How does Sälen fit into the picture? Areas, villages and distances

Kartan över Sälen är enklare än den först ser ut: en dalgång med Sälens by i botten, och en fjällväg som klättrar upp och binder ihop de fyra skidanläggningarna Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen och Hundfjället som ett pärlband. Lägg till grannarna Stöten och Kläppen i var sin ände av dalen, så har du hela Sälenfjällen. Här reder vi ut hur allt hänger ihop – områden, byar och avstånd.

Short answer: this is how Sälen is structured

Tänk dig Sälen i tre nivåer. Nere i dalgången, längs Västerdalälven, ligger Sälens by – den ”riktiga” byn med livsmedelsbutiker, Systembolaget och service året om. Från byn leder Fjällvägen upp på kalfjället, och längs den ligger skidanläggningarna i ordning: först Lindvallen, sedan Högfjället, därefter Tandådalen och sist Hundfjället. Lindvallen och Högfjället sitter ihop i ett liftsystem, Tandådalen och Hundfjället i ett annat – med skidbuss emellan. Söder om Sälens by ligger Kläppen, och nordväst om dalgången, i ett eget vägavsnitt, ligger Stöten. Allt ryms inom ungefär tre mils radie, vilket gör att du når hela utbudet oavsett var i dalgången du väljer att Rent a holiday home in Sälen – men läget avgör hur mycket tid du lägger i bilen.

Sälens village and Sälfjällstorget – the heart of the valley

Sälens by är navet för vardagsservice: här handlar du mat, hämtar ut paket och hittar restauranger som lever året om. Byn ligger vid foten av fjället, och många av dalgångens finaste stugområden ligger på sluttningarna mellan byn och Lindvallen. En bit upp längs Fjällvägen ligger Sälfjällstorget, ett av fjällets viktigaste stråk med restauranger, butiker och puls under säsong. Området kring torget och Gamla Sälfjällstangen kombinerar närhet till backarna med generösa tomter och lugn – här ligger också flera av våra exclusive mountain houses, med kort väg till både byns service och Lindvallens liftar. För en djupare genomgång av dalgångens boendelägen, se vår guide till cottage areas in Sälen.

The four facilities: Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen and Hundfjället

Lindvallen is the largest and most family-friendly resort, with the Experium swimming pool, plenty of on-piste accommodation and a wide range of restaurants. Högfjället, neighbouring Lindvallen and linked via the lift system, offers a classic mountain setting – quieter, with roots in Sälen’s early years of tourism and excellent skiing on the bare mountain slopes. Tandådalen and Hundfjället, furthest along the road, share the lift system and offer the valley’s most varied skiing: Tandådalen with modern lifts and good park skiing, and Hundfjället with a ‘troll forest’ for the children and steep slopes for experienced skiers. Which area suits you best depends on who you’re with – we’ve written a separate guide on which destination suits different travellers.

Distances and journey times between the areas

The distances are short, but worth bearing in mind when choosing accommodation. It is about half a mil from Sälen’s village up to Lindvallen, and from Lindvallen to Högfjället just a few kilometres. The Fjällvägen then continues across the bare mountain towards Tandådalen, about a mil from Högfjället, and from Tandådalen to Hundfjället it is just a couple of kilometres. The entire journey from Sälens by to Hundfjället takes around 20–25 minutes by car on a normal day – allow a little longer during snowfall and during the rush at cottage changeover days. During the season, there is also a ski bus running between the resorts, free of charge with a valid SkiPass pass, so you’ll be fine without a car once you’re there. You’ll find exact distances and tips for each section in our article on the distances between the ski resorts.

Where are the cottages? How to select a location on the map

Accommodation at Sälen is available in three different types of flats. Closest to the lifts, up by the facilities, you’ll find yourself with your skis right on your doorstep – the most convenient option for a pure skiing holiday. On the slopes between the village and the mountains, around Sälfjällstorget and Gamla Sälfjällstangen, you’ll find larger houses and more privacy, yet still just a few minutes from both the slopes and amenities – this is where many of the valley’s most exclusive mountain homes are situated. Down in or near the village of Sälen, this is the best place to stay if year-round amenities and restaurants are your top priority – and in summer, the village locations are often the most practical, with hiking trails, the river and cycle paths right on your doorstep. If you want to be able to get out of the car and be in the lift queue five minutes later, you should stay near the ski slope; if you’re looking for a house where guests can gather round the sauna and a long table, hillside locations often offer the best of both worlds.

Stöten and Kläppen – the neighbours in the valley

The Sälen mountains are more than just the four SkiStar resorts. South of the village of Sälen, just over a mil away, lies Kläppen – a family-run resort known for its generous children’s areas and excellent park skiing. In the other direction, to the north-west of the valley, lies Stöten in its own small valley, with a compact lift system and a good vertical drop. Both are easily accessible by car from anywhere in the valley and make excellent day-trip destinations for those looking to add some variety to their skiing week – if you’re staying in the centre of Sälen, you’ll have the full range of options within easy reach, and can choose a resort depending on the day’s weather and your mood. In summer, the same map transforms into hiking trails, cycle paths and fishing spots; our website Explore Sälen shows what the valley has to offer beyond skiing.

Sammanfattning – hitta rätt på Sälens karta

The most important thing to remember about the geography of Sälen:

• The village of Sälens lies in the valley and is the hub for services – Systembolaget, shops and year-round life.
• The mountain road links the facilities in the following order: Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen, Hundfjället.
• Lindvallen–Högfjället share a lift system, as do Tandådalen–Hundfjället; the ski bus connects everything.
• The entire journey from the village to Hundfjället takes 20–25 minutes by car; nothing in the valley is far away.
• Stöten and Kläppen are separate neighbouring sites – easy to reach for a day out.
• Choose a location based on your group’s priorities: by the lift, on the slopes around Sälfjällstorget, or down in the village.

Med kartan över Sälen på plats i huvudet blir resten enkelt – och vill du ha personlig hjälp att välja rätt läge för ert sällskap vet vi exakt var i dalgången ni får ut mest av er vistelse.