Skiing in Huså: the Dark side of Åre
The underground off-piste on the other side of Åre
Location: Jämtland, Sweden
Introduction
So you like to ski fresh snow in the forest, hate crowds, think that one lift is enough, and want to be alone for a while – welcome to Huså. Located on the northern side of Mount Åreskutan, this could not be more of an opposite to the Åre ski system. Not only is it ”on the other side of the mountain,” practically everything is the exact opposite, but sometimes in a good way.
The Small Off-Piste Area close to Åre
Perhaps it is too small a destination even to have a ’ski system’ – in reality, it is not really a system, much more a ski lift that takes you up at a slow pace and a couple of pistes that can transport you back to the bottom. If you are a hardcore piste fan, you will probably be disappointed. This is not the resort you go to for spending hours in the piste. They do not have artificial snow, so they have to count on natural snow, and the grooming can sometimes be underperforming.
However, the reason to go to Huså is not for skiing endless pistes – and the operators know this. Huså excels when there is a big storm and Åre, and the surrounding areas are closed. Usually, what happens then is that quite a lot of the snow deposits in Huså instead and provides visitors with a good amount of powder skiing in the trees.
Because of this, we recommend Huså as a mid-season destination or possibly going to Åre and having this destination in the back pocket if the weather is not perfect in Åre. Should you opt for this idea, you can also go to the top of the Skistar Åres system, take the 20-minute hike to the top of the mountain, then ski down to Huså on the north side. This gives you precisely 1000 meters (3280 feet) of vertical skiing in gently sloping terrain.
To get back again, you can book the snowmobile transport back to the ski system you started in. Another option is to take a taxi around the mountain.
Bydalen: The 5th Largest Ski Resort in Sweden
Perhaps because it is a strategic location just an hour from Östersund or because it is one of the best ski areas in the eastern part of the Swedish-Norwegian mountain range. That means when the precipitation comes from the east, this is where it all deposits. Bydalen is not run by a big corporation with many greedy shareowners, which means they can run things like they want to – not according to what gives them the most money.
Åre: The Ski Capitol of Scandinavia
The largest ski system in Scandinavia offers plenty of opportunities to ski well-groomed pistes and powder – the resort has everything you need for both the party people and the family. Åre has long been the go-to place for everyone looking to experience a glimpse of Scandinavian ski culture with a lovely village vibe. This is the place to go if you value good hotels and excellent cuisine. If you want to experience many different activities, Åre has got you covered. If you prefer a big mountain off-piste, there is that. Welcome to Åre and see for yourself.
Kittelfjäll: The Powder Village
Powder ski resorts have their charm. Usually, they are a bit slumbering, and there is not much else to do unless it’s snowing heavily. Often you can ask yourself, ”What do people work with around here?” or ”Do people live here all year?” but the slumbering townfolks wake to life when the powder conditions strike – and in Kittelfjäll, the chance of skiing excellent snow excels!