The most beautiful hiking and nature trails around Vidsel

Storforsen Nature Reserve

This is the main walk in the area and the easiest to reach. Storforsen is a 5 km long stretch of rapids with a total drop of 82 metres. Around 150,000 people visit each year.

A boardwalk takes you from the parking area to the water. Parts of it are adapted for wheelchairs. The main trail is 1.2 km. It goes from the entrance, past the rapids and north toward Hotell Storforsen, with 12 information points. A second trail goes 1.4 km upstream. A 0.4 km loop goes around the forest and log-driving museum.

One source says the footbridge between the hotel and the reserve is closed. Another lists it as open, so check on site.

• Distance from Vidsel: about 6 km by road (road 374)
• Length: 1.2 km, 1.4 km and a 0.4 km loop
• Difficulty: no official grade; boardwalk, partly accessible
• Facilities: free parking, toilets, fireplaces, shelters, café in summer, museum
• Best season: all year. In winter the parking is ploughed and the first part of the main boardwalk is cleared. Boards can be icy.

Storforsen Nature Trails to Brudforsen

Since October 2021 there is a free trail system along the Pite River between Storforsen and the smaller rapids Brudforsen, about 5 km upstream. It is built for mountain biking, trail running and walking. So on foot, expect to meet bikes.

The trails start at Hotell Storforsen. The operator publishes the map on Trailforks (search “Storforsen”).

• Distance from Vidsel: about 6 km
• Length: Heden 3.3 km, Älven 5.4 km, Brudforsen 5.0 km
• Difficulty: Heden and Älven are graded blue (medium) for bikes
• Facilities: at the hotel; none listed on the trails
• Best season: snow-free months

Bredselsberget

A short nature trail up the hill Bredselsberget. It starts at the road opposite Hotell Storforsen. The path is also easy. Signs along the way explain the plants and the forest. On the hill there is a cabin and grill places with benches and windbreaks. Then walk further up and keep right for a view over Storforsen. If you want to grill, bring your own wood.

• Distance from Vidsel: about 6 km
• Length: not published
• Difficulty: easy
• Facilities: grill places, benches, windbreaks, cabin
• Best season: snow-free months

Långträskberget Nature Reserve

A small reserve with very old, thick pines and spruces covered in lichen. There is a lot of dead wood, and in the east a wetland with old willows. No road goes all the way in, so you leave the car and walk.

Drive about 12 km north from Vidsel toward Bodträskfors, then turn east. After about 1 km there is a parking area. From there it is about 1.6 km on a marked path to the reserve.

• Distance from Vidsel: about 13 km by road
• Length: about 1.6 km each way to the reserve
• Difficulty: forest path, not graded
• Facilities: parking, information board, marked path
• Best season: snow-free months

Vitberget Nature Reserve

At 594 metres, Vitberget is the highest point of the historic province of Norrbotten. The reserve is about 16 km northwest of Vidsel. A path of about 2 km goes from a small parking area to the top. At the top there is a cabin that belongs to Vidsel snowmobile club.

However, be prepared. The county board wrote in 2021 that the path is poorly marked and in places hard to find. It can also be wet and muddy. Bring a map.

• Distance from Vidsel: about 16 km (straight line, county board figure)
• Length: about 2 km each way
• Difficulty: poorly marked, wet in places
• Facilities: small parking with sign; cabin at the top
• Best season: snow-free months

Storberget Nature Reserve

A quiet reserve about 4 km from Vidsel in a straight line. On the top grow twisted old pines. Several of them started growing in the 1600s. A marked path follows an old ski-lift line to the top. The county board says access is easiest in summer and autumn. Check the route on the county board page before you go.

• Distance from Vidsel: about 4 km straight line; by road not verified
• Length: not published
• Facilities: roadside parking, information board, marked path
• Best season: summer and autumn

Åträsket Nature Reserve

About 12 km southwest of Vidsel. Cross the Pite River, follow it west and turn left after the lake Stenträsket. The road goes through the reserve. It is open pine heath that is easy to walk on. You can still see old piles of tar stumps and marks from forest fires on some trees. There is no marked trail, so this is a free walk in open forest.

• Distance from Vidsel: about 12 km
• Length: no marked trail
• Facilities: information board
• Best season: snow-free months

Practical tips

Right of public access. In Sweden you may walk on most land, also private land. Stay away from gardens and the area close to houses. Take all your trash with you. Keep dogs on a leash from 1 March to 20 August. If you see a fire out of control, call 112. (Source: Naturvårdsverket, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency.)

Nature reserves have their own rules. Read the sign at the entrance. At Storforsen, for example, fires are allowed only at the fireplaces, and fishing is not allowed inside the reserve.

Winter daylight. In late December the sun is up for only about three hours in Luleå. Vidsel is further north, so the day is a little shorter. Start early and carry a headlamp. Snow and ice make boardwalks slippery.

Winter walking. Storforsen is the easiest winter choice. The parking is ploughed and part of the boardwalk is cleared. We found no winter maintenance for the other trails.

Maps. For Vitberget and Åträsket, bring a map. Naturkartan.se has one for each reserve.

In winter we ride to Storforsen by snowmobile. Warm suits and a local guide are included. See the snowmobile tour to Storforsen.