Sälen or Funäsdalen and Ramundberget – which suits you best?

Sälen or Funäsdalen? In a nutshell: Funäsfjällen is higher, further north and more distinctly situated on högfjället, with Sweden’s best cross-country ski trail network and an early season. Sälen is considerably closer to the Mälardalen region, has four interconnected downhill resorts and the country’s widest range of private mountain chalets. If cross-country skiing is your priority, the choice is simple – head north.

Here we compare the two mountain regions in terms of journey time, slopes, trails, snow and accommodation. If you’re a larger group, the question of accommodation is crucial: finding a a large mountain chalet for the group is considerably easier in Sälenfjällen than in the westernmost corner of Härjedalen.

Quick comparison: Sälen or Funäsdalen at a glance

The differences that carry the most weight:

• Journey time from Stockholm: Sälen: approximately 4.5–5 hours – Funäsdalen: approximately 7 hours.
• Cross-country skiing: Funäsfjällen has Sweden’s largest contiguous network of trails – Sälen has a well-groomed but smaller network.
• Downhill skiing: Sälen has more runs grouped together under a single ski pass system – Funäsfjällen has several separate resorts with roads running between them.
• Character: Funäsfjällen is open high mountain terrain – Sälenfjällen is more wooded and sheltered from the wind.
• Start of the season: Bruksvallarna and Ramundberget have the country’s earliest cross-country ski trails, often as early as November.
• Accommodation: Sälen has a wider range of large private houses, whilst Funäsfjällen has more traditional mountain cottages.

The geography: Funäsdalen, Ramundberget, Tänndalen and Bruksvallarna

Funäsfjällen is a collective term for several villages in the westernmost part of Härjedalen, near the Norwegian border. Funäsdalen is the main centre, with shops and amenities, and has its own downhill skiing resort at Funäsdalsberget. Ramundberget lies further into the mountains and is the largest downhill skiing resort in the area. Tänndalen and Bruksvallarna are smaller villages with their own skiing facilities and, above all, trailheads connecting to the wider network. The villages are linked by the shared trail network, but you’ll need to drive between the ski resorts. This differs from Sälenfjällen, where Lindvallen, Högfjället, Tandådalen and Hundfjället are linked by lifts and runs under a single lift pass.

Journey time – the key difference for the Mälardalen region

From Stockholm, it takes about two hours longer to get to Funäsdalen than to Sälen, and that difference has consequences. Over a long weekend, it eats into a whole day’s skiing at either end; with small children in the car, the journey verges on what’s feasible in a single day. Over a full week, it becomes less of an issue. If you’re coming from Jämtland, Norrland or Norway, the situation is reversed and Funäsfjällen is the closest destination. The drive up is lovely, but the final few mils are on a mountain road that closes in bad weather – check the road conditions before setting off, especially if you’re travelling in January.

Downhill skiing: vertical drop, variety and lift systems

Ramundberget is a well-developed resort with a bare mountain feel and lovely views, whilst Funäsdalsberget has steeper sections and runs down towards the village. Together, the Funäsfjällen mountains offer a good but separate range of skiing, where you’ll need to drive between the mountains. Sälenfjällen has more runs in total and a variety that means groups with different skiing abilities can ski from the same lift – from large practice areas to steep sections such as Väggen on Hundfjället – without anyone needing a car. For pure downhill skiers, Sälen is the more practical resort; for those who enjoy open mountain scenery and a bit more of a wilderness feel on the slopes, Funäsfjällen offers something that Sälen does not. We’ll look at just how high up Sälenfjällen actually is in how high Sälenfjällen is.

Cross-country skiing, where Funäsfjällen is in a league of its own

Let’s be clear about this: Funäsfjällen is Sweden’s cross-country skiing mecca, and Sälen doesn’t even come close. The interconnected network of trails around Funäsdalen, Tänndalen, Bruksvallarna and Ramundberget is the largest in the country; it is groomed frequently and offers both trails close to the mountains across bare fells and sheltered forest loops. Bruksvallarna and Ramundberget are also the traditional starting point for the Swedish cross-country season, with trails ready as early as November whilst the rest of the country is still waiting. For those training for races, wanting to go on really long sessions or who simply prioritise cross-country skiing, the choice is not a difficult one. Sälen has a well-managed system drawing on the Vasaloppet heritage and close links between accommodation and the trails, which we describe below Sälen’s cross-country skiing track system – but that’s in a different league.

Snow conditions and the early season

Funäsfjällen is situated at a higher altitude and further north, which means natural snow arrives earlier and the season normally lasts a little longer into April. Sälen compensates for this with one of the country’s largest snowmaking capacities, meaning that the first runs open in November even without natural snow and that the snow cover lasts throughout the peak season. In the middle of winter, the difference is practically negligible for downhill skiing. At either end of the season – November and the latter part of April – Funäsfjällen has the advantage, and this is most evident on the cross-country trails. We have reviewed when snow is most likely in Sälen over the season.

Accommodation, price levels and large groups

Funäsfjällen has a range of traditional mountain cottages, flats and hotels, often in excellent locations next to cross-country trails or ski slopes. However, the choice in the larger accommodation category is limited: there are a few houses for fifteen or twenty people, but the standard varies considerably. Sälen offers the full range, including newly built houses with saunas, dining rooms and communal areas for large groups. Prices are otherwise comparable. If you’re travelling with a dog, both resorts are well-equipped, and we’ve put together dog-friendly mountain cottages separately for those who need it.

Summary – Sälen or Funäsdalen, longitude northwards and latitude in Sälen

Please select Funäsfjällen if cross-country skiing is the purpose of your trip, if you want to go in November, if you’re looking for open high-mountain terrain and a quieter resort, or if you live closer to Härjedalen than Dalarna. When it comes to cross-country trails, the area is in a league of its own in Sweden and there’s no reason to choose anywhere else. Choose Sälen whether you’re prioritising downhill skiing on a shared lift pass, whether you want to keep travel time from the Mälardalen region to a minimum, whether your group has mixed skiing abilities, or whether you need a large chalet that can accommodate everyone. Incidentally, many people do both: Funäsfjällen in November for cross-country skiing, and Sälen during the winter half-term for the family. If you’d like help finding the right holiday home in Sälenfjällen, please do get in touch.