Three hikers in birch forest on Kungsleden

Vindelfjällen

The Vindelfjäll nature reserve contains all that the Lapland mountains can offer in a nutshell. Here you can find high massivs, U-bottomed valleys and mountain heathland. Further down, there are mountain birch forests, wetlands full of birdlife, lakes full of fish, and Sami settlements. If you’re lucky, you may see a mountain fox.

Bridges are temporarily replaced with rowing boats

The County Administrative Board of Västerbotten will replace the bridges on Kungsleden between the Syter Mountain Hut and the Tärnasjö Mountain Hut during the summer of 2021. The bridges will be temporarily replaced with rowing boats and the work is expected to last throughout the summer. More information in Swedish can be found at the County Administrative Board.

Kungsleden between Ammarnäs and Hemavan passes right through the region, and STF cabins are located at the end of each stage. If you hike southwards from Ammarnäs, the first day is a stiff climb up towards the STF Aigert mountain cabin. If you want an easier route, take the boat to Servestugan across Tjulträsket, west of Ammarnäs.

You then take the second highest pass on Kungsleden as part of the stage between Aigert and Serve. Stop for a while and admire the magnificent view towards Ammarfjället. Birdwatchers and anglers are usually eager to break trail at Tärnasjön. The Tärnasjö archipelago is located at the southern end of the lake, which you pass using long suspended bridges.

As you approach the STF Syter mountain cabin, views of the Syter peaks await. The U-bottomed Viterskalet is known locally as “Södra Lapporten”. Norra Sytertoppen rises beside Viterskalet: with its 1,766 metres this is the highest peak in the Vindel mountains. The trail ends at Viterskalet with a long downhill into Hemavan, the southern end of Kungsleden. The STF hostel in Hemavan offers good food and comfortable beds.

Reindeer husbandry is carried out throughout the region, and visitors must show respect for this.

Arriving

  • It is possible to reach Ammarnäs and Hemavan by car, bus, train or air.
  • There are flights to Hemavan from Stockholm in the summer and winter seasons. Other airports that can be used are Storuman and Arvidsjaur. It is also possible to fly to Umeå, Lycksele or Vilhelmina. From the airport, it’s easiest to take county bus or taxi.
  • The train will bring you to Vännäs station, from where you can continue by county bus. (It’s best to use what is known as a “Resplus” ticket, in which train and bus travel are combined). During the summer, from June to August, you can also take the Inlandsbanan train to Storuman and then travel onwards by county bus.
  • Länstrafiken i Västerbotten has routes to both Ammarnäs and Hemavan. It’s also possible to take the long-distance bus Lapplandspilen from Stockholm to Hemavan.

Visitor Calendar

Would you prefer to go hiking in the mountains when there are less visitors around? With our visitor calendar you get an overview of the amount of guests visiting this area per week throughout the season. Please note that the visitor calendar only gives an indication and does not take into account deviations connected to specific events.

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