STF will guide to Kebnekaise's Southern Summit via the Western Route

17 June 2025

In summer 2025, STF will guide all summit tours to both the southern and northern peaks of Kebnekaise via the Western Route, instead of the traditional Eastern Route.

In recent years, STF has observed changes in the terrain around Kebnekaise, especially along the Eastern Route. During the late summer season of 2024, it became clear that these changes are accelerating. Increased risk of rockfalls, larger glacier crevasses, and more unpredictable snow and ice conditions have been noted. The glacier along the route is melting more rapidly and behaving differently from year to year. To ensure a safe environment for both guests and staff, STF needs a deeper understanding of these new conditions and their impact on the Eastern Route. Such a study will be conducted during summer 2025. Meanwhile, STF has chosen to pause guided tours via the Eastern Route to prioritize safety.

“The safety of our guests and staff is always our top priority. Switching between the Eastern and Western routes during a single season could cause confusion and make it harder to maintain consistent daily routines. Therefore, we have decided to guide all summit tours via the Western Route for the entire 2025 summer season,” says Maria Persson, STF’s Head of Operations in the mountains.

At the end of the 2024 season, several tours via the Eastern Route were canceled due to rockfalls. For the current season, the snow cover has made it impossible to prepare the route in time with the safety measures STF requires. The Via Ferrata (fixed cable) and other safety ropes that were previously in place will be removed, as regular inspection will not be feasible. Guests will instead be offered guided tours via the Western Route. Those who have already booked an Eastern Route summit tour will be offered a full refund if they choose to cancel due to the change.

Climate Scientists: “Extreme Years will become more common”

The increasing unpredictability of the mountain environment is confirmed by researchers at the Tarfala Research Station, with whom STF collaborates.

“Ongoing climate change means that extreme years will become more common—and more extreme. This year, we are seeing the coldest start to a summer since the early 1990s. Snow still covers the landscape, which can create a false sense of safety as crevasses and holes are hidden. In contrast, the summer of 2024 started early, was extremely warm, and had a severe impact on the glaciers—on average, 3.5 meters of ice melted,” says Nina Kirchner, professor of glaciology at Stockholm University and director of the Tarfala Research Station.

Guided Tours via the Western Route Continue

STF will continue to offer guided tours to both the southern and northern summits of Kebnekaise via the Western Route—the most commonly used trail to the summit. The round trip covers 18 km, takes between 10 and 15 hours, and includes 1,800 meters of elevation gain in partly snow-covered, rocky, and steep terrain. The Western Route is physically demanding but technically less complex than the Eastern Route.

STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station hosts approximately 20,000 guest nights each summer, in addition to nearly as many tent campers. Around 1,000 people join guided summit tours of Kebnekaise during the summer season.

For more information, images, or interviews with Maria Persson or Nina Kirchner, please contact:
Jenny Engström, Head of Press, STF
Mail: jenny.engstrom@stfturist.se
Phone number: +46 (0)735-45 26 44