The Swedish InsiderA DIFFERENT KIND OF NORTH

Into nature

Solskensturen: A Reason to Let Spring Wait

I usually want to follow the blossom south. On Solskensturen in Funäsfjällen, open mountain views, crisp waffles and a seat in the snow make a case for staying with winter a little longer.

By Lina Skandevall

Published · Updated

A skier in a red jacket follows groomed tracks across open snow-covered hills, with red trail markers and other skiers ahead.
Across the open fells on Solskensturen. Photo: Lina Skandevall

This story recalls my visit during Easter 2024.

I am not really a winter person. When spring arrives, I want to meet it everywhere: wood anemones at home, mimosa in France, almond blossom. I sometimes grumble when the family starts talking about going up to the mountain house in March or April. There are so many other places I want to be at that time of year.

Then there is Solskensturen in Funäsfjällen. Blue sky, warmth from the sun and ski tracks running out across the white hills. This is the sort of spring winter that makes me reconsider.

A skier in a black T-shirt, patterned leggings and mirrored sunglasses stands with poles on a snowy trail.
Spring sunshine on the ski trail. Photo: Lina Skandevall

Up first, then out across the fells

The tour I describe starts in Bruksvallarna and takes you roughly 20 kilometres across groomed mountain terrain. There is a substantial climb at the beginning. After that, what I remember is the pleasure of skiing across those open expanses, with the mountains framing the view and the sun on my face.

The tracks make such clear lines through the snow. Red crosses mark the way, and the skiers ahead become small figures against the hills. I like the whole tour, with a full day set aside to enjoy it slowly.

A waffle, then a sunny wall

A waffle stop is part of the pleasure. Crisp waffles give you energy to keep going, though there is a good argument for sitting still a little longer first. In my photographs, skis stand upright in the snow behind a waffle topped with cream and jam. Nearby, people have settled along the sunny wall of a hut.

A waffle topped with cream and orange-coloured jam on a paper plate, with skis standing in the snow behind it.
A waffle break in the sunshine. Photo: Lina Skandevall
Skiers sit beside a red wooden hut in the snow, with skis and poles standing nearby.
A sunny wall and a pause between stretches of skiing. Photo: Lina Skandevall

Kariknallen, Andersborg and Malmbäcksstugan are the waffle stops I noted along the tour. There are places to pause out on the mountain, too. A solgrop is a hollow in the snow where you can sit and enjoy the sun. I found plenty of those, and made time to sit in one myself.

A woman in a red jacket and patterned leggings sits in a hollow in the snow beneath a blue sky.
Time for a solgrop: a seat in the snow. Photo: Lina Skandevall

My preference is for sunshine and as little wind as possible. Give me those conditions, time for the whole route and pauses along the way, and I am quite happy to let the almond blossom wait.

Planning your own Solskensturen

Destination Funäsfjällen currently lists the standard route as 20 kilometres from Bruksvallarna Arena Syd to Högsta Hållan, with a medium difficulty rating and a Fjällpass requirement. Variants have different endpoints and distances; the endpoint of my own outing is not recorded here.

The high mountain track is groomed from week 7 when weather permits. Check the official Solskensturen page and live trail map for conditions before setting out, and confirm hut opening hours and return transport for your chosen endpoint. These practical details were checked on 22 October 2026; the sunshine and snow in this story describe my visit, not current conditions.