Björkliden Ski Resort Sweden
Bjorkliden ski resort in Swedish Lapland is a small piece of Arctic powder paradise near legendary Riksgränsen. Part of a trio of small ski resorts along a lonely railway line, Bjorkliden is on the Powderhounds bucket list for more reasons than just visiting a ski resort in Sweden.
The story goes that during the early 1900s nearby Riksgransen ceased to exist as the population was moved away due to.............. too much snow! Despite what most skiers think, there is such a thing as too much snow - sucks I know. However, what management authorities couldn't deal with 100 years ago, has now become the reason for powder snow and backcountry skiers and riders to converge on the small village & ones near it like Bjorkliden.
Skiing & Snowboarding, Lifts & Terrain
Lifts & terrain wise, like many Scandinavian ski areas, Bjorkliden’s ski trail map looks singularly unimpressive. The reality is skiing here is more than just the 500m vertical off the lifts on groomed trails. It is about an Arctic ski experience combining the lifted terrain with backcountry touring & other activities. Good to know is Bjorkliden's lift pass is valid in Riksgransen. Just to be confusing, the Bjorkliden ski area is also known by the name Fjällby.
Check out the ski trail map for Björkliden-Fjällby below.
Weather conditions in the depths of winter can be brutal at Bjorkliden (but not as bad as Riksgransen) - never mind the lack of sunshine. Hence the ski resort doesn't turn its first lift until the second week of February. Best months for powder in the resort are March and April.
Swedish Lapland has the top 10 highest mountains in Sweden, and most are in the range extending south of Bjorkliden & Riksgransen. The backcountry skiing options in the area are endless.
Heliskiing
From mid-March to the end of May, Bjorkliden has a short, but incredibly sweet, heliski season. Covering an area of 5,000km and 200 peaks, fresh turns & face shots are all but guaranteed. Trips vary from half days with 3 drops or full 7-day packages. Skiable vertical is generally 800m but can be as much as 1,500m further south near Sweden’s highest mountain Kebnekaise. Prices are competitive by world standards. More information on heliskiing at Bjorkliden is coming.
Where is Björkliden Sweden?
Bjorkliden is in Sweden, about 200km north of the Arctic Circle and a paltry 1,366km from Stockholm! Close to the border with Norway, Bjorkliden's closest major cities are Narvik (50min to the west) and Kiruna (2hr to the south-east).
Thankfully, due to a need to move iron ore to the coast, remote Bjorkliden is connected by road & rail to Norway and Sweden. The Arctic Circle Train runs twice daily in both directions between Kiruna and Narvik stopping at Bjorkliden and its sister resort, Riksgransen, as well as Abisko in between.
Search & book train tickets from Narvik, Kiruna or Stockholm to Bjorkliden.
The closest major Swedish airport is Kiruna (KRN) which has several daily flights from Stockholm. From the airport, a bus shuttle can take you directly to the ski resort or you can take your time and catch the train from the station in the Kiruna city centre. An alternative airport is Evenes (EVE) in Norway, also known as the Harstad-Narvik airport. It has flights via Oslo. A bus shuttle will get you to Narvik where the train can complete a journey to Riksgransen. Search & book flights to Evenes or Kiruna here.
Alternatively, for any true lovers of railway journeys, an overnight train makes the epic journey from Stockholm to Bjorkliden and on to Narvik in Norway. The train leaves Stockholm at 5.30pm and arrives at Bjorkliden at 11.00am the next day.
Bjorkliden Accommodation
Björkliden has a small number of basic lodging options at the base of the lifts & near the train station. The 'go to' proposition is the Hotel Fjället. If busy, you may have to opt for a shared bunk room to get a bed somewhere along the train line. Så var det!
Search & book all here for Björkliden ski accommodation.
Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) at Bjorkliden
Another of Björkliden’s geographical benefits is its remoteness (lack of man-made light) and proximity to the stunning phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis (otherwise known as the Northern Lights).
The Northern Lights can be viewed from September to April. Whilst they can occur anywhere in the area, nearby Abisko National Park is touted as the best place in the world to see the phenomenon. You need a clear night with no light (artificial or moon!) & the right solar activity.
Abisko has a chairlift up to a purpose-built viewing area called the Aurora Sky Station. Dinner is available and comes accompanied with all the requisite ooohs & aaahs as the Aurora Borealis shimmers across the night sky. Operating dates for northern lights viewing are from late Nov to late March.
Nearby Ski Resorts
The Riksgransen ski resort has a linked lift pass with Bjorkliden and is 30km to the west. A 30min bus shuttle runs daily between the two resorts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Taking the train to Riksgransen (twice daily) takes about 1hr 15min but is not convenient if looking to use the ski lifts due to arrival & departure times.
Across the border in Norway, nearby Narvik has a stunningly located ski hill, a step from the train station and overlooking the fjords. Called Narvikfjellet, the mountain has over 800m of lift served vertical - amongst the longest in Scandinavia, plus some very tasty off-piste. Ski 'hill' indeed!
We are reliably informed that the nearby Abisko chairlift (rising 500m vertical to the Aurora Sky Station) on Nuolja mountain has some excellent, lift served off-piste skiing and riding without any crowds. It has been described as Sweden’s version of La Grave - as in all freeride, no piste trails (definitely doesn’t have the La Grave extreme terrain). Winter operating of the chairlift during the day is from late February to early May.
Review
The Powderhounds will endeavour to review Björkliden & the rest of Sweden & Norway next season. More information and our photos will follow after we visit. Stay tuned for our photos & insights.
See how the rest of the European ski resorts compare on the Europe ski resort ratings page.
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