Saltoluokta – Kvikkjokk
Your hike follows the Kungsleden trail, in the borderland between the high mountains of Sarek in the west and the beautiful forest landscapes in the east.
Open heaths, mountain birch, dense spruce forests, large lakes, and open mountain plateaus line the way. On one of the stages, you will hike through Sarek National Park. During the journey, you will pass several lakes where you can either order boat transport or row. The route consists of many parts where mobile phone do not have service.
Hikes along the Kungsleden usually start or end in Abisko, Saltoluokta, Kvikkjokk, Ammarnäs, Hemavan, and Nikkaluokta. This section describes the stretch between STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station and STF Kvikkjokk Mountain Station.
Kungsleden Saltoluokta – Kvikkjokk in short
Map of Kungsleden Saltoluokta – Kvikkjokk
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 Kungsleden Saltoluokta – Kvikkjokk
The Kungsleden between the STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station and the STF Kvikkjokk Mountain Station is just over 70 kilometers long. You move through an exciting borderland between the high mountains of Sarek to the west and the forest landscape to the east. You walk across open heaths and plains, descend through sparse mountain forests, and take boats across large lakes. A few kilometers of the trail run along the eastern edge of Sarek.
The mountain homestead of Aktse, where STF has two overnight cabins, is located at the mouth of the Rapa Valley. Here, you are roughly halfway between Saltoluokta and Kvikkjokk. It’s a place well worth a stop. From here, you can take day trips into Sarek, explore the cultural history of the Sámi and mountain farmers, or simply enjoy the beautiful surroundings. On the way to STF Kvikkjokk Mountain Station, more lakes, open plateaus, and ancient coniferous forests await.
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
If you’re interested in birdwatching, you can successfully make a detour to the Pårekslätten on day four. A maze of small ponds and marshes attracts large flocks of waders and waterfowl. At Kvikkjokk, the Tarra River and Kamajåkkå converge. Here, you can rent a canoe or take boat tours into the delta of the Tarradalen Valley.
Don’t miss
If the weather is clear on day two, you can make a detour to Skierffe, a favorite spot for photographers. From the summit, you have a fantastic view of the Rapadalen Valley and the Pårte Massif in Sarek.
Transport to the trail
Book a train via, for example, SJ to Gällivare. Search for your journey all the way from your departure location to your final destination, in this case, Kebnats/Saltoluokta. This ensures you get departures that match various 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.
There is a train connection to Gällivare, followed by bus 93 to Kebnats. Tip! Book your trip all the way to Kebnats via SJ with a “train plus” ticket. This ensures that the bus will wait for you if the train is delayed. STF operates boat transport across Lake Langas.
From Kvikkjokk, take bus 43 with Länstrafiken to Jokkmokk and bus 47 to Murjek. In Murjek, there is a train connection.
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 Kungsleden Saltoluokta – Kvikkjokk
Below are descriptions of the different sections with distances, accommodations, and other relevant hiking information.
Of course, you can hike in the opposite direction from how the sections are presented.
Section 1: STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station–STF Sitojaure Mountain Cabin
19 kilometers, 6–8 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Sitojaure Mountain Cabin
The hike starts in the old-growth forest near STF Saltoluokta Mountain Station. Soon, the pine trees give way to mountain birches. The initial climb up to the open plateau is quite steep, but after three kilometers, you are at the top. From here, there are magnificent views westward over Lake Langas. The trail then crosses easy-to-hike heathlands with no significant elevation changes. About halfway, you reach the rest shelter at Autsutjvagge, and after another three to four kilometers, you pass the highest point of the hike, 775 meters above sea level. The trail then runs below the steep eastern wall of Sjäksjo before reaching STF Sitojaure Mountain Cabin, which is beautifully located next to a Sámi settlement on the northern shore of Lake Sitojaure.
Section 2: STF Sitojaure Mountain Cabin–STF Aktse Mountain Cabin
10 kilometers, 3–4 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Aktse Mountain Cabin
You start the day with a boat trip across the mountain lakes Kaskajaure and Kåbtajaure. The hike starts at the dock in Svine, where there is a rest cabin. The first few kilometers through the birch forest are relatively easy and partially on boardwalks.
Once you reach the treeline, a steep climb up to the open plateau begins. After passing the highest point and rounding Tåresåive, you can look out over the Rapadalen Valley and the Sarek mountains, with the famous Skierffe cliff in the foreground.
It is often difficult to find water on the open plateau, so plan your break and bring water from the birch forest below. The final stretch to STF Aktse Mountain Cabin is a steep descent through old-growth forest.
Section 3: STF Aktse Mountain Cabin–STF Pårte Mountain Cabin
22 kilometers, 7–9 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Pårte Mountain Cabin
After rowing or taking a motorboat across Lake Laitaure, you begin the long hike toward STF Pårte Mountain Cabin. The first five kilometers are on an easy-to-hike trail through the old forest. A short but steep climb leads up to the gently undulating open plateau. You will enter Sarek National Park, which you will hike through almost all the way to STF Pårte. Sarek National Park is a true wilderness and Sweden’s largest high mountain area. Halfway through, at Rittak, there is a rest shelter in the borderland between the forest and the open plateau. From Rittak, your hike continues toward the pass between Faunaåive and Huornatj.
The final stretch to STF Pårte Mountain Cabin is downhill from the open plateau and can be difficult in rain but improves soon after. You end the day in a beautiful forest—one of the few untouched old-growth forests in the Lapland mountains, with ancient pines. The area is also home to abundant wildlife.
Section 4: STF Pårte Mountain Cabin–STF Kvikkjokk Mountain Station
17 kilometers, 6–8 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Kvikkjokk Mountain Station
The hike southward passes through the old forest. After crossing the bridge over Tjåltajåkka, the trail worsens and becomes very rocky in places. The section along Lake Stuor Tata is quite scenic.
After passing the trail toward the Pårek Sámi settlement, the trail follows a path that has been trodden for hundreds of years. The final kilometers down to STF Kvikkjokk Mountain Station are easy, except for the hills around Tingstallstenen, where the trail can turn into a stream during heavy rain. Tingstallstenen was a meeting place where legal assemblies were held in the past.
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 hikingAccomodations along Kungsleden Nikkaloukta – Vakkotavare
Visitor calendar
Do you prefer when it’s quieter in the mountains? With our visitor calendar, you get an overview of the general occupancy in this mountain area, giving you the best conditions to plan your trip during less crowded 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 caused by events or holidays.
Saltoluokta – Kvikkjokk
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