Västerbotten: Ski slopes, long-distance trails and nature reserves

Västerbotten offers specific winter activities, long trails and vast protected areas. Kittelfjäll offers several ski slopes for snowboarding and alpine skiing. For longer excursions, the Lapplandsleden stretches for over 190 kilometres and connects Borgafjäll with Hemavan.

Winter and trails

The Lapplandsleden is both a ski trail and a hiking trail. A tent is required for multi-day hikes, as the huts are far apart. Four overnight huts are named Arevattnet, Åtnikstugan, Tjåkkelestugan and Slipsikstugan. On the section of the Kungsleden between Ammarnäs and Hemavan, the trail passes through the Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve. Along this section of the Kungsleden, there are five mountain huts operated by STF.

The Naturum Vindelfjällen visitor centres in Ammarnäs and Hemavan offer tips on hiking trails, guided tours, exhibitions, maps and souvenirs. This provides different forms of information and interpretation about the protected area in both locations.

Nature

Vindelfjällen is Sweden’s largest nature reserve and one of Europe’s largest protected areas. In Björnlandet National Park, a hilly forest landscape protects valuable old-growth forest. The oldest pine trees there are over 500 years old. The national park includes several marked hiking trails and two overnight huts.

At Atoklimpen, a trail just under 9 kilometres long leads around the area and features several information boards. Atoklimpen is a Sámi cultural landscape that shows how the nomadic reindeer-herding society used the land from prehistoric times to the present day. The summit consists of the highly weather-resistant volcanic rock peridotite, which is transformed into serpentine rock, among other things. Because of the heavy metals in the serpentine rock and the nutrient-poor surroundings, only a few plant species can survive there.

At Vindelforsarna, a marked trail leads around the reserve in about an hour. It runs along both banks of the river and offers several rest areas. The Isälvsleden stretches for 60 kilometres between Vindeln and Åmsele. It passes through a distinctive landscape with pointed sand ridges and crosses several nature reserves.

Coast and islands

At Bjuröklubb, the trail runs over rock slabs and through sand dunes. The lighthouse keeper’s house offers refreshments, and an easily accessible ramp leads to the lighthouse. An 8-kilometre trail runs there across Svarthällorna. Near Grundskatan, Storsandsbankarna is home to Västerbotten’s longest sand dunes.

Holmöarnas Nature Reserve can be reached by ferry and offers several hiking trails. On Holmön and Ängesön, the quiet gravel roads are suitable for cycling; in summer, bicycles can be rented in Byviken.

Culture

Västerbottens museum is one of Sweden’s 24 provincial museums. It operates throughout Västerbotten County and conveys the region’s cultural heritage through exhibitions, programmes and educational activities. The Gammlia open-air museum comprises around 30 buildings that were relocated there from various parts of Västerbotten. It documents what Västerbotten looked like in the past and how people lived at that time. In summer, Gammlia offers various activities, including Midsummer celebrations and dance evenings.

Västerbottens museum at Gammlia in Umeå can be reached by public transport, car, bicycle or on foot. Every year in February or March, Umeå hosts Sámi Week, also known as Ubmejen Biejvieh. The programme includes activities such as tastings and joik singing competitions.

Vindelforsarna includes a mill dating from 1888, summer art exhibitions known as “Konst i Kvarn” and a café in the miller’s residence that is open in summer. Vindelforsarna is located near the Vindeln travel centre, which can be reached by bus and train. Umedalen Sculpture Park is open all year round, and admission is free. Bonnstan in Skellefteå is a well-preserved collection of wooden houses that has remained largely unchanged since it was built in the first half of the 19th century.

Space and landscape

Västerbotten County stretches from the east coast on the Gulf of Bothnia to the Norwegian border in the west. The northern part between Sorsele and Skellefteå belongs to Swedish Lapland. The unspoilt nature of Västerbotten County includes coasts, lakes, mountains, valleys and deep forests.

For further regional classification, the subregion Storuman is available.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sweden.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Uppsala, Skåne, Västra Götaland, Jämtland, Jönköping, Norrbotten, Halland.