Short answer
Ski Sunne, now called Sunne Ski & Bike, is at Rottneros, just south-west of Sunne in Värmland. The hill has 12 runs, six lifts and a 265-metre vertical drop, and the beginner slopes Smirre and Lill-Smirre have their own button lifts by the rental shop. Kids up to age six ski on a cheap knattekort (a pass for little ones), and ski lessons start at age four. The 2026/27 season runs from 26 December to 28 March.
Quick facts
- Country / region
- Sweden, Värmland
- Ski area
- Rottneros, Sunne municipality
- Lifts
- 6
- Season
- 26 December 2026 – 28 March 2027
- Train
- Värmlandstrafik train line 74 Karlstad–Kil–Sunne–Torsby, then a taxi
Ski Sunne's slopes for a family with kids
| Slope | Length | Difficulty | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lill-Smirre | 80 m | Very easy, own button lift | The very first day on skis |
| Smirre | 150 m | Very easy, own button lift | Kids who have learned to stop |
| Ullas väg and Akka | 550 m each | Easy | First runs from a bigger lift |
| Hertigen | 1,800 m | Easy | The longest run, for when your child can manage a whole descent |
| Ekeby, Kavaljeren, Patron and Rävsvansen | 650–900 m | Intermediate | Kids who turn and stop safely |
| Sintram and Övre Patron | 300–700 m | Difficult | Bigger children and parents |
The difficulty ratings are the resort's own. Check the piste map for the colours, and check which slopes are open on the day.
Ski Sunne is a ski hill you visit for a day or a weekend, not for a whole week. It's at Rottneros, about ten kilometres south-west of Sunne, and has 12 runs, six lifts and a vertical drop of 265 metres. For a family in Värmland, or in Oslo, it's a just-right first ski hill: the beginner slopes are right by the rental shop, and nobody has to walk far in ski boots.
The resort is now called Sunne Ski & Bike and is run by JJDN Group AB. The previous company went bankrupt in 2023, and the hill has had a new owner since then. In summer, the same lifts serve a bike park.
Ski Sunne isn't Hovfjället
Two ski hills in Värmland are often mixed up. Ski Sunne is in Fryksdalen, just outside Sunne. Hovfjället is in Torsby municipality, about 25 kilometres north of Torsby, with accommodation near the lifts and cross-country trails in a nature reserve. They're about 70 kilometres apart.
Hovfjället is better suited to a longer stay with cross-country skiing. Ski Sunne suits day trips and weekends, with accommodation by the slopes if you want to stay the night.
The slopes – Smirre, Akka and Gösta Berling
The slope names will be familiar from Selma Lagerlöf, who grew up in the area. Smirre and Akka come from Nils Holgersson, while Kavaljeren, Sintram and Ekeby belong to Gösta Berling's Saga. For kids who have read or listened to the books, every new slope becomes a little discovery.
The beginner slopes are Lill-Smirre, 80 metres, and Smirre, 150 metres. Both have their own button lifts and are right by the rental shop. Once your child can manage them, the easy slopes Ullas väg and Akka are waiting, and then Hertigen, which is 1,800 metres long and the longest run.
The lift system consists of a chairlift, three T-bars (Ekeby 1, Ekeby 2 and Akkaliften) and the two button lifts. On the T-bars, your child needs to be able to ride alongside an adult or be tall enough to ride alone. The difficult side, Sintram and Övre Patron, is for older kids and parents. There's also a fun park with jumps and rails.
Ski lessons from age four
The ski school has three group lessons for kids, all 55 minutes long:
- Ages 4–7, beginners. This is where complete newcomers to skiing start.
- Ages 8–12, beginners. For older kids starting from scratch.
- Ages 6–14, improvers. For kids who can already get themselves down.
There are also 60-minute private lessons, on skis or a snowboard. The days each group runs are shown in the booking, so check before you decide which weekend to go.
Lift passes – even for the youngest
This is where Ski Sunne differs from many other ski hills. Everyone who skis needs their own lift pass, including the youngest. Kids up to and including age six ski on the knattekort, which is cheap. The youth pass covers ages seven to 16 inclusive and costs less than the adult pass.
The lift passes are digital. You get a QR code in your order confirmation and show it on your phone at the lift. The passes are personal and can be checked against BankID or ID, so everyone in the family needs their own codes.
Season passes are cheaper if you buy in October or November. From 1 December, the standard price applies.
The rental shop opens half an hour before the lifts and closes half an hour after. A helmet is always included when you rent, and it pays to book the day before.
Opening hours 2026/27
The season starts on 26 December 2026 and ends on 28 March 2027.
- Christmas holidays, 26 December–11 January: open every day, lifts 9.30–15.30. On Saturdays, Ekeby, Smirre and Lill-Smirre run until 17.
- From 12 January: open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, lifts 9.30–16 and until 17 on Saturdays. Monday to Thursday it's closed during the day.
- Evening skiing: Tuesdays and Thursdays 18–20 from 19 January. The restaurant is closed in the evenings.
- Sportlov (the Swedish February school break), weeks 6–9: open every day. Schools in Värmland have sportlov in week 9.
- Easter: open from Good Friday to Easter Sunday, 26–28 March.
Food, barbecues and sledging
The restaurant has a play corner and serves pizza and hot chocolate, among other things. The warming hut at Ekeby is in the same building as the rental shop. You can eat your own packed food there and leave bags. The barbecue spots are below Ekeby, at the top of the chairlift and below Ullas väg. At the tipi on the snow square, a fire burns during the day. There's a baby changing table in the toilet by the restaurant.
The free sledging hill is at the end of the Ekebybacken slope, on the left by the car park next to the caravan site. Sledges aren't available to rent, so bring your own.
Accommodation by the slopes
By the slopes there's Ekeby hostel, Kavaljersflygeln with 14 beds and Hånsjögården at the entrance, as well as camping with and without electric hook-up. A sauna can be rented. There are hotels, a manor house and cabins nearby.
Getting there
- From Karlstad: just over 60 kilometres north towards Sunne, about an hour.
- From Gothenburg: just under 300 kilometres, allow around four hours.
- From Oslo: just under 200 kilometres east, around three hours.
Without a car, you can take Värmlandstrafik train line 74, which runs between Karlstad, Kil, Sunne and Torsby and stops at Rottneros. From there, take a taxi for the last stretch to the slopes. Trafikverket (the Swedish Transport Administration) is planning track replacement between Kil and Rottneros in spring and summer 2027, so check the timetable before an Easter trip.
Ski Sunne or a bigger resort?
Ski Sunne is a day-trip ski hill. If you want a week with accommodation right on the piste and several kids' areas, Branäs in northern Värmland is the next step. From Gothenburg, there are shorter day trips in ski slopes near Gothenburg.
All the resorts are in ski trips in Sweden. Before your first time, the guide to your family's first ski trip is a good read. You can see which week your municipality has its school break in sportlov 2027 (Swedish February ski break).
Before Ski Sunne with kids
Frequently asked questions
Do kids ski free at Ski Sunne?
No, not entirely. Everyone who skis needs their own lift pass, but kids up to and including age six ski on the knattekort, which costs considerably less than a youth pass. The youth pass covers ages seven to 16 inclusive. Current prices are shown when you book.
From what age can kids go to ski school at Ski Sunne?
From age four. The beginners' lesson for ages 4–7 lasts 55 minutes, and older beginners go in the group for ages 8–12. Kids between six and 14 who can already ski go in the improvers' group. Private lessons are also available.
Is Ski Sunne open on weekdays?
During the Christmas holidays, 26 December–11 January, and the sportlov weeks 6–9, the hill is open every day. In other weeks it's open Friday to Sunday, plus evening skiing on Tuesdays and Thursdays 18–20 from 19 January.
Are Ski Sunne and Hovfjället the same ski resort?
No. Ski Sunne is at Rottneros, just outside Sunne. Hovfjället is in Torsby municipality, about 25 kilometres north of Torsby, and is a separate resort with its own accommodation. They're about 70 kilometres apart.
How long does it take to drive to Ski Sunne from Gothenburg?
Allow just under 300 kilometres and around four hours. From Karlstad it's just over 60 kilometres, about an hour, and from Oslo just under 200 kilometres and around three hours.
Is there a sledging hill at Ski Sunne?
Yes, a free sledging hill at the end of the Ekebybacken slope, on the left by the car park next to the caravan site. Sledges aren't available to rent, so bring your own sledge or bum sledge. It opens when snow conditions allow.
