Södra Kungsleden is a hiking trail that runs through Sweden's southern mountain region, in Dalarna, Härjedalen and Jämtland, near the border to Norway. It officially extends for about 350 km between Sälen in the south and Storlien in the north, but the name is mainly used in Dalarna (180 km).
Understand
[edit]- See also: Hiking in the Nordic countries, Right to access
The trail is a southern extension to the older and more famous Kungsleden, and part of the E1 Long Distance Path. It was laid out in the 1990s.
Södra Kungsleden passes through scenic areas such as Transtrandsfjällen, Fulufjället National Park with Sweden's highest waterfall Njupeskär, and the ancient tree Old Tjikko. The trail also crosses Drevfjällen, Grövelsjön, and the Långfjället highlands. In Härjedalen, it traverses the lake-studded Rogen area, while in Jämtland it reaches the alpine landscapes of Sylarna.
This is a moderately challenging trail for hikers with multi-day experience and appropriate fitness, with generally moderate ascents and descents outside of specific challenging sections. Motor vehicles are not allowed, and snowmobiles must stay on marked routes. Reindeer are common along the trail; keep a respectful distance.
Prepare
[edit]Södra Kungsleden runs through remote mountain terrain, so thorough preparation is essential. Bring proper hiking gear suited for changing weather, including rain protection and warm layers, even in summer. A detailed topographic map (such as Fjällkartan BD6 or BD8), compass, and basic first aid kit are recommended. Some sections are far from services, so plan your food and fuel supplies accordingly. Mobile coverage is limited.
Get in
[edit]1 Sälen can be reached by Road 66. It comes in from Malung in the south, on E45, and continues to Norwegian road 25, in turn coming in from Elverum in the west. Scandinavian Mountains Airport (Sälen Trysil Airport SCR IATA), between Sälen and the border to Norway, 20 km from Högfjället, has domestic and international flights during winter and spring, and some domestic flights in summer. The nearest year-round international airport is in Oslo. Oslo is 220 km from Sälen, drive via Elverum.
The southern terminus of the trail is at Högfjällshotellet in Sälen, at the ski resort. The village Sälen is down in the valley.
2 Storlien has night trains from Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. It is 73 km from Trondheim, which has an international airport.
The northern terminus of the trail is at Storliens Fjällgård, which is to the southeast of the village of Storlien.
Walk
[edit]
Sälen - Närfjällsstugan
[edit]- Distance
- 20.3 km
- Duration
- 5½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 306 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 496 m
Departing from Sälen, the path initially ascends gently through forested areas before reaching the open highlands. As the route progresses, hikers traverse varied terrain, including moorlands and rocky sections. The Östfjällstugan cabin is situated early on next to the Östfjällstjärnen lake. The stage concludes at Närfjällsstugan, a rest cabin in the scenic Norra Transtrandsfjällen Nature Reserve.
Närfjällsstugan - Björnholmsstugan
[edit]- Distance
- 24.4 km
- Duration
- 7½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 696 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 475 m
From Närfjällsstugan, the trail descends into the Görälven valley and crosses a suspension bridge. It then climbs through moorland and sparse birch forest, with open views. Cabins at Granfjällsätern and Lillbäckstugan offer rest stops. The stage ends at Björnholmsstugan in Fulufjället National Park.
Björnholmsstugan - Tangsjöstugan
[edit]- Distance
- 22.1 km
- Duration
- 6 h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 261 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 350 m
Leaving Björnholmsstugan, the trail passes Tangådalsstugan. The landscape begins to open up as the trail approaches Tangsjöstugan, a secluded cabin situated near the Tangsjö Lake. A smaller cabin, Lilla Tangsjöstugan is available here shortly before the main attraction.
Tangsjöstugan - Rösjöstugorna
[edit]- Distance
- 9.4 km
- Duration
- 2½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 195 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 211 m
The trail from Tangsjöstugan leads towards Rösjöstugorna. A notable highlight along this stage is 1 Njupeskär 
, Sweden's highest waterfall, located near the cabins. The area surrounding the waterfall features well-marked paths and is part of a protected nature reserve.
Beyond the waterfall, the trail follows the western edge of the Fulufjället plateau, passing near the protected site of Old Tjikko. The exact tree is unmarked and off-trail to prevent damage.
Rösjöstugorna - Gördalen
[edit]- Distance
- 11.8 km
- Duration
- 3½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 274 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 220 m
The trail descends from Fulufjället to the valley village of 14 Gördalen, transitioning from alpine terrain to dense forest. Departing Rösjöstugorna, the route heads northwest, descending through birch woods. A reindeer fence marks the boundary of Fulufjället National Park. Below the park, the trail follows the Fulan River valley. Gördalen offers camping, cabin rentals, and a restaurant.
- 15 Harrsjöstugan.
Gördalen - Id-Persätern
[edit]- Distance
- 17.6 km
- Duration
- 4½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 152 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 304 m
From Gördalen, the path leads north into the Drevfjällen, a remote and lesser-visited highland area. The stage begins by following a dirt road for a short stretch out of Gördalen, then veering onto a trail that ascends through pine and birch forest, passing Gröningshållan. The stage ends at Id-Persätern, a small resting cabin.
Id-Persätern - Busjön
[edit]- Distance
- 16.9 km
- Duration
- 4½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 185 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 151 m
You follow the western border route through Drevfjällen. The trail from Id-Persätern heads northwest, staying close to the Norwegian border, often just a few kilometers east of it. Early on, you'll pass sites with evocative names. One is Trollkäringsboden (“Witch's Hut”), a small wind shelter located about 8 km from the start. Around 13 km in, you reach Röskåsen, another simple cabin. From here, the trail begins to rise gently over a low ridge.
Natural highlights include views toward Norway. On clear days, you may spot the rounded peaks of Femundsmarka National Park just across the border. The path then leads to Motståndskojan ("Resistance Hut"). This tiny log shelter, built in 1944, served as a hideout and contact point for Norwegian resistance fighters during World War II.
From Motståndskojan, it is a short walk of about 1.5 km to Busjön, a small lake and the location of your destination, Busjön raststuga.
Busjön - Flötningen
[edit]- Distance
- 13 km
- Duration
- 3½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 42 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 130 m
Continuing north, the trail first follows the shore of Busjön lake. At about 6 km, you reach Gårdsjödalen (“Farm Lake Valley”), where a wind shelter sits amid grass clearings. As you continue, the terrain rises over a low ridge and then descends towards 21 Flötningen, a tiny settlement at the Norwegian border.
The hamlet straddles the border, with Drevsjø on the Norwegian side. Despite its small size, it has a cross-border feel. Resupply here may be necessary, though prices are high and the next full store is several days away.
- 22 Gårdsjön.
Flötningen - Skärvagan
[edit]- Distance
- 8.1 km
- Duration
- 2 h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 31 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 83 m
This short stage is a gentle trek to Skärvagan wind shelter. The trail heads north from Flötningen, initially along a dirt track before narrowing to a path. Soon you cross into Härjedalen, which is part of Jämtland County, a milestone, as the Södra Kungsleden officially spans into a new region here. The landscape is rolling forest with occasional clearings.
- 23 Skärvagan wind shelter.
Skärvagan - Guttudalskojan
[edit]- Distance
- 10.2 km
- Duration
- 2½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 115 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 40 m
After Skärvagan, you'll travel into the Guttudalen valley. One natural landmark is the crossing of Guttudalsån (Guttudal River), which you'll encounter about mid-stage. The stage ends at Guttudalskojan, a basic cabin in a forested setting.
- 24 Guttudalskojan.
Guttudalskojan - Grövelsjön
[edit]- Distance
- 20.6 km
- Duration
- 5½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 237 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 135 m
The trail starts on a forest track, climbing through dense woodland before emerging onto open moorland with wide views of the surrounding mountains. The terrain is mostly gentle but can be wet and muddy in places. Emergency shelters along the way include Valdalsbygget, Olåns emergency cabin, and Olåns wind shelter, where overnight stays are generally allowed. The route ends with a descent into the valley, arriving at the Grövelsjön Mountain Station (816 m), a base for several hiking trails.
- 25 Valdalsbygget emergency cabin.
- 26 Olåns emergency cabin.
- 27 Olåns wind shelter.
- 28 Grövelsjön Mountain Station.
Grövelsjön - Storrödtjärn
[edit]- Distance
- 19.7 km
- Duration
- 5½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 386 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 372 m
The trail heads northeast across the Långfjället plateau. After a short distance, it passes an information board about Carl Linnaeus's 1734 visit and a nearby falcon trapping site. Around 5 km in, the path reaches its highest point just south of Jakobshöjden, with clear views of Storvätteshogna (1,204 m). It then descends toward Hävlingen, passing Särsjöbäcken at about 8 km, where a viewpoint overlooks Töfsingdalen National Park and Lake Hävlingen.
Continuing, the trail follows a moraine ridge between Hävlingen and Särsjön, where Särsjöbäcken is available for shelter. Further on, you will find an additional shelter in Kronstugan. The trail passes through forest before ascending to the Slagusjön wind shelter. The final section to Storrödtjärn Mountain Cabin in Långfjällets Nature Reserve is rocky and uneven.
- 1 Särsjöbäcken (250m off trail eastward).
- 29 Kronstugan.
- 30 Slagusjön.
- 31 Storrödtjärn Mountain Cabin.
Storrödtjärn - Rogen
[edit]- Distance
- 15.5 km
- Duration
- 4½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 251 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 229 m
The trail descends through open moraine terrain to a shelter near the southeastern tip of Lake Rogen. It continues across block fields and patches of birch and spruce forest, then follows the west side of Fisklöstjärnen and climbs along Tandsjövålen's southern slopes to the stage's high point. From there, it descends through sparse spruce forest to a bridge over the Tandån stream. At a junction north of Tandån, the trail turns onto a headland and ends at Rogen Mountain Cabin in Rogen Nature Reserve.
- 32 Rogen Mountain Cabin.
Rogen - Skedbro
[edit]- Distance
- 17.9 km
- Duration
- 4½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 16 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 65 m
The route passes Broktjärnskojan, skirts the southern side of the 1,000-meter-high Bustvålen summit before reaching a trail junction where it diverges southward toward Svukuriset in Norway and northward toward Skedbro. The final stretch to Skedbro Mountain Cabin includes boarded walkways over marshes and rough passages, but also heaths that make for easier walking.
The area is known for its unique glacial formations and sparse coniferous forests, characteristic of the Rogen Nature Reserve.
Skedbro - Fjällnäs
[edit]- Distance
- 28.8 km
- Duration
- 8 h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 424 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 253 m
From Skedbro, the trail crosses the rocky terrain of Rogen Nature Reserve and climbs toward Storvigeln (1,561 m), the highest peak in the area. From the summit, there are views of Jämtlandsfjällen and Femundsmarka. The route then descends through birch forest past Lake Bolagen, ending at the village of 35 Fjällnäs.
Fjällnäs - Fältjägare
[edit]- Distance
- 31.5 km
- Duration
- 9 h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 648 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 614 m
From Fjällnäs, the Southern Kungsleden Trail heads a road leading to 36 Ramundberget, a notable ski resort offering various amenities. Beyond the intersection, Fjällnäs Spårtorg is available off trail. The journey continues to Fältjägare Mountain Cabin, which provides a rustic shelter for rest. On the way, the trail crosses the Ljusnan river, which runs through Ramundberget as well. There are two wind shelters here. The trail continues to Fältjägare Mountain Cabin.
- 37 Fjällnäs Spårtorg (50m off trail).
- 38 Klinken wind shelter.
- 39 Klinken wind shelter.
- 40 Fältjägare Mountain Cabin.
Fältjägare - Helags
[edit]- Distance
- 12.2 km
- Duration
- 3½ h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 317 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 173 m
The trail begins with a short steep descent, then levels out across dry mountain heath. After a few kilometers, Helags Mountain Station becomes visible in the distance. A gentle 1-km ascent leads to a reindeer fence at the ridge crest, offering wide views over the Härjedalen mountains, including Predikstolen to the west. The stage ends at Helags Mountain Station.
- 41 Helags Mountain Station.
Helags - Sylarna
[edit]- Distance
- 19.6 km
- Duration
- 5 h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 63 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 224 m
The trail follows the Handölan River toward the Mieskentjakke shelter. From there, it splits into two routes. The more demanding option is the Ekorrpasset route, which climbs through a dramatic U-shaped pass with steep mountain walls and alpine terrain. The alternative is the shorter eastern route, which leads between Herrklumpen and Kläppen. Both paths eventually descend to the Sylälven River, where the trail concludes at Sylarnas Mountain Station. In certain areas, especially around Ekorrpasset, summer trail markings may be unclear, and hikers often follow winter trail indicators instead.
Sylarna - Blåhammaren
[edit]- Distance
- 18.1 km
- Duration
- 5 h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 248 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 514 m
There are two additional emergency cabins along this stretch: Gamla Sylen and Enkälen raststuga. From Sylarna, the trail descends for about 3 km before turning west through rolling terrain with occasional rocky areas. It crosses open alpine landscapes with mountain views. About 4 km south of Blåhammaren, a river may require wading in high water. The stage ends with a steady climb to Blåhammarens Mountain Station, one of STF's highest.
- 44 Gamla Sylen. Emergency cabin
- 45 Enkälen raststuga. Emergency cabin
- 1 Blåhammarens Mountain Station.
Blåhammaren - Storlien
[edit]- Distance
- 12.8 km
- Duration
- 4 h
- Elevation gain
- ↥ 573 m
- Elevation loss
- ↧ 312 m
From Blåhammaren, the trail descends steadily for 6 km across open highlands with wide mountain views. It then enters subalpine birch forest with more varied terrain. This historic route once connected Storlien to the southern mountains. The trail is well-marked and maintained, but weather can change quickly. It ends at Storliens Fjällgård.
- 46 Storliens Fjällgård (Storvallen).
Stay safe
[edit]- Weather: Conditions can change rapidly. Be prepared for rain, wind, and freezing temperatures even in summer.
- Navigation: Trail markings vary and fog is common in higher areas. Bring a detailed map, compass, and GPS or offline navigation app.
- Water: Most streams are drinkable, but avoid those near cabins or grazing grounds.
- Wildlife: You may encounter reindeer or moose. Keep your distance and don't disturb them.
- Insects: In forested and marshy areas, mosquitoes and gnats can be intense. Use insect repellent and consider a head net.
- Emergencies: Mobile reception is patchy. Solo hikers should carry a PLB or emergency beacon. Call 112 in case of emergency.
- Planning: Let someone know your route and expected return. Be aware that rescue services may take time to reach remote areas.
Go next
[edit]From the northern end of Södra Kungsleden in Storlien, hikers can continue west into Norway via the border crossing near Blåhammaren to join the Nordlandsruta, or follow the Jämtland Triangle loop. Eastward, the Nidaros Path (St. Olavsleden) pilgrimage trail leads toward Trondheim. At the southern terminus in Sälen, southbound hikers can pick up the Vasaloppsleden summer trail, a historic trail heading toward Mora. For those seeking a longer wilderness journey, it is also possible to connect with the main Kungsleden route by traversing through the Ljungdalsfjällen region and continuing north via overlapping segments of the E1 European Long Distance Path. Or, continue north as part of the Green Ribbon adventure.