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Padjelanta National Park

The largest national park in Sweden, open highland of great lakes and flower-rich fell on the Norwegian border.

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UNESCO World Heritage

Typenational park

WhereNorrbotten

Nearest cityKvikkjokk about 60 km on foot; Ritsem is the northern access

Best seasonJuly to September

Time to allowFive to ten days

Getting thereThe Padjelantaleden trail from Kvikkjokk or Ritsem; helicopter services in summer

EntryFree; hut fees charged

Padjelanta covers about nineteen hundred square kilometres, which makes it the largest Swedish national park, and its character is different from the peaks around it: this is high open country rather than alpine, wide rolling fell at eight hundred to a thousand metres with the great lakes Virihaure and Vastenjaure in the middle of it. The name means the higher country in Lule Sami. Calcareous bedrock gives an unusually rich mountain flora. Reindeer herding continues throughout and Sami settlements at Staloluokta and elsewhere are inhabited in summer. The Padjelantaleden runs about a hundred and forty kilometres through with huts, and helicopters serve the route.

What you actually see

Wide open fell - rolling rather than alpine.
Virihaure and Vastenjaure - the great lakes at the centre.
A rich flora on lime bedrock - unusual for the latitude.
Sami summer settlements - Staloluokta and others.

When to go

July to September. Five to ten days for the trail.

Honest expectations

This is a multi-day walk-in - there is no road access. Huts are simple and need planning. Weather at altitude turns fast. Reindeer herding is active and areas are worked, not empty.