Where can you go lake ice skating in Southern Sweden?
Winter is coming, and if the Swedish Meteorologic and Hydrologic Institute (SMHI) is to be believed, it is going to be even colder than last year.
For reference, last year in Sweden was one of the coldest on record -- lake Vättern froze in a radius of 30 km or so around Jönköping, and I've seen speed skaters crossing the waters from Bankeryd to Huskvarna -- a good 5-10 km run. I tried skating myself, for the first time in my life, and that.. didn't end too well, but it was tons of fun.
Image source - my private collection
This year, I'm much more prepared, and since it's so much more fun than a regular ice rink, I was wondering which lakes in southern Sweden (everything in a radius of 300 km around Jönköping) freeze routinely and are used for ice skating in the winter.
Since my friends and I are fairly new to this, I'd like to stick to more frequented lakes, to be able to get assistance if needed.
Best Answer
I know that Lake Mälaren, in downtown Stockholm, is accessible to ice skaters in winter. But Google Maps disqualifies it as being 324km far from Jönköping.
And for assistance or guided tours on natural ice, you can check Ice Guide.
Pictures about "Where can you go lake ice skating in Southern Sweden?"
Is there ice skating in Sweden?
Ice skating in Swedish nature cannot be compared with skating in an indoor skate rink. For Nordic skating or tour skating, skates with longer blades are used and the distances are usually longer. Hence long-distance skating ('l\xe5ngf\xe4rdsskridskor'). Keep it safe and follow local safety regulations.Where can you skate in Sweden?
Sweden's Top 10 Spots to Go Nordic Skating- Bohusl\xe4n. Unsurprisingly, the skating season starts in the north, where the cold hits first. ...
- Flosj\xf6n. This lake in Dalarna is found northeast of the village of Dola-Floda. ...
- Lake Runn. ...
- Svegssj\xf6n. ...
- Bergslagskanalen.
Does Sweden have frozen lakes?
Skating on clear ice across a frozen lake is a unique way to enjoy the beauty of a Swedish winter. In the wintertime, Sweden's extensive network of lakes and archipelago waters make up a labyrinth of ice just waiting to be explored.Can you go ice skating in Switzerland?
If you're interested in skating on a frozen lake in Switzerland, the best time to go is between December and March. By this time, the ice is thick and safe enough to skate on. Not every lake in Switzerland freezes over. It often depends on the size of the lake and its altitude.Ice Skating on a Frozen Lake in Sweden
More answers regarding where can you go lake ice skating in Southern Sweden?
Answer 2
I'm not in Sweden and I've only seen Vättern in summer, but I've been reading a lot about skating in Sweden.
Here is an on-line guide of skating lakes to the north-east.
NOTE: In the chapter on Vättern it says that IT IS IRRESPONSIBLE to go out on Vättern if wind speed is over 6 m/sec (about 20 km/hr or 10 knots) because the ice tends to break up. The wide part of the lake only freezes over about one year in six.
It is strongly recommended that one join a skating club that knows what they are doing. As others have suggested check the club list on skridsko-net. Try SVL or a local chapter of Friluftsfrämjandet.
Answer 3
Vättern only rarely freezes, and is always quite dangerous to skate on. There are many smaller lakes in the area. For example Västersjön by the airport freezes most winters and is quite popular. As always, read up on ice skating safety and what equipment you need.
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Images: Fieke van Slooten, Nextvoyage, Jonathan Petersson, Efrem Efre