Vilhelmina – Church Town, Lakes and the Wilderness Road

From Vilhelmina, the Wilderness Road leads north through mountain, forest and expansive moorland landscapes.

Culture, Church and History

The Vilhelmina Museum is housed in an old vicarage dating from the 1890s in the church town. It presents the history of the municipality from prehistoric times to the present day. The exhibitions include tools from the settlers’ period of subsistence farming as well as Sámi objects. The museum also displays the rich grave find known as the “Maksjöfyndet” from the 7th century and a ski dating from the 3rd century.

Opposite the church town, the Samegalleriet displays, among other things, the world’s largest Sámi knife. Expert guides lead visitors through the exhibition and also offer adventures in the Lappish wilderness.

Vilhelmina Church Town comprises 27 red cottages around the church in the centre of Vilhelmina. The present church was built between 1835 and 1840 and consecrated in 1846. Kyrkstan is Vilhelmina’s oldest district; along Storgatan below the church stand wooden cottages from the 19th century. Vilhelmina grew out of the settlement of Volgsjö, founded in Åsele in the 1770s by Daniel Danielsson from Torvsjö. In 1804, Volgsjö was renamed Vilhelmina after Queen Fredrika Dorotea Vilhelmina, the wife of Gustav IV Adolf.

On Kyrkberget, the Sámi association Vualtjeren Saemien Siebrie has built huts and storehouses according to various Sámi building traditions.

Lakes, Trails and Landscapes

Strandleden offers walks along Lake Volgsjön in the vicinity of Vilhelmina. All motorised traffic is prohibited year-round at Lake Baksjön, next to the built-up area of Vilhelmina. In summer, Baksjön can be explored by rowing boat, canoe and kayak; in winter, a groomed nature ski trail crosses the lake and continues into the forest on the opposite side. There are easy cycling paths near Vilhelmina.

Lake Volgsjön lies immediately outside Vilhelmina and is known for its large trout. The lower reaches of the Vojmån offer high-quality grayling fishing. Bergmans Fisk & Vilt smokes and processes fish, including locally caught Arctic char and trout, as well as other seafood.

In July, Nybyggarveckan takes place as a themed week focusing on settler culture. It includes guided town tours, exhibitions, concerts, a country store, lectures, Sámi culture and other activities.

The extensive Marsfjället Nature Reserve in Vilhelmina Municipality includes alpine areas, mountain birch forest, high-altitude moorland plateaus and primeval forest; there are marked hiking trails in the reserve. Urskogsleden is a 50-kilometre forest trail connecting the Matskan area in Marsfjället Nature Reserve with Dainans Nature Reserve. Along the route, there are four access points with car parks and four overnight huts.

A walking trail leads around Baksjötjärn. There are fire pits for barbecuing along the trail, and a fishing permit is required for fishing. Gubbseleforsen is a scenic rapids site about 1.5 kilometres from the centre of Vilhelmina. It can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by car and has a wind shelter where you can light a fire.

Activities and Getting There

Hinderbanan Utmaningen at Tjärnvallen is a free obstacle course with military-style exercises and eleven obstacles. It is open to everyone during the snow-free season. The swimming pool at Folkets hus has a 25-metre pool, a heated pool, a whirlpool and a children’s pool. Kyrkberget has nature trails, including one adapted for children.

The regional settlement structure includes Dikanäs, Vilhelmina, Kittelfjall, Storseleby, Marsliden, Klimpfjäll and Saxnäs.

Vilhelmina Airport, also known as South Lapland Airport, is located 12 kilometres from the town centre and offers flights to Stockholm Arlanda. The Inlandsbanan railway runs through Vilhelmina, but only offers tourist train services in summer; Umeå is the nearest railway station for year-round rail connections.

To the overarching travel overview: Västerbotten.