With the nickname of 'det avlånga landet' (the elongated country), Sweden is home to dramatic and varied landscapes from vast alpine wildernesses and ancient pine-scented forests to rock-peppered shores. With such special, world-class landscapes, the Swedes decided to establish a number of national parks to protect the last true wilderness areas that fill this snow dusted country. In 1909, they set aside nine noteworthy landscapes, but now Sweden boasts 30, keeping everything from remote Arctic hinterlands to unique underwater wonderlands safe for avid adventurers to explore long into the future. The beauty of Swedish national parks is the 'allemansrätten' (right of public access), which invites everyone to roam freely and explore the wonder of Sweden’s landscapes. So, seek out a local guide, don a pair of snowshoes or even hop aboard a noble steed, and head into the wilderness to discover the best national parks in Sweden…
- Abisko National Park
- Kosterhavet National Park
- Tyresta National Park
- Muddus National Park
- Tiveden National Park
Abisko National Park
Abisko is nestled in the heart of snowy Swedish Lapland and provides a welcome wilderness escape for anyone exploring the Arctic Circle. If catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights dancing in streaks of twinkling turquoise and bright blue across the midnight sky is your aim, then Abisko is the best national park in Sweden for you. The park is brimming with seemingly endless horizons and amphitheatres of monochrome mountains, despite being so easily accessible from Lapland and northern Sweden. Nestled within the driest part of Sweden, its summers boast lengthy hiking seasons and long, midnight sun-filled days while in the winter, the Northern Lights are the main event, along with Father Christmas pilgrimages and activities such as snowshoeing, snowmobile adventures and arctic fox spotting safaris.
Kosterhavet National Park
Kosterhavet is the only marine national park in Sweden. Found in the Koster Islands, it is a haven for coastal wildlife and conservation. With Norway nestled alongside, the park offers a wonderfully diverse array of over 6,000 different types of marine creatures including fascinatingly beautiful cold-water coral. Don your boots and hike the islands, keeping your eyes peeled for the largest seal colony in Sweden which calls the national park home, or even grab a fishing rod and try your hand at Atlantic fishing. One of the best ways to see much of the national park is by kayak, so hop aboard and paddle your way around the rock-peppered shores. It is an ideal reserve for those who thrive in the wild outdoors.
Image: Katja Kristoferson/Swedish Institute and Visit Sweden
Tyresta National Park
Tyresta is a day-tripper’s dream. Perched on the outskirts of Stockholm and accessible by public transport, this rift-valley national park is brimming with all kinds of animals and slopes carpeted with rich, primeval forests. Despite being so close to the country’s capital, its secluded lakes, ancient trees and stony stillness make the park feel completely remote, and form one of the wildest national parks in Sweden. The reserve is also jam-packed with biking and hiking trails through towering firs, gnarly pines and an abundance of decaying trees, and you may even be able to spot wild boar, bustling beavers and skittish deer if you are lucky.
Muddus National Park
Muddus might just be the most secluded, most silent place in Sweden. Tucked comfortably under a blanket of vast wetlands, deep ravines and primeval forest, this hushed haven is brimming with places to explore and natural beauties to see. The cascading white water of Muddusfallet plunges into a time-worn gorge and slow-moving river that winds through verdant pines and rocky outcrops, making for the ultimate picnic backdrop or selfie spot. Muddus’ proximity to Swedish Lapland and the town of Jokkmokk, a hub for Sami people, makes for the perfect excuse to dive in and learn about the indigenous culture, wander around the annual winter market or take part in traditional craft making.
Tiveden National Park
Tiveden was once inhabited by highway robbers and trolls (supposedly) but remains a glacier-carved wilderness fit for the keenest hikers and explorers. Known to be one of the most enchanting national parks in Sweden, Tiveden is largely pathless and characterised by rolling, moss-lathered rocks, steep rocky ridges and crystal-clear lake valleys. Take a guided tour through the park, around pretty lakes topped with water lilies, past traditionally quaint red-roofed huts or even along the Sverigeleden cycling trail on two wheels. If walking isn’t quite enough to get your blood pumping, or you want to explore the park in a different way, hop aboard a traditional canoe and traverse the lakes and waterways, or even try out cross-country skiing like a true local.
Written by Immy Kelly
Header Image © Loggers Lodge