Mångsbodarna is a small village that is well-known to many Swedish ski enthusiasts. It is here that you find one of Vasaloppet’s checkpoints. Vasaloppet is an annual 90-kilometer-long cross-country ski race with thousands of participants and a lot more viewers on the national broadcast. According to some sources, Mångsbodarna has one inhabitant. However, there are several vacation dwellings here as well. And during the one week of Vasaloppet, especially during the main race, this area comes to life.
A Short History
Mångsbodarna started as a shieling. In other words, there was a hut, or a couple of huts, for seasonal use in the mountain regions where the cattle’s summer pasture was. It was first in the middle of the 19th century that one of these huts became a permanent dwelling. At the end of the century there were 8 families living permanently in Mångsbodarna.
Things to Do and See
Mångsbodarna might be small, but you will find some great outdoor activities here. Nature is never far away and finding somewhere to spend time indoors might be limited, so take the opportunity.
Vasaloppet
A checkpoint for Vasaloppet has been in Mångsbodarna since the start in 1922. This was the first checkpoint in the race during the first years. For any cross-country skier, this could either be a nostalgic visit or a perfect spot to try parts of the race track. And for any participant in Vasaloppet, this is the marking of the first 24 kilometres in the 90-kilometre race.
Mångsbodarna Nature Reserve
Mångsbodarna Nature Reserve covers an area of almost four hectares. Here you find both protected nature as well as cultural remains, some as old as 150 years, from the time the area was used for shieling.
Vasaloppsleden
Vasaloppsleden is a hiking trail following the route of the cross-country ski race. You can either walk the whole 90 kilometres, by starting in Sälen or Mora, but you can also walk parts of it by starting in Mångsbodarna. The shorter parts can be to Smågan or Sälen in the west or to Risberg, Evertsberg, Oxberg or Mora in the east.
How to get to Mångsbodarna
- Flights: The closest airports are Mora–Siljan Airport (MXX) located 70 kilometers away and Scandinavian Mountains Airport (SCR) located 57 kilometers away. They connect the area with the Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN) for connections around the globe.
- Car: Mångsbodarna is located along a rural road between Mora and Sälen.
- Bus: There are local buses connecting Mångsbodarna with the nearby towns.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 370 kilometers (4 h 28 min)
- Gothenburg – 483 kilometers (5 h 48 min)
- Malmö – 701 kilometers (8 h 15 min)
- Linköping – 384 kilometers (4 h 58 min)
- Kiruna – 1136 kilometers (13 h 57 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
