Sylarna Circuit
This hike offers fantastic experiences around Sylarna. The round trip goes over rolling barren mountains, with the dramatic peaks and glaciers of Sylarna constantly in sight. Here, Norwegian mountain huts vibes meet Swedish mountain station traditions. Most people start their hike in Storulvån, but it's also possible to start from Nedalshytta on the Norwegian side during the summer when the road is open.
Short facts about Sylarna Circuit
Discover Sylarna Circuit
This Swedish-Norwegian circuit can be started from multiple locations. If you choose to hike from Storulvån, the journey takes you via Sylarna to Nedalshytta, and then onwards to Storerikvollen on the Norwegian side. It’s this route that is described below.
The hike from STF Sylarna to Nedalshytta passes through the magnificent mountain pass Ekorrpasset below the mountain Storsola, which at 1,728 meters above sea level is the highest Swedish peak in the Sylmassif. The mountain Storsylen is a few meters into the Norwegian side and reaches 1,762 meters above sea level. From Nedalshytta, the trail continues to Storerikvollen between the large lake Essandsjön and Nesjön lakes in the west and the Sylmassif in the east. From Storerikvollen, you continue up towards the mountain Fiskåfjellet and the lake Fiskåtjärnen along the Sylmassif and then return to STF Sylarna. The circle is completed when you return to Storulvån.
Reindeer husbandry is carried out throughout the region, and visitors must show respect for this.
See and Do Along the Trail
If you visit the area during the berry and mushroom season, it might be worth spending a few extra days in the mountains.
Directions
Book your train tickets via SJ. Search for your journey all the way from your departure point to your destination, in this case, STF Storulvån Mountain Station. This way, you’ll always find departures that suit various modes of transportation: 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 Enafors, from where you take the bus for the final stretch. The bus transfer is managed by Wänseth Buss. For transfers to/from the night train, you can book directly with them or by phone at 0647-704 77.
Trail sections Sylarna Circuit
Below are descriptions of different accommodations, trail sections with distances, and other relevant hiking information.
Of course, it is possible to hike in the opposite direction from how the trail sections are presented.
Trail section 1: STF Storulvån Mountain Station–STF Sylarna Mountain Station
16 kilometers, 5–6 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Sylarna Mountain Station
After a few kilometers of hiking, you leave the mountain birch forest around Storulvån Mountain Station and reach the alpine terrain. Early on, you pass the suspension bridge over Lill-Ulvån. The trail then continues through rolling terrain towards the shelter Spåime, which is located approximately halfway to Sylarna Mountain Station. Here, the trail mainly follows dry sections, but there are also sections of boardwalk over marshy areas. During the hike, your gaze will constantly be drawn to the horizon and the pointed peaks of Sylarna.
The trail continues in similar terrain towards the shelter Gamla Sylen, which you reach before the final 3 kilometers ascent to the mountain station. Opposite Gamla Sylens shelter, on the other side of the river Sylälven, Sweden’s first mountain station was built a long time ago. The location is marked with a sign.
The terrain during the hike is gently undulating and without any major difficulties. Bridges and boardwalks make it easy to cross streams and wet areas.
Trail section 2: STF Sylarna Mountain Station–DNT Nedalshytta
18 kilometers, 6–7 hours of hiking
Accommodation: Nedalshytta (DNT, not STF)
This is the most dramatic section of the Sylarna Circuit. The narrow mountain pass Ekorrdörren, the magnificent views towards Sylmassivet, and the almost sacred feeling at Tempeldalen make this an unforgettable hike in an area with an alpine character.
You start the trail towards Helags until you reach a junction and turn towards Tempeldalen, the deeply U-shaped basin between Slottet and Templet. The trail ascends gently on dry, solid ground along the western slope of Sylskalsstöten. Once at Ekorrpasset, you get a magical view of Sylmassivet before continuing south down a steep slope of 260 meters altitude to the shelter below Ekorrdörren.
You continue on relatively easy terrain along the northern side of Sylmassivet until the national border between Sweden and Norway, where there is a reindeer fence. The trail on the Norwegian side crosses marshlands in easy terrain until you reach Nedalshytta, idyllically located in the birch forest.
Trail section 3: DNT Nedalshytta – DNT Storerikvollen
23.5 kilometers, 7-9 hours of hiking
Accommodation: Storerikvollen (DNT, not STF)
The trail starts gently uphill west of Neklumpen, then flattens out on dry paths and some marshlands east of Stenfjellet. At Vardeberget, the view is beautiful over the lakes Essandsjön and Nesjön to the west and the pointed peaks of Sylarna to the east, like a majestic crown in the landscape. Don’t forget to turn around occasionally to admire “Sylan,” as the massif is called in Norwegian, which you have behind you.
The trail continues over Fiskeåa and along the varied dry plains of Fiskåhöjden with some wetter sections and some boardwalked marshlands. Eventually, you reach a junction where you choose the trail westward and a bridge over Djupholma. Finally, you reach Storerikvollen. The cabin has been standing here since 1897 and is an old mountain dairy with a view of Essandsjøen and Sylarna. If you are interested in history, you can take the opportunity to see the memorial monument to the Caroleans’ death march, which took place in 1718 on the low mountain Bustvalen.
Trail section 4: DNT Storerikvollen–STF Sylarna Mountain Station
19 kilometers, 5–7 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Sylarna Mountain Station
A long but relatively easy stage with mostly gently sloping sections on dry ground and over some boardwalked marshes.
The trail crosses the Swedish-Norwegian border on the mountain Fiskåhöjden, with beautiful views. The trail starts back the same way on a dry ridge near the birch forest with some boardwalked marshes and over the bridge at Djupholma. At the old settlement Essandheim, the trail merges with Nedalen, and you continue up the west side of Fiskåhöjden. Here is a turf-roofed rest cabin with a Swedish emergency phone. Enjoy the view of Sylarna’s highest peak and Essandsjön to the west.
Continue over the national border to Sweden and onwards to Fiskåtjärnen. If you have a rod and fishing license, you can try your luck fishing; there are rumors of plenty of fish in the tarn. After the tarn, you follow the mountainside of Vaktklumpen. To your left, you have a view of Enans valley, where the first hut “Sylhyddan” was erected in 1890. On the way back to Sylarna, you can see traces of the ice age researcher Carl Mannerfelt’s excavations from the late 1930s. Eventually, you reach the bridge over the river Sylälven and have a short uphill until you reach Sylarna Mountain Station. The bridge is dismantled before winter and reinstalled when the snow melts in the spring/summer. The timing of its reinstallation depends on when the snow melts.
Trail section 5: STF Sylarna Mountain Station–STF Storulvån Mountain Station
16 kilometers, 5–6 hours of hiking
Accommodation: STF Storulvån Mountain Station
Now it’s time to leave the magnificent Sylarna behind for a hike towards Storulvån. The terrain during the hike is gently undulating and without any major difficulties. Bridges and boardwalks along the route make it easy to cross streams and wet areas. The hike begins with a descent of 3 kilometers to the shelter Gamla Sylen. Opposite, on the other side of Sylälven, Sweden’s very first mountain station was built a long time ago. The location is marked up.
The trail continues through rolling terrain towards the shelter Spåime, located approximately halfway to Storulvån. From here, the trail mainly follows dry sections, although there are some boardwalked marshy areas. Before reaching the destination, there’s a final descent before crossing the bridge over Lill-Ulvån. Finally, you conclude your wonderful hike in sparse mountain birch forest.
Read more about the stages
If you want to know more about the individual sections, you can find additional information in our selection of trail sections. During the summer, it’s also possible to start at Nedalshytta, as there is a summer road leading there from the Norwegian side.
DNT Key
To enter the DNT mountain cabins on the Norwegian side, a key is required. The key can be borrowed at STF Storulvån and STF Sylarna for a deposit fee of 100 SEK. The deposit fee will be refunded when you return the key to STF Storulvån or STF Sylarna. Read more about the DNT key here.
Accommodation near Sylarna Circuit
Visitor Calender
Do you prefer when it’s more quiet in the mountains? With our visitor calendar, you get an overview of the occupancy levels in this mountain area, so you can plan your trip for less busy periods. During periods with fewer visitors, we often offer better prices. Please note that the visitor calendar only provides an indication and does not take into account deviations such as events or holidays.
