Many people would agree on Vålådalen being the very heart of Swedish mountaineering. This is the start point for many of the country’s classic mountain routes; day tours as well as longer hikes, to mountain refugees, such as Stensdalen, Vålåstugorna, Lunndörren and Gåsen. For day tours, we recommend the beautiful hikes to Blanktjärn, Ottfjället, Pyramiderna and Kyrksten. No matter if you are a beginner or an experienced hiker, Vålådalen offers challenges for everyone. Read more in Södra Årefjällens guide (in Swedish)
DAY TOURS 1-10 km
Nipan (4 km go & return) By the rest area Nipan you can enjoy a stunning view. This unique spot is situated high above the river Vålån and looks over Ottfjället, Rekdalen and Kyrksten. Start from the track center in Vålådalen and walk towards Lunndörrstugan, and turn right after the hanging bridge. After approximately 1 km you reach this windshield where you can take refugee and just enjoy the stillness, or do as the Swedes and reach out for your coffee thermos
Västra Storbäcken (3 km go & return) When its first tourist, Minister Thomas, came to Vålådalen, he supervised the construction of a few hunting cabins on Ottfjället. One of those cabins was later reformed to a windshield that is still standing on the same spot. Follow the track up the hill or start counter clockwise on the lighted (ski) trail for about 500 meters before you turn left onto the interval trail (Lappvägen). You will find the windshield after approx. 1 km by the road on your right-hand side
Kläppen på Ottfjället (7 km t/r) (7 km go & return) By the end of Ottfjällsvägen, above the treeline, you find Kläppen. It is a small peak with stunning views over a grand part of the mountains of the county Jämtland. Follow the marked track from Vålådalens Fjällstation or start counter clockwise on the lighted (ski) trail for about 500 meters before you turn left onto the interval trail (Lappvägen), and follow that road to its end. Remember to bring a map to get guidance for your views! The map is called Z53 and is for sale in our shop.
Nulltjärn (8 km go & return) This route starts by the track center and coincides in the beginning with the trail towards Stensdalen, then follow the signs to Nulltjärn. It is an easy beautiful hike through birch forest. By the lake Nulltjärn you will find a windshield and a fire place. You can either take the same way back, or follow the ”10 km track” on the other side of the road back home. The map for this tour is Z53 and is for sale in our shop.
DAY TOURS 10-20 km
Blanktjärnsrundan (12 km round trip) This is a must and one of Vålådalens most classic hikes. The track takes you over the flowering ”Matskålsängarna”, over morasses, and through birch- and fir woods. Walking up the gravel kames you will be received by the crystal clear turquoise water of the lakes Blanktjärnarna. Beyond the tree tops you will glimpse the tree- line and the mountains. Along the way you will pass Nipan, a beautiful rest area with stunning views over the river Vålån. On this roundtrip, you can choose whether to walk clockwise or counter clock wise;, the track is very easy to follow both ways and you will return to the same spot by Vålådalens track center.
Ottfjällets peaks (12-15 km go & return) From Vålådalen you have a great possibility to climb any of the mountain Ottfjället’s peaks. There are different options to start the tour. Either, follow the marked track from Vålådalens Fjällstation, or start counter clockwise on the lighted (ski) trail, walking for about 500 meters before you turn left onto the interval trail (Lappvägen). There are tracks both to the East and the West peaks of Ottfjället, please remember to bring a map (possible to buy in our shop). To the highest top (1265 m.a.s.l.), which is the eastern peak, there is approx. 6 km, and to the lower western peak it is approx. 7 km.
East Vålådalen/Vallbo (15-20 km go & return) Take the marked track or the interval trail (Lappvägen) towards Ottfjället and then follow the signs to Östra Vålådalen. The tour starts in birch forest, but soon you are above the tree line and may enjoy magnificent views walking along the hill. After a few kilometres you follow the signs and tracks downhill again, through the beautiful forest. Once you reach Östra Vålådalen you may take a nice break at Vålågarden and enjoy a typical waffle. There is a short cut from Östra Vålådalen back to Vålådalens Fjällstation, please ask the staff at Vålågården and they will show you. If you would like to continue to Vallbo, a must-see is the chapel Lappkapellet. It was built by Jon Jonsson, known as ”Lappkungen”.
Grönvallens Sameviste (14 km go & return) You find Grönvallen , a well preserved Sami home, in the forest between tree line and civilization. There are remains of huts and buildings, and there is a windshield to take a rest. This tour goes mostly on serpentine tracks through birch forest, and is a perfect option on a windy day.
Issjödalen och Pyramiderna (22 km t/r) (22 km go & return) From a geological perspective, this is one of the most interesting spots in the Swedish mountains. Here you will see remarkable traces of the ice age, including springs, erosion dales and pits. The ”Pyramids” are considered the most spectacular sight in this area. Perfectly formed by the erosions of the inland ice, these pyramids might remind you about Egypt. Please note that it is prohibited to climb the pyramids in order to keep them protected. You will follow the signs from the track center in Vålådalen and the tour takes you through the birch forest all the way to Issjödalen.
Kyrkstenen (from Vålådalen 20 km both ways, from Nulltjärn 12 km both ways) Kyrkstenen (the ”Churh Stone” is a peculiar and mythical rock emerging from the mountain Kyrkstensfjället. The legend tells about a Sami couple who went there to meet a military priest in order for him to baptize their son. This way, not only the child got his name, but also this special rock and the mountain got their names. According to the story, the child’s name was Fjällsten. The track goes through an easy terrain and not until the last 500 meters you reach out of the forest and the views open. If you wish to walk the longer version, you can start from Vålådalens Fjällstation and follow the signs to Nulltjärn. For a shorter hike, you take car or bike to Nulltärn and start the walk there. You can buy a map over the area in our shop.
Longer hikes
Vålådalen is very popular as starting point for different mountain hikes. For more information "flerdagarsturer"
