Hidden Gems

Underappreciated and forgotten hiking treasures

Text: Anna Kernell

Classic Swedish hikes like Kungsleden, Jämtlandstriangeln and Österlenleden never disappoint, but you don't really need another article about them. Instead, we’ve collected some overlooked hikes and trails less travelled. Near the sea, in the mountains, through green valleys and deep forests. Trails for everyone – from the whole family to the lone wolf.

The Magical Marsfjället

Fatmomakke–Marsfjällskåtan–Blerikstugan–Fatmomakke

Top Tip! If you start in Kittelfjäll, you can take a bus from Vilhelmina. The trip will then be about 60 kilometres. Where? Southwestern Lappland, about 10 kilometres northwest of the town Vilhelmina. Who'll like this hike? The wilderness lover who wants the mountains all to themselves. What are the main attractions? Sami cultural

heritage and unspoilt wilderness areas in southern Lapland. Best time to visit: August.

Length: 35 km. What you need: Tent, mosquito spray and two to three days' food. Bring water if you plan to camp on the mountain, at Marsfjällskåtan, for example. If you can manage the trip in two days, you can spend the night in a cabin that's located halfway along the trail. This way, you can pack light and go without a tent. How to get there: You can drive and park in Fatmomakke. It takes a bit of effort to get there, but Marsfjället is well worth a visit, with a natural wilderness made up of mountains, primaeval forest and boggy highlands. This hike is a special treat for birdwatchers and it's also home to many rare plants.

You start in fir forests at the base of the mountains and work your way uphill before continuing through a mountain-birch forest along a stream. When you reach Marsfjällskåtan, the landscape opens up, with a magnificent view of the Marsfjäll massif. From here, you can make a detour to climb the Marsfjäll summit, southern Lapland's highest peak at 1590 metres. It's a fantastic summit hike that offers spectacular views. On a clear day, you can see far into Norway.

The hike then continues over grass heaths towards Blerikstugan. If you're lucky, you may catch a glimpse of a mountain fox or a wolverine. When you're close to the cabin, a majestic panorama opens up over the Bleriksjöarna and Rissjön lakes and the Borkafjäll mountain. Here you can take a dip before warming up in a cabin with a stove.

The next morning, make an early start and head west towards Svartbäcksdalen. It's uphill at first but then levels out. Svartbäcksdalen has many traces of older Sami culture, such as stalotomts (ruined Sami buildings) and storage pits. The last part of the hike is through the beautiful birch forest, and you'll finish the walk where you started.

Klöva Hallar

The green 'Grand Canyon' of Skåne

Top Tip! Pack your climbing equipment, spend a night at the sheltered lunch spot and tackle one of Solväggen's or Kristallväggen's famous climbing routes the next day. Want something a little tougher? Continue along the Skåneleden trail through Klåveröd's walking area and Söderåsen National Park. From Skäralid, you can take a bus back to Klippan station. The trip will then be about 30 kilometres (24 on Skåneleden). Where? Just south of Klippan in northwestern Skåne. Who’ll like this hike? Mushroom and deciduous forest fans. It’s easy to adapt this tour for small children and the elderly. What are the main attractions? A colossal

ravine with dramatic valleys and beech-covered ridges. Rare lichens, mosses and mushrooms. Best time to visit: August – October.

Length: About 6 km. What you need: A packed lunch. A mushroom basket if you come in autumn (Klöva hallar is a mushroom mecca). How to get there: You can drive and park in Klöva hallar. Or by train from Helsingborg (30 minutes), Hässleholm (30 minutes) or Kristianstad (50 minutes) to Klippan station. From the station, walk 5.5 kilometres along a country road to get to Klöva hallar.

Klöva hallar is a smaller version of the more famous and busier Skäralid ravine in Söderåsen National Park. Here it's just as beautiful, wilder and gets less visitors. Enjoy relaxed hiking with stunning views from the ridge or go off-trail and explore the enchanting and more demanding landscape.

Top Tip! Start by following the Skåneleden trail from the parking lot before turning left onto an unmarked path that appears after about fifty metres. The path isn't maintained, so expect to have to negotiate fallen trees and climb over smaller boulders. However, it won't take long before you encounter Klövabäcken, which flows along the bottom of the ravine. Next to the stream, there's a narrow path that you then follow. Steep rock walls, the babbling brook, and the dim light transport you to another world.

There are several opportunities to get out of the ravine, but if you continue past Soffabacken, there's a sheltered area that's perfect for a lunch break. There's also a good (but steep) path from the valley that leads you back onto the Skåneleden trail.

Via Skåneleden, you can walk back to the parking lot at your own pace. It runs through a beautiful beech forest along the northern edge of the ravine and offers several stunning vantage points over the dramatic landscape.

NOTE: Soffabacken is closed between 1st March and 31st July. So, do the hike in autumn or choose another route if you come here in the middle of summer.

Nordkoster

A rough diamond on the 'Best Coast'

Top Tip! Still got some energy? Continue on Sydkoster (about 14 kilometres around the island) or take on any number of stages on the Bohusleden trail towards Strömstad and finish off with the trail on Nordkoster. Where? In the sea outside Strömstad, close enough as far north as you can get on the West Coast. Who’ll like this hike? Anyone who loves rugged coastal landscapes and cliff paths. What are the main attractions? Sweden’s

first-and-only marine national park with its unique and species-rich sea environment. Best time to visit: Spring, summer and autumn. If you want to avoid the vacationers, go in early June or after the end of August. Length: About 8 km. What you need: Packed lunch – there are no shops or cafés on Nordkoster after you leave the coast. Swimwear and approach shoes can come in handy. Swimming goggles and snorkel are a good idea too if you want to spend some time under the sea. How to get there: By ferry from Strömstad. The line is busy during the summer and takes between 30 and 60 minutes.

Nordkoster is the wilder of the two main islands in the Kosterhavet National Park. Lots of rare species thrive here, in the sea, as well as on land. Two four-kilometre trails run through the beautifully-barren landscape, but there are many opportunities for exciting detours, so no need to plan your hike in detail.

Disembark at Västra bryggan and start hiking. There are no cars here (apart from the ICA cars), and after only a few hundred metres, you leave the island’s tiny settlement. Soon you’ll encounter the orange trail that takes you out into Pumpedalen, over heather moors, dry meadows and vast shingle flats formed by the last ice age. Here on the northwest side of the island, it’s strikingly beautiful. Climb the cliffs at Valnäs, look for seals and see if you can find the small cave with luminous moss. When you arrive at Norrvikarna, the clear blue water is a pristine swim spot.

The southwest side is just as stunning. A marked path leads to Björnsängen, one of Koster’s finest bathing spots, further over mountains and rocks to Ö-udden with its wreckage and rare flora.

Bjurälven

The invisible river in northern Jämtland

Top Tip! Sweden's longest underwater cave, the Coral Cave, is just a few kilometres away. If you have time, it's definitely worth a visit. If you want to crawl around in the dark caves, you'll need to book a guided tour. Where? 5 kilometres north of Stora Blåsjön in northernmost Jämtland. Who’ll like this hike? The whole family. What are the main attractions? One of Sweden’s

most varied geological areas. The underground river with its incredible cave system is something you don’t want to miss. Best time to visit: Late summer or early autumn: until midsummer, there can still be a lot of snow and water left. Length: 13 km. What you need: A packed lunch, swimwear and torches or headlamps. How to get there: You can drive and park near the Leipikvattnet farm.

Bjurälven is a unique karst area nestled between the mountains in the northern tip of Jämtland. The dramatic landscape has unique flora and is a honeycomb of craters and caves. The 'Invisible River' flows underground in places, but it surges up from the ground here and there. The unusual activity of the river has sculpted the landscape both above and below ground.

From the car park to the karst area, it's a threekilometre hike through lush mountain vegetation. At the Lillälven rest cottage, there's a fireplace, an outhouse and a waste bin. A bit further along the trail, there's also a campsite. If you're hiking with your family, it's a great spot to spend the night, then you'll have plenty of time to explore and divide the route into two days. Just the right distance for small adventurers!

From here, the adventure really begins. Bridges, stairs and ladders have been built to facilitate the 6-kilometre-long hike through the area. There are several lovely (but cold!) swimming spots along the trail, so bring your swimwear and challenge yourself. You can also take your headlamps and take a look inside the caves.

A gem on the Sörmlandsleden trail

Stages 11, 12, 13, & 13:1

Top Tip! Make a day trip out of it by turning onto stage 12:1 towards Mölnbo after Vattgruvsmossen. The trip will then be about 15 kilometres long, and you can catch the train back to Stockholm from Mölnbo. Where? The walk starts in Järna, south of Södertälje. Who’ll like this hike? Those who want to leave the loud city behind and long for the quiet rustle of the forest. What are the main attractions? An easily-

accessible weekend trip through a wilderness rich in woods and lakes. Best time to visit: Weather permitting – all year round. Length: 45.5 km. What you need: Shelters are scattered along the trail, but a tent will give you the freedom to pick your own spot. How to get there: Take the commuter train no. 40 from Stockholm to Södertjäle hamn. Change onto train 48 towards Gnesta and get off at Järna. The journey takes just under an hour.

You don't have to go far for an adventure. This is a wild and scenic part of the Sörmlandsleden trail that leads through the Vattgruvsmossen and Stora Envättern nature reserves; both are full of forests and lakes. Head out on a Friday afternoon and do the hike over the weekend.

The first stretch takes you to the scenic countryside around Vattgruvsmossen. Here you'll find ancient untouched forest, bog woodlands and black grouse that sing in spring. The Stora Kobäcken lake is a nice rest area where you can spend your first night.

As you continue your hike after a good night's sleep, you'll encounter old iron ore mines from the 18th century in the middle of the forest. Picturesque and beautifully overgrown; but not fenced, so be careful where you put your feet! The trail leading up to Yngsviken offers more demanding hiking. After the connection point for stage 12:1, it has steep uphill and downhill sections amongst cliffs and high-lying forest terrain. Several nice rest areas at Horssjöarna and Alsjöarna offer the chance to take a quick swim.

Stage 13 is a proper wilderness stretch that begins with a steep climb before mellowing out along the path towards towards the Stora Envättern lake. During your hike, you'll meet beautiful old-growth forest and surroundings dominated by lakes, bogs and mountains. Set up your tent in a quiet spot and fall asleep to the tranquil sounds of the woods.

At the Djupsjön lake, stage 13:1 connects to Gnesta. You walk on forest trails and roads, down over Långberget, past Klämmingsbergsbadet and Södertuna castle, before finally reaching the train station in Gnesta.