Kungsleden

Infobox Hiking trail
Name=Kungsleden
Photo=Kungsleden_over_Teusajaure.jpg
Caption=The Kungsleden trail above the Teusa lake
Location=Northern Sweden
Length=Convert|440|km|mi|-1 approximately
Start/End Points=Abisko/Hemavan
Use=Hiking
HighPoint=Convert|1150|m|ft|0|abbr=on (Tjäkta Pass)
LowPoint=Convert|305|m|ft|0|abbr=on (Kvikkjokk)
Difficulty=Moderate
Season=Summer to early Fall
Months=June to September
Sights=Mt Kebnekaise, Lapporten, Abisko, Sarek National Park

Kungsleden (the "King of Trails", or "King's Trail") is a hiking trail in northern Sweden, approximately Unit kilometre|440|-1 long, passing through one of Europe's largest remaining wilderness areas

The trail

Kungsleden was created by "Svenska Turistföreningen" (STF) at the end of the 19th century, in order to allow more people to experience the beauty of Lapland. It runs for about Unit kilometre|440|-1 between Abisko in the north and Hemavan in the south. It is well equipped and maintained by STF, having for instance large parts where one walks on two parallel planks to avoid muddy ground. Since it's so well maintained and rather flat, the trail is not considered as very difficult, but some wilderness experience and regular caution are of course required.

The trail is separated in four portions which represent approximately one week of hiking. The most practiced part is by far the northernmost, between Abisko and Kebnekaise. The season usually runs between mid-June and the end of September, but the weather can be very treacherous, including late or early snow.

Huts

Huts are placed along the trail at distances suitable for a day-trip, about 9-22 kilometres (6-14 mi). The huts are primarily operated by STF. One can also pitch a tent outside and use the facilities, for a small amount of money. Some unguarded shelters can also be found between huts.Supplies can be bought in some of them (e.g. Alesjaure and Kebnekaise Fjällstation).

The huts along Kungsleden are:

Between Kvikkjokk and Ammarnäs, about Unit kilometre|130|-1, there are no huts.

ights

Highlights along the way, sometimes a small detour is needed, are:
*Abisko: Great hostel/mountain station, botanical multitude during summer, great back-country skiing during winter
*Kebnekaise: Sweden's highest mountain, Unit metre|2111|0, and centre of Swedish alpinism. The lodge (Kebnekaise Fjällstation) offers very complete services.
*Sarek National Park: part of Lappland world heritage. No roads, tracks or bridges makes this a place only for the experienced hiker
*Kvikkjokk: Old mountain farming village and nice hostel
*Hemavan and Tärnaby: Small towns/villages with nice hiking in the summer, and excellent back-country skiing in the winter. Native village of alpine skier Ingemar Stenmark.

Getting there

It's surprisingly easy to go to Kungsleden. The two basic options are to fly from Stockholm to Kiruna or Hemavan, or to take the Göteborg-Narvik train, operated by Connex (it also goes through Stockholm, Uppsala, Luleå and some other Swedish cities), and stops in Kiruna and Abisko. The train takes about 24 hours for the whole trip.

From Kiruna, a bus runs to Nikkaluokta, about Unit kilometre|20|0 away from Kebnekaise Fjällstation, or some trains go to Abisko.

You can also take a bus to Östersund by Ybuss www.ybuss.se, which costs appromaxily about 35Euro.

External links

* [http://www.svenskaturistforeningen.se Swedish Tourist Association]
* [http://www.trekkingvisions.com/content/view/35/30/ Information about the Kungsleden trail]