Nikkaluokta - STF Ritsem

The hike from the village of Nikkaluokta to the mountain cabin STF Ritsem is perfect for those who want to leave the usual paths and experience the border mountains toward Norway. The eastern and western parts of the hike differ greatly in character. You will see the Ladtjovagge Valley in the east and the high alpine Kebnekaise massif in the west. During the hike, you can stay at STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station and in mountain cabins.

Nikkaluokta – Ritsem in short

  1. Length: 100 km
  2. Number of stages/hiking days: 5
  3. Length of stages: 9–19 km (4-8 hours hiking per day)
  4. Water/food along the trail: The trail passes by streams. Shops are only available in Kebnekaise and Ritsem, so you must carry your own food. STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station has a fully licensed restaurant.
  5. Accommodation during the hike: Mountain station and mountain cabins.
  6. More information: Map (note that the link leads to content in swedish).

Map of Nikkaluokta–Ritsem

This map is a planning tool and should not replace a physical map and compass. The service “Naturkartan” is operated by a company called “Outdoor map”. Please note that trail information is owned and updated by the respective trail administrator (e.g. municipality or county administrative board).

Discover Nikkaluokta – Ritsem

The first hiking days follow the well-trodden path to STF Singi Mountain Cabin via STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station. From the third day, you head toward the Norwegian border, leaving behind the most visited areas. The eastern and western sections between Nikkaluokta and Ritsem are of completely different character. In the Ladtjovagge Valley in the east, the landscape is lush and expansive, but past the high alpine Kebnekaise, you are met with steep mountain walls reaching 2,000 meters above sea level. In the west, you will encounter more rounded mountains and rolling landscapes.

Reindeer herding takes place in the area, and it is important to show respect. Read more about the reindeer’s territory.

See and do along the trail

Consider staying an extra day at STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station and climb Sweden’s highest mountain. Guided tours are offered at the mountain station.

Don’t miss

At the boat dock on the first day, you’ll find Restaurant Enoks, which serves dishes like reindeer burgers or waffles with cloudberries to hungry visitors.

Getting to the trail

Book a train via SJ to Kiruna. Search for your journey all the way from your departure location to the final destination, in this case, Nikkaluokta. This ensures you get departures that match different modes of transport: both train and bus. You also have a travel guarantee, so any delays won’t affect your ability to reach the destination. After the train journey to Kiruna, take a bus to Nikkaluokta with Hörwalls Buss. The trip takes about 1.5 hours, and you can find timetable information at Nikkaluoktaexpressen.

To get to or from Ritsem, take Länstrafiken Norrbotten bus 93 to Gällivare. From Gällivare, there are trains heading both south and north.

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 Nikkaluokta – Ritsem

Below are descriptions of different accommodations, sections with distances, and other relevant hiking information.

Of course, you can hike in the opposite direction from the order in which the sections are presented.

Section 1: Nikkaluokta–STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station

19 kilometers, 5–7 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station

You start the hike in the village of Nikkaluokta, where there is a restaurant and a small shop. The trail primarily goes through birch forest, starting on a narrow tractor-like road. Later, the trail becomes a relatively rocky and boardwalked path. You can also choose a boat ride that shortens the hike by 6 kilometers. The boat runs several times a day according to schedule.

For those continuing the hike after the boat dock, the trail has a gentle uphill stretch for a few kilometers before you reach your destination. You will cross the bridge over Darfáljohka, which drains the glaciers of the Tarfala Valley. Once you arrive at STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station, you will have access to a restaurant, shop, and other services.

Section 2: STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station–STF Singi Mountain Cabin

15 kilometers, 4–6 hours of hiking
Accommodation:
STF Singi Mountain Cabin

On your hike between STF Kebnekaise Mountain Station and the Singi cabins, you pass through the narrow and at times very dramatic section of Laddjuvagge. Here, you’ll find some of the country’s most classic climbing routes. The first few kilometers from the mountain station go through sloping, partially rocky terrain. The hike continues westward toward the impressive passage between the steep walls of Singitjåkka and Skárttoaivi.

The valley opens up just before you reach STF Singi, offering an impressive view. When you reach the crest, which forms the threshold out of the narrow section, you are greeted by grand views in both directions. After the crest, you will pass Lake Lassajaure before the trail descends toward STF Singi Mountain Cabin, located along the Kungsleden.

Section 3: STF Singi Mountain Cabin–STF Hukejaure Mountain Cabin

25 kilometers, 9–10 hours of hiking
Accommodation:
STF Hukejaure Mountain Cabin

You continue hiking along the Kungsleden for a few kilometers. Halfway to STF Sälka Mountain Cabin, you turn westward toward Norway, entering the Nordkalott Trail in Čuhčavaggi. After leaving the Sälka massif behind, the landscape becomes flatter, drier, and less diverse in vegetation.

The area around Hukejaure offers a rugged landscape with hilly and challenging terrain. The fishing is good throughout the area, both in summer and winter. The surrounding area is filled with hilly high plateaus, other lakes, and many wetlands. This type of terrain becomes prominent as the hike continues toward the cabins by Lake Sitasjaure.

Section 4: STF Hukejaure Mountain Cabin–STF Sitasjaure Mountain Cabin

19 kilometers, 6–8 hours of hiking
Accommodation:
STF Sitasjaure Mountain Cabin

STF Sitasjaure Mountain Cabin offers beautiful views over the mountains and Lake Sitasjaure. The lake’s surface reflects a spectrum of colors from turquoise to black, depending on the weather. Next to the cabin is a Sámi settlement and several old Sámi sacrificial sites.
Along the trail between Sitasjaure and Hukejaure are “stalo foundations,” a type of ancient ruin found in the mountains between Sweden and Norway. According to Sámi legend, the stalo were a people who were cruel, large, one-eyed, fair-skinned, and clad in iron armor!

At Sitasjaure, you will find a settlement for the Baste Cearru Sámi village (formerly Mellanbyn).

Section 5: STF Sitasjaure Mountain Cabin–STF Ritsem

22 kilometers, 8–9 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Ritsem

The hike toward Ritsem follows the mountain, parallel to a closed road leading to Ritsem. The road is rarely trafficked, but sometimes you can get a ride if you don’t want to walk the last stretch. Consider staying a few days and enjoy the tranquility on shorter or longer trips around Ritsem.


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.

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