National Parks in its purest forms

There is a large number of national parks and nature reserves throughout Lapland and Northern Sweden, where travellers can experience various types of unique Arctic scenery, independently or in a wide range of organised tours and excursions, at any time of year. Listed below are a selection of some of the most famous national parks.

Lapporten in Abisko, Swedish Lapland

Lapporten in Abisko, Swedish Lapland

Lapporten in Abisko, Swedish Lapland()

Sarek
Founded in 1909, Sarek National Park is a vast area of trackless wilderness of a supreme beauty, hard to surpass or even equal anywhere in the world. Together with the adjacent Stora Sjöfallet and Padjelanta parks, Sarek forms Europe´s largest national park, with a total area of over 5,200 square kilometres of unspoiled wilderness. It´s a high mountain area of dramatic alpine massifs and narrow valleys, glaciers, lakes, water courses and wetlands. Sarek´s ”artery” is the famous Rapadalen valley, with the Rapapaäto river carrying a huge flow of bright green water from over 30 glaciers. In Sarek, there is plenty of big game such as bear, lynx, wolverine and the towering Sarek moose. As the vast area has no trails or hiking cabins, and as the weather conditions are harsh and highly unpredictable, hiking in Sarek National Park is only recommended for experienced hikers. They will find a wilderness paradise of truly unique beauty.

Abisko
The Abisko National Park, with the deep Abisko Canyon, rises from the Torneträsk lake into high alpine terrain. This is a park of tremendous beauty, overlooking the classic ”Lapp Gateway” mountain formation, and one of the most popular and most easily accesible spots for hikers and skiers from near and far, who use the Abisko mountain station as a base for exploring the vast mountain regions here. Abisko is the start/finish point of the famous King´s Trail, a 440 kilometre marked trail with hiking cabins along the way, passing through some of Sweden´s and Northern Europe´s most magnificent scenery. Abisko is also one of the most popular sites for visitors who come during winter to experience the dramatic Northern Lights.

Vadvetjåkka
A national park north of the Torneträsk lake with a unique and diverse flora in its meadows, forests and marshlands.

Muddus
One of Sweden´s most exquisite virgin forests, where many of the older pines show scars of wood fires which have affected the landscape. In the park, there are also unique marshlands with an abundance of birds.

Pieljekaise
A park best known for its lush meadow birch forests.

Haparanda Archipelago
A unique Baltic archipelago consisting of two larger islands, Sandskär and Seskarö-Furö, and a large number of smaller islets and skerries. The national park is known for its unique flora and as a resort for over 200 bird species.

Perämeri/Bottenviken
The Bottenviken National Park in the far north of the Baltic Sea is comprised of groups of islands separated by vast open waters. The islands have an interesting flora and intense bird life, as well as a large seal population.

Skuleskogen
The national park at the centre of the High Coast World Heritage area, with a unique forestscape that is the result of the dramatic land elevation which is still ongoing. Due to its unique terrain, the park has many trees and species rare to these latitudes. The scenery is dramatic, with Sweden´s highest island, Mjältön, rising 236 metres straight out of the sea. The red granite cliffs are another distinguishing feature of the area.

Rapadalen in Sarek, Swedish Lapland

Sarek National Park - The jewel of Laponia

Hiking and trekking in Sarek National Park rewards the visitor with magnificent, unspoiled vistas. It lies in the Laponia World Heritage Site in northern Sweden and is one of Europe’s last remaining wildernesses.

Camping in Rapadalen, Sarek National Park, Lapland

The greatest wilderness in Western Europe

Laponia is a conglomeration of four national parks in western Lapland, included on Unesco´s World Heritage List for its unique nature and as a historic site for Sami culture.

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