Vålådalen – Ljungdalen
This hike goes from Vålådalen aiming towards Helags and with the final destination in Ljungdalen. It's a spectacular hike that, over three days, traverses mountain birch forests, across vast alpine meadows, and up towards mighty mountain ranges. At each stage destination, there is a mountain station or mountain cabin. At the mountain stations, you can indulge in a sauna, a comfortable bed, and a restaurant offering both breakfast and dinner.
Vålådalen – Ljungdalen in short
Discover Vålådalen – Ljungdalen
The trail from Vålådalen to Ljungdalen passes through Helags. You start and finish the hike in alternating birch and coniferous forest. The hike mostly traverses barren mountainsides. The trail is well-marked, and along the way, bridges extend over the watercourses that would otherwise be difficult to cross. The terrain during the hike is moderately hilly and without any major difficulties. You stay at mountain stations with full service, as well as in mountain cabins. Along the hike, you pass the Helags mountain massif, which is Sweden’s highest peak south of the Arctic Circle at 1,797 meters above sea level. It’s possible to climb Helags, even for those who are less experienced.
Reindeer herding is practiced in this area, thank you for showing consideration!
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Reindeer herding is practiced in this area, thank you for showing consideration!
Learn more about how to avoid disturbing the reindeer.
See and do along the trail
Helags South Peak, at 1797 meters above sea level, is Sweden’s highest peak south of the Arctic Circle. It’s possible to climb the peak even for those who are less experienced. Ascend the summit safely and securely with our knowledgeable guides. The hike is incredibly beautiful, with Helags’ steep eastern wall meeting Sweden’s southernmost glacier.
Directions
Book your train via SJ (Swedish Railways). Search for your journey all the way from your departure point to the final destination, in this case, STF Vålådalen Mountain Station. This way, you’ll always find departures that match various modes of transport: both train and bus. You also have travel guarantee, so any delays won’t affect your ability to reach your destination.
The train goes to Undersåker, then you take a bus for the last part. For bus transfer, you can take the Fjällupplevelsebussen, Södra Årefjällen, which operates according to schedule and can also be called upon. Länstrafiken also operates on the route where trips must always be booked no later than 17:00 on weekdays before travel. This also applies if you have purchased an RESPLUS ticket via SJ or another booking service. See more information on Länstrafiken Jämtland’s website, line 562. Some trips must be pre-booked at 0771-820083.
You can also book a taxi from Undersåker to Vålådalen. Taxi companies: Topptaxi +46 (0)647-22020 or Björn Olsons taxi +46 (0)647-50555
From Ljungdalen, the easiest way is to take bus 613 to Östersund with Länstrafiken Jämtland. From there, you can take a train or bus to Mora, via Åsarna.
Please note that there is approximately 8 km between Kläppen (where the trail ends) and Ljungdalen. It’s possible to hike, but you will have to walk along the road. Taxi Ljungdalsfjällen offers transfers to the village.
Book multiple accommodations at the same time
If you want to book multiple accommodations in one booking, the easiest way to do it is by opening each accommodation in separate tabs in your web browser. Then, choose the dates for each accommodation, the number of people, and proceed until you see that your accommodation has been added to the cart. All your selections are saved in the same cart, even if you are working in different tabs. When you are ready to pay, proceed to payment in any of the tabs, and all your selections will be included. Your selections are saved for a total of 30 minutes.
Sections of Vålådalen – Ljungdalen
Below are descriptions of different accommodations, trail sections with distances, and other relevant hiking information.
Of course, it’s possible to hike in the opposite direction from how the stages are presented.
Section 1: STF Vålådalen Mountain Station–STF Vålåstugorna
20 kilometers, 6–7 hours hiking
Accommodation: STF Vålåstugorna
The trail between Vålådalen and Vålåstugorna starts in relatively flat terrain through mountain birch forest. At Skaftet, you begin a gradually uphill climb for two kilometers, where you reach a fork in the road. Here, you keep left; if you choose right, you’ll reach STF Stendalen mountain cabin. The hike continues through open mountain terrain before finally reaching Vålåstugorna.
Section 2: STF Vålåstugorna – STF Helags Mountain Station
23 kilometers, 7–8 hours hiking
Accommodation: STF Helags Mountain Station
From Vålåstugorna, you start hiking southward. After just 3 kilometers, you reach Härjångsån River in the Vålådalen Nature Reserve. The journey then continues along the barren slopes of the mountain Härjångsfjället, where part of the stretch follows a reindeer fence.
The trail splits at Ljungan’s shelter – choose to follow the trail south towards Helags. The hike now continues in relatively flat terrain towards the pass between Krustjärnstöten and Slaajve, and after a few kilometers of descent, you reach the lake Krusstjärn.
The end of the hike offers an ascent on the southern side of Jalketsåjja before descending again towards the end point of the trail – STF Helags Mountain Station. The mountain station is beautifully located at the foot of Sweden’s highest peak south of the Arctic Circle.
Section 3: STF Helags Mountain Station – Kläppen/Ljungdalen
12 kilometers, 3–4 hours hiking
Accommodation: STF Fjällhornet Resort Ljungdalen, STF Ljungdalen Hostel
You hike on a well-trodden trail in an outstanding mountain environment with the Helags massif at your back. The first half of the hike goes through dry moorland before the terrain eventually transitions into mountain birch forest. Around the lake Kesusjön, west of Ljungdalen, many cabins and a beautiful summer shieling can be found.
End your hike with a night at Fjällhornet or hike 6 kilometers along the road from Kläppen to Ljungdalen, where a hostel awaits. There are taxis in the area.
Read more about the trail sections
Do you want to know more about the individual sections? You can find additional information in our selection of trail sections.
Alternative trail sections
As an alternative, you can take a detour to STF Stensdalen Mountain Cabin or extend your route with STF Lunndörren Mountain Cabin. More information about trail sections can be found in our selection of stages. Read more about the new land lease agreement to see which sections and accommodations are affected.
Trail markers
In the mountains, you need to be aware of which trail markers apply. There are various markers to consider, depending on the area and season.
More about mountain hikingAccommodations in the area
Visitor calendar
Do you enjoy the tranquility of the mountains? With our visitor calendar, you can get an overview of the general occupancy in this mountain area, giving you the best possible conditions to plan your visit during less busy periods. During times with fewer visitors, we often offer better prices as well. Please note that the visitor calendar only provides an indication and does not account for deviations such as events or holidays.
Discover more
Mountain guide
Which peaks are the highest? What should I keep in mind if I encounter reindeer? What is it like to stay at a mountain station?
Mountain safety
Learn about avalanches, find out how to best prevent injuries, or read about how to safely ford rivers during your hike.
Mountain hiking
The Swedish mountain range stretches from Treriksröset in the north to Dalarna in the south. Here, breathtaking landscapes and hundreds of miles of marked hiking trails await.