Short answer
Björnrike is Vemdalen's south-facing family area, with the big Björnvallen children's area, Valle's mini park and Sameland. Valle's ski school takes children aged three to nine and meets in Björnvallen, and children up to and including age six ski free. SkiPass Vemdalen is also valid in Vemdalsskalet, Klövsjö and Storhogna.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Sweden, Härjedalen
- Ski area
- Vemdalen
- Train
- Snälltåget's night train to Röjan, then a bus transfer
What there is for children in Björnrike
| What | For whom | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Björnvallen | The youngest and beginners | Magic carpet, easy slopes, sledging hill, restaurant, toilets and warming hut |
| Valle's forest trail and music studio | Children who can handle easy slopes | Valle's own courses, in the middle of Björnvallen |
| Valle's mini park | Children who want to try jumping | Simple jumps and rails, and a green line everyone can manage |
| Sameland | The whole family | An area where the children get an insight into Sami culture and history |
| Valle's ski school | Ages three to nine | Meeting point at Nalleliften (G) or Rullband Björnvallen (M) |
| Grizzly Express | Children who ride lifts on their own | Sweden's longest express lift, with green runs all the way from the top |
| SkiStar Snow Park | Bigger children and parents | At the very top of the area, with green, red and black jumps |
Disco with Valle takes place on Wednesdays in weeks 2–9 for children aged four to ten. The ski school's meeting point is given in your booking confirmation.
Of Vemdalen's three ski areas, Björnrike is the one built around families with children. The slopes face south, which gives long, bright days in February and March, and the Björnvallen children's area is one of the biggest in Vemdalen. How Björnrike compares with Vemdalsskalet and Klövsjö is covered in the guide to Vemdalen. This page is only about Björnrike and what applies to a family with children aged two to ten.
A south-facing area, ten minutes from the village
Björnrike is about ten minutes from Vemdalen village and is a ski area in its own right. It is not linked to Vemdalsskalet or Klövsjö by lifts, so you will need a car or the ski bus if you want to ski at the neighbours' one day.
Most of the runs are blue or red, but green slopes run all the way from the top. From every lift exit you can choose an easier or a harder way down. That is why Björnrike works when the family skis at different levels: the parent with the five-year-old takes the green, and the ten-year-old can take a red and meet up at the same lift further down.
You get to the top on the Grizzly Express, Sweden's longest express lift, and it is the one that takes the whole family up. At the very top there is also the SkiStar Snow Park, with green, red and black jumps and rails.
Björnvallen – the children's part of the mountain
Björnvallen is Björnrike's children's area and the place you will spend the most time with small children. Here you'll find:
- a magic carpet and easy slopes for those standing on skis for the first time
- Valle's forest trail and Valle's music studio, Valle's own courses for children who can handle the easy slopes
- Valle's mini park with simple jumps and rails, and a green line everyone can manage
- a sledging hill for breaks between runs
- Sameland, where the children get an insight into Sami culture and history.
Björnvallen also has a restaurant, toilets and a warming hut. So a four-year-old with cold hands can warm up without the family having to go down to the centre.
Stay as close to Björnvallen as you can. That is where the ski school meets, that is where the children want to be, and it is nice not to have to carry two pairs of skis and a sledge across half the area at nine in the morning.
Valle's ski school – for ages three to nine
The ski school in Björnrike is run by SkiStar, and the children's groups go by the name Valle's ski school. It takes children aged three to nine and groups them by level. The children learn to turn, brake and ride lifts, and they learn Valle's skiing rules. At the end of the week they get a Valle certificate and a ski licence.
In Björnrike the ski school meets at two places in Björnvallen:
- at Nalleliften (G on the piste map)
- at Rullband Björnvallen (M on the piste map).
Which one applies to your child is shown in your booking confirmation, and there are meeting-point signs on site. Arrive in good time on the first morning, as that is when it is most chaotic.
During lessons, the children are covered by accident insurance through the ski school. From age seven, a child needs their own SkiPass to attend ski school, so book the pass at the same time as the lessons. An example of how a ski school outside SkiStar works is Idre Fjäll ski school.
Valle after the ski day
On Wednesdays in weeks 2–9 there is Disco with Valle for children aged four to ten. It is run by Valle's childcare, and the parents get a bit of time to themselves in the meantime. Valle's childcare is new in Vemdalen this winter, so check in the booking which days and times apply for your week.
SkiPass Vemdalen – free up to and including age six
The lift pass in Björnrike is called SkiPass Vemdalen and is valid in all four areas: Vemdalsskalet, Björnrike, Klövsjö and Storhogna. Together they have 62 runs and 44 lifts.
- Children up to and including age six ski free.
- From age seven, children have their own pass in the child and youth category, which applies up to age 17.
- The pass is cheapest when you book online, and booking early lowers the price. Current prices are shown when you book.
The SkiStar Bus runs between the ski areas and from your cabin to the lift, and the SkiPass works as a bus ticket. The timetables for the 2026/27 season will be published closer to winter. If you only want to ski in Klövsjö and Storhogna, there is a cheaper destination pass, and the difference is explained in Klövsjö with children.
Accommodation, food and the rhythm of the week
Björnrike has cabins and apartments close to the slopes, and several of them are right by the lift. There are restaurants and ski hire by the lifts, so you can leave the car parked all week. It's best to shop for the week's food on the way there, or down in Vemdalen village, about ten minutes away.
A week in Björnrike easily falls into a routine: ski school in the morning, lunch in Björnvallen, sledging or Valle's forest trail in the afternoon and sunshine on the slopes until the lifts close. A tip is to save the Snow Park and the red slopes at the top for the days when the ski school is looking after the youngest. There are more ideas for days without skiing in ski holiday without skiing.
Getting to Björnrike
From Stockholm it is around 490 kilometres to Vemdalen. If you are heading to Björnrike, the route via Bollnäs, Ljusdal and Sveg is slightly shorter than the route via Järvsö, and from Gothenburg you drive via Mora and Sveg.
Without a car:
- Night train: in winter, Snälltåget runs to Röjan, and a transfer takes you on to Vemdalen in between fifteen minutes and an hour. How it works with children and luggage is explained in train to the mountains.
- Bus: the regional Länstrafiken line 631 between Sveg and Funäsdalen stops in Björnrike.
The season in Vemdalen starts with the ski opening on 26–29 November 2026. You can see which week your municipality has its winter sports break (sportlov) in winter sports break 2027.
Björnrike or another mountain resort?
Björnrike suits families with small children who want to stay by the slopes, have a big children's area and get lots of sun. It is less suitable if you want a lively village outside the door, because skiing is precisely Björnrike's strength. If you would rather have a genuine mountain village, Klövsjö is on the same SkiPass. Further south in Härjedalen there is Lofsdalen with children, and to the west Funäsdalen with children. More Swedish mountain resorts are compared in ski trips in Sweden, and what the children need to bring is in the ski trip packing list.
Before Björnrike with children
Frequently asked questions
Do children ski free in Björnrike?
Yes. Children up to and including age six ski free in SkiStar's areas, and that applies in Björnrike as in the rest of Vemdalen. From age seven, children need their own SkiPass, including to attend ski school.
Where does the ski school meet in Björnrike?
In Björnvallen, where there are two meeting points – at Nalleliften (G) and at Rullband Björnvallen (M). Which one applies to your child is shown in your booking confirmation.
From what age do children go to Valle's ski school?
Valle's ski school takes children aged three to nine, in groups by level. The children are covered by accident insurance during lessons and get a Valle certificate and a ski licence at the end of the week.
Is the lift pass in Björnrike also valid in Klövsjö and Vemdalsskalet?
SkiPass Vemdalen is valid in Vemdalsskalet, Björnrike, Klövsjö and Storhogna. The areas are not linked by lifts, but the SkiStar Bus runs between them and the SkiPass works as a bus ticket.
Is there anything for children in the evening in Björnrike?
Yes. On Wednesdays in weeks 2–9 there is Disco with Valle for children aged four to ten, run by Valle's childcare, while the parents get a bit of time to themselves.
How do you get to Björnrike without a car?
Snälltåget's night train runs to Röjan in winter, and a transfer takes you on to Vemdalen. Länstrafiken's bus 631 between Sveg and Funäsdalen also stops in Björnrike.
