Hlíðarfjall Ski Resort

About Hlíðarfjall Ski Resort

Hlíðarfjall is the Akureyri ski resort, and on a clear winter evening you can ski floodlit runs while the lights of the town glow below you. The ski area sits on the slopes of Hlíðarfjall mountain, about 15 minutes' drive up Hlíðarfjallsvegur from central Akureyri in North Iceland.

The resort has 26 marked pistes graded green, blue, red and black, plus groomed cross-country tracks from 1.2 to 10 km. According to the resort, the vertical drop is 455 meters and the longest run is more than 2.5 km. A four-seat chairlift and several surface lifts carry you toward the top, where the upper lift reaches about 980 meters.

So, can you ski in Iceland? Yes, and Akureyri skiing is the best-known option outside the capital area. Snow cannons help Hlíðarfjall open early, and the season normally runs from the end of November until early May. Floodlights make it possible to ski through the short midwinter days, when daylight lasts only a few hours.

Opening hours change day to day with weather and snow, so check the resort's site before you drive up. You'll need a SKIDATA card for lift passes, which you can buy online with your ticket and collect at the ticket office. Ski rental and a ski school operate on site, so you can come without your own gear.

The best time for skiing in Iceland's north is usually February to April, when days are longer and the snow base is deeper. In summer the lower chairlift runs on set days for mountain bikers and hikers, which makes the mountain worth a visit even without snow.