Northern Lights Destination
Northern Lights in Storuman, Sweden
Storuman marks the beginning of Swedish Lapland's deep wilderness - its long lake, mountain backdrop, and genuine absence of light pollution make it an accessible and rewarding aurora destination.
Storuman: Where Lapland Begins
Storuman is a small town of about 3,000 people in Västerbotten County, situated at the eastern end of Lake Storuman (Storumanjön) at 65.1°N. The lake itself stretches nearly 50 km westward toward the Norwegian border, providing a natural water corridor framed by birch-covered hillsides and, further west, the fells of the Tärnaby ski area and the Norwegian mountains beyond.
The town functions as a practical gateway to the wilder parts of southern Lapland. Route 45, the main north-south artery of Swedish Lapland (nicknamed the "Wilderness Road" or Vildmarksvägen), passes through Storuman, connecting it southward to Vilhelmina and northward to Sorsele, Arvidsjaur, and ultimately Gällivare. This connectivity makes Storuman an ideal base for a Swedish Lapland aurora road trip.
At 65.1°N, a KP index of 3 is sufficient for aurora viewing. Lake Storuman's extensive water surface provides excellent reflective conditions when frozen. Check the aurora forecast and explore the lake shores for unobstructed northern views.
Aurora Viewing Around Storuman
Lake Storuman Shoreline: The frozen lake provides an excellent reflective platform for aurora viewing. The lake's 50-km length means you can find sections with very open sky and no light interference from the town. The western end of the lake, toward Tärnaby, has the darkest conditions with mountain backdrops.
Hällnäs Area: The community of Hällnäs on the lake's southern shore, connected by the lakeside road, offers very dark conditions with broad views across the frozen lake. The railway line from Umeå to Storuman passes through here - arriving by train is possible from this direction.
Tärnaby Road (Route 45 West): Driving west from Storuman toward Tärnaby along the lake, the mountains gradually grow and the sky opens. Several pull-off points along the 70-km route to Tärnaby offer progressive darkness and increasingly dramatic mountain backdrops.
Vojmsjön Lake: A separate lake about 20 km southwest of Storuman, with smaller size but even less light interference. The forest-lined shores provide framed aurora compositions with water reflections.
Aurora Season in Storuman
Storuman's aurora season runs from September through March:
September-October: Early autumn with ruska (fall colors) in the birch forests around the lake. The lake is open water until late November, providing liquid reflections for early-season aurora. Temperatures drop from 5°C to -10°C through October.
November-January: Lake Storuman freezes, typically by late November, transforming into a mirror-flat ice surface. Deep winter darkness brings the most aurora viewing hours. The Wilderness Road (Route 45) is maintained year-round, enabling easy access even in severe conditions.
February-March: Ice conditions on the lake are at their most stable, and the returning sun creates dramatic light on the surrounding snowbound hills. Aurora continues actively, with March's equinox effect potentially bringing enhanced activity. The nearby Tärnaby ski resort provides daytime activity.
Getting to Storuman
Getting There: Vilhelmina Airport (VHM) is about 40 km south of Storuman, serving the region with connections to Stockholm via Amapola and other regional carriers. Car rental at the airport is advisable. The train from Umeå (Botniabanan) reaches Storuman in about 4 hours - a scenic route through increasingly wild countryside. Route 45 connects north to Lapland destinations and south to the coast.
Wilderness Road (Vildmarksvägen): The scenic route from Storuman via Gäddede to Vilhelmina is one of Sweden's most dramatic roads, open in summer but requiring a snowmobile bypass in winter around the Stekenjokk plateau (which closes to traffic). This summer circuit is a reason many visitors combine Storuman with a broader Lapland road trip.
Accommodation: Hotell Lappland in Storuman is the main hotel. Cabins and guesthouses are available around the lake. For wilderness aurora experiences, self-catering cabin rentals on the lake shore are popular.
Combined with Tärnaby and Hemavan: The ski resorts of Tärnaby (Sweden's westernmost ski resort) and Hemavan are 70-90 km west of Storuman. Combining a stay in Storuman with skiing at these resorts and aurora viewing over the lake creates an excellent Lapland winter package.
Plan the trip
Getting to Storuman
Aurora trips need three things booked together: a flight into the right airport, somewhere dark to stay, and usually a car, because the sky you get is the sky above wherever you can drive to that night.
Compare flightsLive fares into Vilhelmina Airport (VHM), the closest airport to Storuman.
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Wilderness Road (Vildmarksvägen) is a scenic circuit route in southern Lapland that passes through Storuman. The full summer circuit goes from Storuman north via Gäddede, over the remote Stekenjokk plateau to Vilhelmina, creating a loop through some of Sweden's most remote terrain. In winter, the plateau section closes to cars. The Storuman-Tärnaby section remains accessible year-round.
Storuman is reasonably accessible via Vilhelmina Airport (40 km south) with connections to Stockholm, or by train from Umeå. As a Swedish Lapland destination, it's less discovered than Kiruna or Abisko, meaning fewer crowds and more authentic experiences. English is widely spoken throughout Sweden.
At 65.1°N, Storuman requires approximately KP 3 for reliable aurora viewing. The minimal light pollution around the lake and surrounding wilderness means that once KP 3 or above is reached, displays are clearly visible. Lake Storuman's frozen surface provides excellent aurora reflections.
Yes, Tärnaby ski resort (home of Swedish alpine skiing legend Ingemar Stenmark) and Hemavan are approximately 70-90 km west of Storuman. These smaller mountain resorts offer good skiing combined with Storuman's dark-sky aurora viewing, making a combined week practical for skiing and northern lights seekers.
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