Start Activities Hiking 10 lesser-known hikes

10 lesser-known hikes

Do you feel most at ease when you can hike in quiet places, in solitude, and with just the right amount of people? There are plenty of hidden hiking gems to explore no matter where you are. Here, we have gathered suggestions for less-visited hikes.

On these trails, you can walk relatively undisturbed and without crowding with others. You can make detours and hike along less-traveled paths, or enjoy the forest and countryside right next to the classic routes. Hike by the coast, deep into the enchanted forest, or just a short distance from the hustle and bustle of the city.

Beautiful and easy hikes in the Laponia world heritage site

Padjelanta is Sweden’s largest national park and is part of the Laponia World Heritage Site. Badjelánnda, as it is called in Sami, “the higher land,” offers an incredible landscape and beautiful views. Overall, it is easy hiking terrain over walkways and bridges, among rolling and shimmering mountain peaks. You start at STF Kvikkjok before taking the boat across the blue-green waters of the Tarraälven and then continue through lush birch forests into Tarradalen. The trail is lined with blooming alpine heaths, wild green-shimmering rivers, large lakes, and mighty mountains. STF mountain cabins STF Njunjes and STF Såmmarlappa are conveniently located along the trail for a stopover and overnight stay. Here, you will be welcomed by one of our cabin hosts who will assist you. From Såmmarlappa, you can either return the same way back to Kvikkjokk or choose to continue the remaining part of the Padjelanta trail up to Ritsem.

A cabin-to-cabin tour through the wild Rogen

STF Grövelsjön is a well-known popular mountain station that offers plenty of great day trips in the surrounding area. For those who want to explore an exciting environment with fewer people, Grövelsjön – Tänndalen is an excellent adventure. This tour takes you between the Dala/Funäs mountains, and a feeling of untamed and untouched wilderness quickly sets in. You pass by Töfsingdalen National Park, probably one of Sweden’s least visited national parks. In the Rogen Nature Reserve, you are surrounded by a dramatic lake-rich landscape and winding moraine ridges, so unusual that they have been given their own name, Rogen moraine.

Fairytale landscapes along the Hälsingeleden trail

Three hours from Stockholm lies the magnificent Hälsingeleden Trail. For those who make it here, a variety of hiking opportunities await in wild and enchanting landscapes. You’ve come to the right place if you are longing for nature’s drama, accompanied by birdsong. This is an underrated route for nature lovers to explore, preferably with a tent. Lakes and river valleys are lined with deep coniferous forests. In most cases, you won’t have to crowd with other outdoor enthusiasts.

Treparksmötet – hiking through three national parks

The rewards are many for those who venture beyond the most visited hiking trails. The Signature Trail Treparksmötet -Three Parks-meet offers absolutely stunning mountain hiking in the area where the national parks of Sarek, Padjelanta, and Stora Sjöfallet meet. Come here and admire the hidden treasures of Laponia, as soon as the snow has melted away. You’ll hike at a distance from other people and, over the course of three to four days, explore some of the more secluded parts of the mountain world. Yet, it is very easy to get here and back, with train and bus services to Ritsem.

North section of the Roslagsleden trail

A delightful hike close to the capital awaits you in the northern section of the Roslagsleden trail. Perhaps particularly peaceful is the stretch between Sandviken and Grisslehamn. Here, you are free to find your own hidden gems, take photos from unexpected angles, and enjoy your adventure in the wake of the Vikings. Along the route, you are surrounded by exciting historical sites—and best of all—you usually won’t have other hikers right on your heels. It’s close to the bus stop in Grisslehamn, so you can get to and from the trail in no time.

Lesser hiked sections of the Skåneleden trail

Instead of choosing the classic Österlen Trail, you might consider another part of the Skåneleden trail. For example, we suggest the section called ‘Coast to Coast,’ from Sölvesborg to Ängelholm. Several fantastic sub-trails are hidden in Skåne’s inland. One suggestion is to start in Sölvesborg and hike westward, allowing you to look forward to nature experiences in peaceful landscapes. Cultural and historical sites also line the trail, where you pass through dense beech forests, waterways and lakes, coastal meadows, and rolling eskers.

Take a quieter section of the Kungsleden trail

We recommend starting your mountain hike with dinner and an overnight stay at the STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station. The restaurant offers a stunning view of the mountains and serves local food such as reindeer, moose, and fish from the mountain lakes. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll be ready to set off! Here, on the quieter section of the Kungsleden Trail, you will hike along magnificent mountains and majestic views. You begin on what many say is Sweden’s most beautiful road, the path to STF Vakkotavare Mountain Cabin, and then continue through mountain forests, lovely heaths, large lakes, and old reindeer herding areas. You pass the classic Singi cabins and Kebnekaise before reaching the hike’s end at the road’s end: Nikkaluokta. The last stretch between Singi and Kebnekaise will have more visitors, as the trail merges with the Northern Kungsleden Trail.

Discover a wilder side of the Sörmlandsleden trail

Many choose to start their hike on the classic Sörmlandsleden trail at Björkhagen subway station in Stockholm, but you can also join the trail from another direction. We recommend stages 27–30 of the trail, south of Katrineholm. It is an urban-adjacent route that entices with vast fields, forested moraine terrain, and a 200-year-old primeval forest area. Experience nature on your own or with good friends. You will walk through some of the wildest landscapes of the Sörmlandsleden Trail, practically undisturbed, while still being easy to get to.

Explore the middle section of the Bohusleden trail

In the middle of the Bohusleden trail, for example stages 10–18 of the trail, you will find routes that are not as close to urban areas as many other parts of the trail. Yet, the hiking is easily accessible. Escape from everyday life and recharge with new energy. Perfect if you enjoy paths that are not as well-trodden. Head south of Uddevalla and you will find hilly forest landscapes that occasionally open up to sparkling lakes and picnic-friendly clearings. There is plenty of space for those who want to wander aimlessly and enjoy beautiful nature.

Isälvsleden trail – A journey in the tracks of the ice age

In Västerbotten County, theIsälvsleden Trail winds its way 60 km through old pine forests, past beautiful dune landscapes, and up onto magnificent gravel ridges shaped by the ice age. This little-explored trail is equally suitable for hiking and biking, and for fishing enthusiasts, the lakes and waterways seem endless. An exciting feature along the trail is the water crossing, where you row yourself across by boat to continue your journey.

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