Åsele The market and the river

March to April

Late winter

The sun is back, the snow remains and the days are long. In Åsele it begins with hundreds of ice anglers on lake Stamsjön one Saturday at the end of March. The calendar calls it spring. Here we call it late winter, and it is still full winter conditions.

Things to do

Åsele-Nappet

The ice-fishing competition on lake Stamsjön, organised by Åsele IK since 1963, with a prize table worth over SEK 180,000 and SEK 20,000 for the winner. Held on a Saturday at the end of March, in 2026 on 21 March. Among the largest in the country.

The snowmobile trails

The base has settled after the winter and the trails are in their best condition. Sun and long days are why many people come now rather than in January. Huskykennel Lappland rents out snowmobiles and arranges tours with barbecues and ice fishing.

Winter school holidays and Easter

The school winter holidays are spread across the country from week 7 to week 10, Västerbotten's own falls in week 10, and Easter is the second peak. Åsele is not a ski resort, so there is room even then.

Ice fishing with the sun on your face

The ice is at its thickest on the lakes and the days are long. Perch and pike in the forest country, brown trout in the mountain lakes to the west. Permits at ifiske.se.

Crust in the morning

The nights are still cold and the snow freezes over. Early in the morning the crust bears, and then you can walk or ski almost anywhere, even out across the bogs, before the sun softens it.

Dog sledding in the sun

Late winter is the best time for dog sledding: a firm base, light and dogs with stamina. Huskykennel Lappland runs into April as long as the snow holds.

Why we count four seasons

In most parts of the country four seasons of equal size are enough. Here that division works poorly. Winter is too long to be one thing, and spring is too short to be a season at all.

Winter from November to February is about darkness, cold and northern lights. Late winter in March and April is something else entirely: the same snow, but with sun and light. And the spring that follows, in May, is mostly mud and unsafe ice. That period does not market itself.

Common questions

What is late winter?
March and April, when the sun has come back but the snow remains. The days are long, the light strong and the snow has settled. Many people who live here consider it the best time of the year.
When is Åsele-Nappet?
A Saturday at the end of March, alongside the winter market according to the municipality. In 2026 the competition was held on Saturday 21 March, from 12 to 14, on lake Stamsjön by the bathing spot. The dates for next year are published by Åsele IK.
Is it really still winter in April?
Yes. The snow normally stays into May in the forest country. That the calendar says spring does not change the fact that you can ski and snowmobile, but the ice on the river should never be trusted.
What should you bear in mind on the snowmobile trails?
The trails can be weak near ice and over watercourses when the thaw begins. Check the trail status before you go, and respect reindeer grazing land. In late winter, when the reindeer are pregnant, they are especially sensitive to disturbance.
What about the snowmelt afterwards?
May is the hardest month. The snow goes, the ice becomes unsafe and the bogs are wet. Locally the period is called menföre. It is quiet here then, and there is a reason for that. In June the river and the fishing are going again.

Where to stay

The hotel and the campsite's winter cabins in the town, Fredrika Hotell, the hostel in Gafsele. Unlike the mountain resorts, Åsele rarely fills up during the school winter holidays. See accommodation.

Information last checked 21 september 2026.