PADJELANTALEDEN

TRAIL INTRODUCTION

The Padjelantaleden – Padjelanta Trail – is a 137 km thru-hike in northern Sweden. Beginning in the south in the small mountain village of Kvikkjokk and finishing in the north at the lakeside village of Änonjalmme, the trail leads you through the forested Tarra valley before crossing into the spectacular mountain highlands of Padjelanta national park.

With 10 STF/BLT mountain huts along the trail or the option of wild camping anywhere along the route, the hike is well suited for beginner hikers looking for a first long distance trail experience.

Somewhat overshadowed by the international popularity of the nearby Kungsleden trail or the more rugged and adventurous mountains of Sarek national park, the Padjelantaleden only receives a fraction of the visitors hiking among the mountains of Swedish Lapland. This results in a relaxing hiking experience on a trail which remains in good condition, not over-worn like sections on the northern Kungsleden, peaceful huts, and more or less your choice of any camping spot to pitch a tent.

The scenery itself is equally spectacular and once you’ve climbed into the highlands, the views are almost overwhelming. Day after day is spent hiking across the rolling hills of the high mountain plateau in the heart of Padjelanta national park. Surrounded by wild flowing rivers and endless lakes, water is everywhere as the trail winds its way through the vast mountain landscape.

PADJELANTA NATIONAL PARK

Created in 1963, Padjelanta national park is Sweden’s largest national park (1,984 sq. km ) and forms part of the larger Laponia UNESCO world heritage area – which also includes Muddus, Sarek, and Stora Sjöfallet national parks. The name Padjelanta originates from the Sami word Badjelannda, meaning ‘higher land,’ and much of the national park consists of mountain highlands and lakes.

Leaving Kvikkjokk, the trail reaches the national park after around 40 kilometers of hiking just as the last trees begin to disappear from the Tarra valley. The trail finally leaves the national park again north of Gisuris hut on the way to the ferry at Änonjalmme on the shore of lake Ahkajavrre.

More than just a natural area, Padjelanta national park is also an important cultural region for the native Sami people and their reindeer. The mountain highlands have served as the summer grazing lands for countless generations, before the autumn roundup and migration to the coastal lowlands for winter. You will see many places along the trail used in the migration of reindeer and pass numerous summer village areas – with Staloluokta on the eastern shore of lake Virihaure being the largest settlement.