Riksgransen Ski Resort
If Björkliden represents the calm, panoramic side of Lapland, Riksgränsen is its untamed counterpart.
High above the Arctic Circle, where the mountains rise directly from the borderlands between Norway and Sweden, lies one of the world’s most iconic ski destinations: Riksgränsen. Legendary among skiers and snowboarders, this remote mountain resort has shaped Scandinavian ski culture for decades, celebrated for its deep snow, playful terrain, and a season that stretches far beyond the ordinary.
Here, winter lasts longer. Much longer. While most of Europe stores its skis away, Riksgränsen is still carving turns. In May and June, skiers glide across sun-warmed snow beneath a glowing midnight sun, a surreal and unforgettable Arctic experience.
Riksgränsen is more than a ski resort. It is a lifestyle defined by freedom, creativity, and life lived close to the forces of the mountains.
Legendary, Grand, and Wild
Riksgränsen attracts adventurers from across the globe. Dramatic peaks, vast snowfields, and a raw, untamed atmosphere define the landscape. The mountains feel immediate and uncompromising, yet welcoming to those who approach them with respect. With a strong focus on sustainability and harmony with nature, life here unfolds on the mountains’ terms. Days are dictated by weather, snow, and light; nights often end with shared stories, music, and laughter beneath Arctic skies.
A Playground for Freeriders
With 31 runs and six lifts, Riksgränsen offers a wide spectrum of skiing, from rolling pistes to steep, technical faces. Its true character, however, lies beyond the groomed slopes. Internationally renowned for off-piste terrain, the area is shaped by natural gullies, cliff bands, wind-formed bowls, and wide-open freeride lines.
The maritime Arctic snowpack delivers conditions freeriders dream of: deep, stable, and forgiving. This terrain has made Riksgränsen a recurring stage for influential ski films and competitions, including the legendary Scandinavian Big Mountain Championship.
One of Europe’s Longest Ski Seasons
Riksgränsen traditionally opens in February, as daylight returns to the far north, and stays open until early summer, offering one of Europe’s longest and most varied ski seasons. February to April brings deep winter conditions, storm skiing, and classic Arctic powder days. May and June deliver sunny laps, soft snow, music on the slopes, and the magic of skiing beneath the midnight sun.
Skiing at one in the morning, in full daylight, is not an exception here, it’s a tradition many return for year after year.
A Culture All Its Own
Riksgränsen’s atmosphere is famously inclusive and relaxed. Professionals, families, filmmakers, and first-time visitors share lift rides and après-ski tables. Sweden’s strong snowboard culture is deeply rooted, shaped by terrain that rewards creativity and play. With more than 60 surrounding peaks and over 1,200 metres of vertical terrain, the mountains themselves remain the main attraction; vast, demanding, and endlessly inspiring.
Families and First-Timers Too
Despite its freeride reputation, Riksgränsen is also accessible and welcoming to beginners. Ski schools for all ages, gentle learning areas, and easy lifts create a supportive environment for newcomers. Affordable accommodation close to the slopes allows families to stay right in the heart of the experience, while children build confidence on snow and parents enjoy the dramatic mountain scenery that defines the resort.
Experiences Beyond the Slopes
Adventure here extends well beyond skiing. Winter and spring offer snowmobile tours across Arctic plateaus, ice fishing on frozen lakes, and Northern Lights experiences early in the season. When spring arrives, outdoor terraces fill with skiers in sunglasses, and the legendary après-ski comes alive with live music and long afternoons drifting seamlessly into evening.
Stay, Eat, and Recharge
Accommodation in Riksgränsen is flexible and characterful, from Hotel Riksgränsen to the historic Meteorologen Ski Lodge, along with hostels, apartments, and a campsite for those wanting to stay closest to nature.
Food plays a central role in life here, from sunny burgers and pizzas at Lappis to refined dinners at Meteorologen and local flavours at Lapplandia, with quick bites at Nordalsköket, relaxed après-ski at Grönan, and mountain meals at Låktatjåkko Fjällstation. After a day outdoors, Riksgränsen SPA offers a contrasting calm.
A Place Shaped by History
Born from the iron ore railway connecting Kiruna to the ice-free port of Narvik, Riksgränsen evolved from a remote border station into one of Scandinavia’s most respected off-piste destinations. Founded in the early 1900s, it later became home to Sweden’s oldest ski school, shaping generations of alpine pioneers.
That skiing is still possible here around midsummer is something that, for the uninitiated, simply must be experienced.
Easy Access to the Arctic
The SJ train from Narvik or Kiruna stops directly at the resort, while buses and the scenic E10 provide easy access by road.
From the border mountains, the journey continues toward the fjord, where Arctic skiing takes on an entirely different form.
This is Riksgränsen, wild, iconic, and unforgettable.