Hemavan is a secluded ski resort in Swedish Västerbotten. It is the southern trailhead for the Kungsleden trail. The nature reserve of the Vindelfjällen fell area is close.
Understand
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The fell area around Hemavan is an important destination, with the nature reserve of Vindelfjällen to the north and east the largest in Sweden, at 5,500 km2 (2,100 sq mi).
The ski resorts of Hemavan and Tärnaby (20 km away) form the biggest centre for downhill skiing in Sweden. The pists have among the biggest height differences in Sweden. The highest fell, Norra Storfjället, reaches 1,768 m (5,801 ft). Most tourist facilities are owned by a single company, Hemavan Alpint.
Hemavan itself is in the lowlands in the valley of the Ume river, by the lake Ahasjön. The area is a nationally important cultural landscape. Hemavan and its surroundings belong to the municipality Storuman. The Norwegian border is some 40 km away.
The first tourists came in the 1930s, as the road along the Ume river, continuing to Norway, was improved. The first ski lift was built 1954.
Get in
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The Tärnaby ski resort is 20 km to the south-east. The municipal centre Storuman is 150 km to the south-east, Mo i Rana in Norway 100 km to the north-west.
By car
[edit]Hemavan is at the Blue Highway between Russian Petrozavodsk and Mo i Rana in Norway.
By bus
[edit]Buses go between Umeå (which has fast trains) at the Swedish coast and Hemavan [1]. There is also an overnight bus from Stockholm [2][dead link]. There are no public buses to Norway from Hemavan.
By plane
[edit]- 1 Hemavan Tärnaby Airport (HMV IATA) (1 km from the centre). Closed in summer. A small airport, with flights from Stockholm.
The airports in Mo i Rana, Vilhelmina and Umeå are other options.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 Botanic garden of alpine plants (Fjällbotaniska trädgården).
- Vindelfjällen visitor centre (Naturum Vindelfjällen).
- 2 Hemavan church.
Do
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In winter
[edit]- Downhill skiing. Including off-pist heliskiing.
- Cross-country skiing.
- Lapplandsleden (below) has one route for hiking, one for skiing, mostly coinciding. No maintained tracks.
In summer
[edit]- Hiking.
- Kungsleden. The most famous hiking trail in Sweden, 440 km, to the north through the Laponia national park system and ending in Abisko, close to Kebnekaise.
- Drottningleden. 10 km hiking trail to Laisaliden.
- Lapplandsleden. Came by Kungsleden and want some more fell hiking? Lapplandsleden, inaugurated in the 2020s, leads southward to Borgafjäll at the southern border of Swedish Lappland, in Dorotea. Although there are a few cabins on the 190 km, a tent is needed, as are adequate skills. At the lean-to shelters overnighting and using the firewood is allowed only in emergencies.
- Kungsleden. The most famous hiking trail in Sweden, 440 km, to the north through the Laponia national park system and ending in Abisko, close to Kebnekaise.
- 1 Vindelfjällen.
- Tours and excursions. The Vindelfjällen visitor centre arranges tours and excursions. Check dates.
- Mountain biking. Some of the ski lifts can be used for bikes in the summer season.
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]There are hotels, cabins etc. in Hemavan. There are wilderness huts in Vindelfjällen, although a tent gives you more freedom to choose your routes.
Connect
[edit]Go next
[edit]| Routes through Hemavan |
| END ← Mo i Rana ← | NW  SE
|
→ Tärnaby → Storuman → Umeå |