World’s Most Northerly Ski Area Opens for 2022 Season

The world’s most northerly full ski area has opened for its 2022 ski season today, 29th January.

The volunteer-run Nordvågen ski area on Norway’s North Cape is located far north of the Arctic  Circle and hundreds of kilometres north too of internationally better known ski areas like Narvik and Riksgransen.

It opens each year as the period of 24-hour night at its latitude begins to end although its slopes are fully floodlit anyway.

There are two varied slopes served by a modern 837 metre long T Bar lift.

“We have an alpine cabin with ski rental and a small cafe which is also run on a voluntary basis,” a statement from the Nordkapp Alpinklubb (North Cape Alpine Club) which runs the centre explains, adding, “On the whole we have EVERYTHING.”

There is one known ski lift further north than Nordvågen on the Svalbard Islands, but it is a short lift used by local children rather than a ski area per se. However a longer lift has recently been delivered there creating a more permanent facility.

But at 70°58′49″N Nordvågen is the only proper ski area lying above 70 degrees north. There are hotels.

The centre reports about 80 people turned out for opening day.