Västerbotten: Coast, Mountains and Sámi Culture

Västerbotten County stretches from the east coast on the Gulf of Bothnia to the Norwegian border in the west. The northern part between Sorsele and Skellefteå belongs to Swedish Lapland. The unspoiled nature of Västerbotten County encompasses coasts, lakes, mountains, valleys and deep forests.

Nature and Trails

Vindelfjällen is Sweden's largest nature reserve and one of Europe's largest protected areas. The section of the Kungsleden between Ammarnäs and Hemavan runs through this nature reserve. Along this trail there are five mountain huts operated by STF. In Ammarnäs and Hemavan, the Vindelfjällen Naturum visitor centres offer tips on hiking trails, guided tours, exhibitions, maps and souvenirs.

Atoklimpen is a Sámi cultural landscape that shows how the nomadic reindeer-herding society has used the landscape from prehistoric times to the present day. A trail just under 9 kilometres long leads around Atoklimpen and is equipped with several information boards. The summit consists of the highly weather-resistant volcanic rock peridotite, which is transformed into serpentine rock, among other things. Because of the heavy metals in the serpentine rock and the nutrient-poor environment, only a few plant species can survive there.

Björnlandet National Park protects valuable old-growth forest in a hilly woodland landscape; the oldest pines are over 500 years old. The national park has several marked hiking trails and two overnight huts. At Bjuröklubb, you can hike across rock slabs and through sand dunes, stop at the lighthouse keeper's house and reach the lighthouse via an easily accessible ramp. There is also an 8-kilometre trail over Svarthällorna; near Grundskatan, Storsandsbankarna are home to Västerbotten's longest sand dunes.

Holmöarnas Nature Reserve is accessible by ferry and offers several hiking trails. On Holmön and Ängesön, the lightly trafficked gravel roads are suitable for cycling; in summer, bicycles can be rented in Byviken. Isälvsleden runs for 60 kilometres between Vindeln and Åmsele through a distinctive landscape with sharp sand ridges and passes through several nature reserves.

River Landscapes and Historic Places

At Vindelforsarna, a marked trail takes about an hour to circle the reserve, runs along both banks of the river and offers several rest areas. Vindelforsarna includes a mill dating from 1888, summer art exhibitions known as Konst i Kvarn and a café in the miller's residence that is open in summer. Vindelforsarna is located near Vindeln travel centre, which is accessible by bus and train.

Culture and History

Västerbottens museum is one of 24 Swedish provincial museums, operates throughout Västerbotten County and communicates the region's cultural heritage through exhibitions, programmes and educational activities. The Gammlia open-air museum comprises around 30 buildings that were relocated there from different parts of Västerbotten and documents what Västerbotten looked like in the past and how people lived at that time. In summer, Gammlia offers various activities, including Midsummer celebrations and dance evenings.

In Umeå, Sámi Week, also known as Ubmejen Biejvieh, takes place every year in February or March, with activities such as tastings and joik singing competitions. Umedalen Sculpture Park is open all year round and admission is free. Bonnstan in Skellefteå is a well-preserved collection of wooden houses that has remained largely unchanged since it was built in the first half of the 19th century. Västerbottens museum at Gammlia in Umeå can be reached by public transport, car, bicycle or on foot.

Winter Trails and Ski Areas

Lapplandsleden is a 190-kilometre ski and hiking trail connecting Borgafjäll and Hemavan. A tent is required for multi-day hikes on Lapplandsleden because the huts are far apart. There are four overnight huts on Lapplandsleden: Arevattnet, Åtnikstugan, Tjåkkelestugan and Slipsikstugan. Kittelfjäll offers several ski runs for snowboarding and alpine skiing.

The following regional subareas are included: Vindeln, Sorsele, Lycksele, Malå, Nordmaling, Norsjö, Vilhelmina, Vännäs, Umeå, Skellefteå, Dorotea, Storuman, Bjurholm, Robertsfors, Åsele and Svansele.