Winter activities for the whole family
Vesterålen can offer a lot of winter activities for the whole family.
Skiing in Vesterålen
Vesterålen can offer beautiful lights and untouched nature in a breathtaking setting. The region is the perfect place for skitouring, free-riding or just a relaxing cross-country trip under the northern lights.
Ski season
Vesterålen usually gets the first snowfall in the beginning of October, and the polar night begins in November.
During this period the sky is colored in purple, red and pink, and we are blessed to have the wonderful Aurora Borealis dancing on the sky here in the north. If you go outside in this beautiful light, you will get a great photo motif as your skiing backdrop. Please note that it is dark for a large part of the day during the winter and you may need headlamps and other outdoor equipment.
The sun will return in late February, and the temperature will become somewhat milder. The snow in Vesterålen gradually melts from April onwards, but you can go skiing as long as the snow is still here. There are usually perfect skiing conditions in Vesterålen in Easter time.
Skiing for novices
All the municipalities in Vesterålen (Sortland, Bø, Øksnes, Hadsel and Andøy) have one or more easy skiing trail that you can use, alongside longer prepared and lit trails for cross-country skiing. The ski clubs in the region have different events you can attend.
Sortland also has a ski resort that can be used, Ånstadblåheia Skitrekk. The resort has a lift and three different routes.
Safety
In Vesterålen you can go skitouring and free-riding in all types of mountains. You must have good knowledge about local avalanche warnings, snow conditions and weather before heading out in the snowy mountainsides. In the most extreme mountains we recommend that you hire a guide that has good knowledge of terrain, snow depth etc. Always check the weather conditions, skis, equipment and plan your trip with your own skills in mind before you go on your snowy adventure. Tell people where you plan to go and talk to locals if you are in unknown terrain. Remember to bring warm clothes, preferably with a wool base layer, fleece mid layer and windproof shell layer.
