Vildmarksvägen – the Wilderness Road in Sweden

The Vildmarksvägen, or Wilderness Road, is one of the most beautiful road trips in Sweden. Although the term wilderness is a bit exaggerated (the road is paved everywhere and you are often surrounded by other tourists), it’s still a road that you should definitely put on your itinerary if you go to the north of Sweden. In this article I will tell you everything you want to know about the Vildmarksvägen Wilderness road.

I start the article with the different sections and points of interest. Then I will tell you more about the opening of Stekenjokk, the applicable parking ban and what is and is not allowed. I will also give you tips for accommodations and campsites on the Vildmarksvägen.

Hej hej! My name is Antonette and in 2023 I moved from The Netherlands to Sweden. On my website, you will only find firsthand information, written by a local who actually lives along Vildmarksvägen. Enjoy!

The Vildmarksvägen or Wilderness Road is one of the most beautiful roads you can drive in Sweden. It’s the highest paved road in Sweden. It starts in Strömsund in Jämtland and ends in Vilhelmina in Lappland, although officially it’s a circular road which also adds towns as Dorotea and Hoting to the road.

The Vildmarksvägen was constructed in the 1960s and was initially called ‘Stekenjokksvägen’. At the time, visitors mainly came here because of their interest in mining. In the 1980s there was a decline in the number of visitors and the adjacent villages started the project ‘Vildmarksvägen – Sweden’s most beautiful road.’ The aim of the project was to connect animals, culture and nature.

The Vildmarksvägen has now grown into a tourist attraction that you should not miss during your trip through the north of Sweden. If you want to drive the entire loop from Strömsund or Vilhelmina, the route is 500 kilometers. However, most people choose to do Strömsund – Gäddede – Vilhelmina, which is a total of 370 kilometers, skipping the part between Strömsund and Vilhelmina. This also means you skip a visit to my hometown Dorotea, where they have the best bakery (Konditori) in all of Lapland. Just saying…

Strömsund is a not very interesting town in Jämtland. Refuel here and do the necessary shopping before you start your journey across the Vildmarkvägen because everything along the way is considerably more expensive. The start of the road is still flat, but as you drive further west, the fjälls (mountains) begin to come into view.

If you prefer to drive on an unpaved road, choose the Björnvägen (bear road) on the other side of the river. This runs more or less parallel to the Vildmarksvägen. The main attraction on the Strömsund – Gäddede section is the Hällingsåfallet waterfall, a 43-metre-high waterfall that struggles through an 800-metre-long gorge after its fall. There are several hiking trails and viewpoints around the waterfall, a stop is more than worthwhile. From here on, the route also becomes more beautiful and mountainous in terms of landscape. 

Gäddede is the last significant place before you start the climb to the Stekenjokk plateau. There are overnight accommodations, hiking trails, a gas station and a supermarket. If you want, go and visit the Hemsbydsgård before you continue your journey to Stekenjokk.

After Gäddede the road becomes more winding and mountainous. In the distance, snow-capped mountain peaks rise from the landscape. As you are slowly but surely ascending, the temperature also continues to decrease. You can stop at Brakkafallet and Gaustafallet, both beautiful waterfalls. Eventually you reach the Stekenjokk plateau, the highest part of the Wilderness road.

Stekenjokk is a mountain area between Stora Blåson in Jämtland and Klimpfjäll in Västerbotten (Lapland) and borders Norway. The highest point on the route is 876 meters. On the plateau there’s a large parking lot where, in the summer, Sámi sell their art. When the weather is nice you have beautiful views and you can take some walks here.

You can freedom camp with your campervan or RV on Stekenjokk but you will be one of many in the parking lot. Depending on the season, many other parking lots have a stopping and/or parking ban due to the wildlife that lives there. I honestly think there are better places to freedom camp along the Vildmarksvägen then Stekenjokk.

From Stekenjokk the Vildmarksvägen slowly but surely descends again. You drive past the hamlet of Klimpfjäll where there are some overnight accommodation options. Be sure to make a stop at Fatmomakke, about seven kilometers from the route on a partly unpaved road. Fatmomakke is an old Sami church village, where you can visit the church and a small museum.

The next place of significance is Saxnäs. Along the way you have beautiful views of Marsfjället on the left, where the book ‘In the shadow of the Marfjäll’ by Bernd Nordh is set.

After Saxnäs you quickly reach one of the next highlights of the route: the special Trappstegforsen. This waterfall is also called the most beautiful waterfall in Sweden. It’s not high, but it is certainly impressive. Next to the waterfall you will find a small tourist kiosk and toilets. From here it is another hour’s drive to Vilhelmina and in the meantime you have arrived in the province of Västerbottens län in the Lappland landscape. 

The Vildmarksvägen is open every year between June 6 and October 15. These dates obviously depend on the amount of snow that fell the winter before. Outside this period, a large part of the route is closed. In periods outside the above dates you can drive in the south (usually) to Gäddede, in the north to Klimpfjäll.

Between June 6 to July 10, it’s forbidden to stop on certain parts of Vildmarksvägen because of the special breeding birds that live here. This is clearly indicated and is strictly monitored. Dates may vary each year so please check on the spot and always stick to local rules.

Reindeer live in the area around Vildmarkvägen. The young are born in April and May and the animals are extra vulnerable. Always avoid reindeer, don’t try to take selfies and behave with respect for nature. Drone usage is also discouraged on Stekenjokk although not strictly forbidden (but the Sami ask you not to use if in order not to disturb the reindeer).

Although you can easily drive Vildmarksvägen in one day, it’s actually a shame to have to rush. Below I have listed some of the best accommodation options for you:

• Hotel Klimpfjäll
• Marsfjall Mountain Lodge
• Kolgården in Vilhelmina (also a beautiful campsite by the way!)

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Are you planning your first trip to Sweden? Excellent choice—there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with this country just like I did.

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I absolutely love Vildmarksvägen and definitely recommend driving it. Note however that it gets quite crowded in the summer and wilderness may not be the wilderness you expect. I try to squeeze in a visit to Stekenjokk every summer and absolutely still love going there.

Would you like to read more about the north of Sweden? Then you may also enjoy reading the following articles

• Itinerary for one week Northern Sweden
• What is Lapland and where is it?
• Swedish Lapland in summer: useful tips and route

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