Hiking in central Sweden in april/may

[Hallu]

Hi everyone,

I'll be joining some friends for a week near Göteborg in late April (25-29th). I'm looking forward to making a holiday out of this as well, but I can't figure out where to go at that time of year. I don't think I have the budget to fly to Lapland, so I would rent a car in Göteborg airport. I'm a big nature and road trip fan, although I enjoy the occasional historical city or village, but would rather put the emphasis on day hikes. I don't plan on bringing my tent and camping gear, and will rather stay in AirBnBs and hotels. Some guys at TripAdvisor told me to ask here on this forum.

The issue I have is snow. I have snowshoes and love hiking in snow, it's not a problem. I just don't know how far North to go, and whether or not the terrain is good enough to hike pretty much everywhere. I can have my vacation after I'm done seeing my friends in early May, or before, in mid April. Which is best ? I don't want to go too far North for this, I thing Östersund and surrounding mountains would be my limit, as I plan on 12 days, not including the visit to my friends. Which parks or areas should I visit ? Will there be snow covering the mountains ? I have been to Sweden before, and I'm not a big fan of the countryside, with endless red barns and fields, I'm really looking for mountains, lake, wilderness in general, and wild animals. I also don't mind crossing to Norway to see places like Blåfjella-Skjækerfjella Nasjonalpark. I don't ski, and I know the ideal way to get around is skiing when there is snow. I have a good level of hiking, ie I don't need bespoke snowshoes trails, can hike off trail, I have my GPS and maps. I'm used to the French Alps, where a day hike with 1000 m elevation gain is considered quite common.


Another big issue I have is hiking books. I can't find any in English or French. Rother.de edits great hiking books, but the ones they've done on Sweden are in German. Can you help me ? Thanks !

 

[KimE]

If you want to use your snowshoes Lapland are the best area in May Jämtland have to little or rotten snow what time of year. You can travel by train to Abisko from Göteborg.
https://www.swedishtouristassociation.com/areas/abisko-and-kebnekaisefjallen/

If you want to hike in a snow free area Skuleskogen and the "high coast trail" (Högakustenleden) are a option in may. Its the most northern trail you can find without snow what time of the year.
https://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se/leder/hoga-kustenleden/
https://www.sverigesnationalparker....iler/skuleskogens-nationalpark-karta-2016.pdf

 

[Hallu]

Hi KimE ,
thanks for your answer. I don't have to snowshoe, it's not a goal in itself, I'd just like to have a nice 10/12 days of vacation. I don't plan on doing a multi day trek, like I said, I'll rent a car, and do a road trip with day hikes here and there. I know this isn't exactly the usual way hikers spend their vacations in Sweden (or Norway) so that's why it's difficult to find good information.

 

[Danne W]

Maybe Storulvån and/or Sylarna would be suitable.
https://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se/anlaggningar/stf-sylarna-fjallstation/

If you don't want to rent a car you can take the (very environment-friendly) night train.

 

[KimE]

Do a couple of days in Storulvån area, STF fjällstation/hostel.
https://www.swedishtouristassociati...6.1811561316.1509718611-1128653940.1509718611
https://www.swedishtouristassociation.com/facilities/stf-blahammaren-mountain-station/images/


Change to the core of Skuleskogen maybee 2-3 days. You can rent a room close to it if you travel by car.
http://norrfallsviken.com/


If you have a sleepingbag and mat you can use the cabins in Skuleskogen for free. Sleepingbag and mat are also needed for STF Svenska turistföreningen cabins( not needed for their youth hostels).