snowed. Our review of when snow is most likely helps you pinpoint the right time.

Safety first: equipment, knowledge and travelling with a guide

Off-piste skiing is always at your own risk – even in Sälen. The terrain here is certainly gentler than in high-alpine areas, but the risks are very real: skiing through trees requires good technique and maintaining a safe distance from your companion; snow depth varies over rocks and stream gullies; and on steep sections such as Väggen and certain bare mountain slopes, there may be a risk of avalanches in unfavourable conditions. The basic rules always apply: never ski off-piste alone, keep an eye on one another, respect signage and barriers, and check current conditions and any avalanche forecasts before setting off. In steeper terrain, an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe belong in your rucksack – along with the knowledge of how to use them. If you’re new to backcountry skiing, a guided tour is the best investment you can make: local guides know the snow, the terrain and the weather, and will take you to the day’s best skiing in safe conditions. See our guided tours and nature for current arrangements.

Summit hikes and cross-country skiing in the mountains

If you want to earn your turns, there’s ski touring. Sälen’s bare mountain slopes offer easily accessible mini-summit tours – ascents on climbing skins from the upper sections of the lift systems or from the valley floor, rewarded with sweeping views of the Dalarna mountains and descents in untouched snow when conditions are right. The terrain is ideal for beginners to ski touring: the slopes are gentle, the distances short and there are plenty of escape routes – a perfect environment in which to learn the ropes before tackling steeper mountains. Late winter is the peak season for ski touring, with crusty snow in the morning and soft snow on sun-facing slopes in the middle of the day. The same safety principles apply here: plan according to the weather and visibility, pack a wind sack and extra clothing, tell someone where you’re going – and do consider joining a guided tour for your first few trips.

After the run – sauna and recovery

Off-piste days take their toll in a different way to days on the slopes – deep snow, forest runs and any ascents take their toll on both thighs and shoulders. That’s when recovery becomes part of the experience: back to the chalet, out of the snowy clothes in the entrance hall, and then a long sauna whilst the snow melts off the kit in the drying room. A proper mountain cabin is built for exactly this – ample drying facilities, space for the whole group’s gear and a cottage with a sauna and spa turns the evening after a powder day into the second highlight of the day. Staying close to the lifts also has a particular advantage for freeriders: when it’s snowed overnight, you’ll be the first in the lift – read more about stay near the ski slope. Then it’s time for dinner, and the never-ending topic of conversation: where the snow will be at its best tomorrow.

Summary – freeriding on Sälen’s terms

Key facts about off-piste skiing and ski touring in Sälen:

• Yes, there is off-piste skiing – mainly in the woods around Hundfjället and Tandådalen, plus the steep Väggen.
• Fresh snow makes all the difference: the best days are during and immediately after snowfall, from the height of winter through to early spring.
• Kalfjället offers easily accessible summit tours – an excellent setting in which to learn ski touring.
• Safety first: never go out on your own, respect cordons, check the conditions – and take a guide if you’re inexperienced.
• In steep terrain, avalanche equipment and knowledge are essential – the Sälen’s reputation for being user-friendly is no substitute for sound judgement.
• Stay close to the lift and with a good sauna – that maximises both your powder days and your recovery.

With the right expectations, Sälen offers off-piste skiing that’s accessible, fun and family-friendly – and on days when the snow is coming down in buckets over Hundfjället, there are few places in Sweden where you’d rather wake up.