Abisko National Park
West of Kiruna, northern Sweden · Mountain birch woodland, canyon and open fell
The Abiskojåkka river runs through a canyon before reaching Lake Torneträsk. Mountain birch woodland fills the valley, giving way to flower-rich meadows and open heath higher up. Follow the beginning of the Kungsleden trail, or make the canyon the focus of a shorter visit. Njullá’s alpine plants offer a reason to linger beyond the views.
Abisko lies about 100 kilometres west of Kiruna in far northern Sweden. Both the E10 road and railway cross the park; Abisko Turist station is a possible starting point. You can reach mountain scenery without first hiking a long distance to the boundary. Heading higher into the mountains still calls for preparation suited to the weather and your route.
Ängsö National Park
Roslagen, Stockholm archipelago · Hay meadows, pasture and woodland
Hay meadows, grazed pastures and pollarded trees make land management visible on Ängsö. The island preserves a farming landscape shaped by the nineteenth century, surrounded by the Roslagen part of Stockholm’s archipelago. Spring and early-summer flowers are a reason to visit. Broadleaf groves, old conifer woodland and sea inlets also vary the walk.
Ängsö lies about fifteen kilometres south of Norrtälje and is reached by boat. Begin with transport planning, whether using a passenger boat, boat taxi or private vessel. Part of the island is a bird protection area; consult official information for your route and current guidance. Choose Ängsö to combine an archipelago journey with meadows and cultural history.
Åsnen National Park
Southern Småland, southern Sweden · Lake archipelago and old beech woodland
Åsnen’s islands and skerries form a freshwater archipelago where water dominates: around three quarters of the national park is lake. On land, Bjurkärr is a distinct destination, with old beech woodland supporting many lichens, fungi and wood-dwelling insects. Trollberget on the western shore offers another woodland setting, with passages between rocks and trees.
In southern Småland in southern Sweden, Sunnabron is the entrance towards Bjurkärr. Trollberget has its own shorter routes and Skogsslingan through different forest types. You can therefore experience the lake from land as well. Choose the entrance around your destination; the islands and woodland are different outings. Consult official visitor information if you plan to head onto the water.
Björnlandet National Park
Southern Swedish Lapland · Old pine forest, mires and boulders
Fire scars in pine bark and charred stumps reveal Björnlandet’s history. In the hilly forests of southern Swedish Lapland, old pines stand among boulders, while damp ground supports spruce woodland and lichens. Choose this park for the details of a forest: dead wood, traces of fire and trees of different ages. Björnberget offers a view across the woodland.
Trails connect the forest, mires and hills. Angsjö is the main entrance, with another at Häggsjö; choose your starting point around the area you want to explore. Access roads need planning, particularly in winter. There are two overnight cabins within the park. Read the visitor information about access and cabin use when planning a longer walk.
Blå Jungfrun National Park
Kalmar Strait, south-east Sweden · Granite island, rocky shores and broadleaf woodland
Blå Jungfrun’s rounded granite rises out of Kalmar Strait, between the mainland and Öland in south-east Sweden. The island is associated with the folklore of Blåkulla. Its tangible sights include smooth rock surfaces, glacial potholes and the Trojeborg stone labyrinth on the southern side. Broadleaf woodland below the summit shelters rare lichens and beetles.
The island circuit links coast and woodland, with steep rocks and boulders along the way. Your visit starts with a boat journey rather than a car park beside the trail. Official information covers departures from Oskarshamn and Byxelkrok and arrival by private boat. Allow the crossing to be part of the day, and use the park’s visitor information for current departures and landing advice.
Dalby Söderskog National Park
Near Lund, southern Sweden · Broadleaf woodland and spring flowers
Wood anemones, yellow anemones and hollowroot give Dalby Söderskog a distinct spring character. This small woodland sits beside Dalby near Lund, among the farmland of Skåne in southern Sweden. Dense summer foliage shows another side of the same park. The land was once both forest and wooded pasture, and old oaks and beeches remain within a changing woodland.
Its 36 hectares contain marked routes such as Bökebackeslingan and Kroppekärrsrundan. Consider it for a woodland visit rather than a multi-day expedition. The park can be reached from the road between Lund and Dalby; official information also covers bus and bicycle access. Choose the season around spring flowers or walks beneath the leafy canopy.
Djurö National Park
Lake Vänern, south-west Sweden · Lake archipelago, rocky shores and pine forest
Djurö lies out in Lake Vänern, away from its settled shores in south-west Sweden. Around thirty islands and skerries form a freshwater archipelago of wave-washed rocks, shingle beaches and woodland. Paths on the main island lead to the lighthouse and traces of former island life. The last lighthouse keeper left in 1969. Divers, ducks and terns are among the area’s birds.
The remote setting shapes both the experience and the journey. You need a boat, and conditions on Vänern affect the crossing. Official visitor information covers private boats and boat taxis; do not assume a regular ferry connection. Choose Djurö when the lake journey and time on the islands can be substantial parts of your visit.
Färnebofjärden National Park
Lower Dalälven, central Sweden · River, islands and floodplain woodland
At the lower Dalälven River in central Sweden, northern conifer forest meets broadleaf woodland with oak and lime. Periodic floods shape Färnebofjärden’s riverside meadows and wet woodland. More than 200 islands and skerries lie between broad stretches of water and rapids. Choose the park for birdwatching, riverside walks or seeing the landscape from a boat.
The naturum visitor centre in Gysinge introduces the river and its wildlife. Skekarsbo’s birdwatching tower provides a wider view, while trails bring you closer to woodland and shores. Different entrances serve different parts of the park, so choose your starting point around your destination. Fishing also requires the appropriate permit for the fishing management area.
Fulufjället National Park
Western Dalarna, central Sweden · Mountain plateau, lichen heath and waterfall
Njupeskär waterfall drops 93 metres in Fulufjället, but the park extends far above its gorge. Steep mountain sides rise to a flat plateau covered in thick lichen mats. Forest, mires and streams surround the upland in the southern reaches of Sweden’s mountain range. Make the waterfall your destination, or plan a longer walk across the open plateau.
The main Njupeskär entrance lies about 25 kilometres west of Särna in Dalarna, central Sweden. Its naturum visitor centre is a starting point for understanding the landscape. A visit near the entrance and a route across the plateau involve different conditions. Match your distance and equipment to mountain weather, using official trail information to choose your walk.
Garphyttan National Park
West of Örebro, central Sweden · Hay meadows and woodland
Garphyttan’s open meadows owe their character to generations of work. Annual mowing preserves the farmland around the old farmstead at Svenshyttan, while surrounding conifer woodland develops more freely. Anemones, cowslips and lily of the valley colour walks in spring and early summer. The relationship between managed land and forest distinguishes this park from places centred on woodland alone.
Walk among the meadows or continue into the forest. The Bergslagsleden long-distance trail crosses the north-western part of the park and offers an approach for a longer hike. The park lies near Garphyttan, west of Örebro in central Sweden; visitor information explains the ways to get there. If the meadows are your main interest, plan around their flowering season.
Gotska Sandön National Park
Baltic Sea north of Gotland · Dunes, beaches and pine forest
Sand shapes Gotska Sandön. Wind-built dunes carry pine forest, and long beaches surround this island north of Gotland in the Baltic Sea. Broadleaf woodland grows in some hollows between the dunes. Beach walks, forest and the open sea set the pace of a visit. Grey seals live around the island, though sightings are never guaranteed.
Official visitor information describes boat access from Nynäshamn on the mainland and Fårösund on Gotland. A remote island needs more planning than a roadside park: arrange transport, plan your stay and allow for wind and weather affecting the journey. If you arrive by private boat, consult the park’s anchoring information. The island has no harbour.
Hamra National Park
Near Fågelsjö, central Sweden · Old forest, mire and stream
Hamra has three distinct settings: old forest, the open wetlands of Svartåmyran and the flowing Svartån stream. Pines in the oldest part are centuries old. Lichens hang from trees, and dead wood supports woodland species. Svartån was never cleared for timber floating, so stones remain in place and shape its flow.
The park lies near Fågelsjö and the E45 in Ljusdal municipality, central Sweden. The main entrance, Myrentrén and Svartåentrén offer different starting points, letting you explore a different part on another visit. Decide whether you want broad views across the mires or a closer look at the old forest. Then choose your entrance and distance using the park’s trail map.
Haparanda Skärgård National Park
Bothnian Bay near Finland · Sandy islands, coastal meadows and woodland
Sandskär is the largest island in Haparanda Skärgård National Park. Sandy beaches and wind-shaped formations meet gnarled pines and flowering coastal meadows. Birch groves and juniper heath make this more varied than a beach excursion alone. Birdlife is a reason to visit in its own right: more than 250 bird species have been recorded on Sandskär.
The park lies in the Bothnian Bay near Finland, at the northern end of Sweden’s coast. Official information describes boat connections from Nikkala harbour; use it for current departures and booking. Choose this park when an island visit can be planned around a sea crossing. Old fishing sites and stories of seal hunters add a historical perspective.
Kosterhavet National Park
Northern Bohuslän, west coast · Sea, archipelago and underwater habitats
Kosterhavet’s defining feature is beneath the surface. Cold, salty water enters the Koster trench from the deep Skagerrak, supporting species usually found farther offshore. Cold-water corals, kelp forests and seagrass meadows make Sweden’s first marine national park different from a coastal walk alone. Diving and snorkelling offer ways to experience parts of its underwater environment.
You can also start on land. The naturum visitor centre at Ekenäs on South Koster introduces the sea, while Saltö, Rossö and Resö provide other approaches. Boats leave Strömstad for the Koster islands on Sweden’s west coast. Choose your starting point around a coastal walk, an island journey or an activity in the water; the entrances involve different travel arrangements.
Muddus/Muttos National Park
Near Jokkmokk, northern Sweden · Old forest, mires and ravines
Muddus, called Muttos in Sámi, shows a different side of Laponia from its high mountains. Extensive mires and old pine forests dominate, while deep ravines cut through the southern landscape. Muddusfallet, or Muttosagahtjaldak, drops 42 metres. Trees beside the paths also retain traces of earlier life here, including route markings and places where bark was harvested.
The park lies near Jokkmokk in northern Sweden and belongs to the Laponia World Heritage Site. The main Skájdde entrance is approached from the E45, but snow and thaw can affect the access road. Plan your entrance and trail before travelling. Choose Muddus for forest and mire walking with a waterfall or ravine as a distinct destination.
Nämdöskärgården National Park
Stockholm archipelago · Baltic marine habitats, islands and skerries
Bullerö is the main entrance to Nämdöskärgården National Park, established in 2025. Around a thousand islands, islets and skerries lie within it, but sea covers 97 percent of its area. Shallow bays, mussel beds and exposed water support different habitats in the brackish Baltic. On land, rocky shores open towards the horizon; white-tailed eagles may pass overhead.
This is Sweden’s first marine national park in the Baltic Sea, in the Stockholm archipelago. Bullerö offers a clear starting point, reached by boat from Stavsnäs according to official information. Other islands have different landing and transport arrangements. Choose your island and travel method together, using current visitor information for booking and landings.
Norra Kvill National Park
Småland, southern Sweden · Old conifer forest, boulders and woodland pools
Stora Idgölen and Lilla Idgölen sit among mossy boulders and old conifers in Norra Kvill, in Småland in southern Sweden. The forest has been undisturbed for more than 150 years, and some pines are over 350 years old. Fallen trunks and fire scars show how woodland changes without forestry. This compact park rewards attention to the forest floor as much as the canopy.
Two named circuits begin at the entrance. Lilla Idgölenrundan climbs to the view from Idhöjden, while Stora Idgölenrundan passes the pool and fire-affected woodland. Choose the route around the habitats you want to see. Boulders and changes in height matter when planning your walk; a small park does not necessarily mean level ground.
Padjelanta/Badjelánnda National Park
Western Swedish Lapland · Mountain heath, large lakes and Sámi cultural landscape
Open mountain heath and large lakes define Padjelanta, known as Badjelánnda in Sámi. Its rounded uplands contrast with neighbouring Sarek’s peaks. Flower-rich ground and birdlife invite a slower pace. Sámi summer settlements stand beside the lakes, and the land is summer pasture for reindeer. Nature and living culture are inseparable in this part of the Laponia World Heritage Site.
The Padjelanta trail crosses the park, with cabins along the route. This is still roadless country in western Swedish Lapland, requiring mountain-trip preparation. Kvikkjokk to the south and Ritsem to the north are possible starting points; an approach from Ritsem includes a boat crossing over Áhkkájávrre. Plan transport and accommodation around your route using official information.
Pieljekaise National Park
Arjeplog mountains, northern Sweden · Mountain birch woodland, meadows and low fells
Mountain birch woodland is Pieljekaise’s defining feature. It connects valleys with open heath and uplands in the Arjeplog mountains, between Jäkkvik and Adolfström in northern Sweden. Small lakes and herb-rich meadows interrupt the woodland. The mountain that gives the park its name has twin summits resembling an ear in profile; its Sámi name, Bieljijgájse, refers to these ear-shaped peaks.
Kungsleden and another marked trail cross the park. They offer routes through it, but distances still call for mountain-trip planning and a clear destination. Choose Pieljekaise for walking through birch woodland rather than concentrating on bare high peaks. The Semisjaur-Njarg Sámi community uses this land for reindeer herding; give moving herds space.
Sarek National Park
Laponia, northern Sweden · High mountains, glaciers and broad valleys
Rapadalen’s branching delta and Sarek’s glaciers give this park a scale far beyond a woodland walk. Six of Sweden’s highest mountains stand here, with valleys shaped by the inland ice. The Ráhpaädno river carries glacial water through the landscape. Skierffe’s viewpoint is a specific destination, approached from Aktse on the edge of the area.
Sarek belongs to Laponia in northern Sweden, a living Sámi cultural landscape where reindeer move between grazing grounds. It is also among Sweden’s least accessible parks. Choose it for a mountain trip you have the skills and equipment to undertake independently. Read the manager’s route and conditions advice beforehand.
Skuleskogen National Park
High Coast, north-east Sweden · Coastal forest, cleft valleys and exposed rock
From Slåttdalsberget, forested hills meet the sea on Sweden’s High Coast. Beside it lies Slåttdalsskrevan, the park’s well-known cleft in the rock. Skuleskogen also contains old spruce forest, lakes and sandy beaches. Ancient shorelines high above today’s sea reveal the land’s rise after the ice sheet disappeared; uplift is visible in the landscape itself.
Choose between routes into the hills and Kuststigen along the coast between the South and North entrances. The West entrance offers another approach, including an adapted path towards the Nylandsruten viewpoint. Routes differ in terrain and distance, so match them to your plans. Consult official visitor information for current closures and access to the cleft.
Söderåsen National Park
North-west Skåne, southern Sweden · Beech forest, ravines and streams
The Skärån stream winds between rock walls in Skäralid’s cleft valley. Beech woodland spreads above it, and Kopparhatten gives a view of the valley from higher ground. East of Helsingborg, Söderåsen offers a hilly woodland landscape in southern Sweden’s Skåne region. Near Röstånga, Lake Odensjön is another distinct destination, reached through Nackarpsdalen.
Skäralid and Röstånga provide different entrances, with routes along valleys or towards viewpoints. Naturum at Skäralid helps you choose between them. Decide whether you want to remain near the water or climb higher; distance alone does not describe a walk through this terrain. The changing beech canopy also gives visits a different character across the seasons.
Sonfjället National Park
Härjedalen, central Swedish mountains · Fell, forest and glacial landforms
Sonfjället’s isolated outline rises above the forests of Härjedalen in the central Swedish mountains. Stone rings and channels on its slopes were formed as the inland ice melted. The surrounding woodland is bear habitat, but the landscape and walk are what you can plan around, rather than a guaranteed bear encounter. Open uplands and forest give routes different characters.
Nyvallen’s mountain pasture is the main entrance and starting point for several trails. Nysätern, Dalsvallen and Valmen offer other approaches. Your choice affects the part of the mountain you reach and seasonal access; official information distinguishes summer and winter routes. Match the walk to your mountain experience and available time, from an entrance-area visit to a longer fell hike.
Stenshuvud National Park
Österlen, southern Sweden · Coastal hill, broadleaf woodland and sandy beach
At Stenshuvud, broadleaf woodland meets the sea. The hill’s three summits give different views across Hanöbukten bay, with the northern summit reaching 97 metres above sea level. Below lie a sandy beach, sand heath and land kept open by grazing. Stone walls and clearance cairns show how farming also shaped this landscape on Österlen in southern Sweden.
Trails from the main entrance beside naturum lead towards both beach and hill. Choose between following the coast and climbing for the view; they are different visits. The northern entrance offers another approach into the woodland. Start at the visitor centre to understand the habitats and choose a suitable route.
Stora Sjöfallet/Stuor Muorkke National Park
Laponia, northern Sweden · Mountain massifs, glaciers and valleys
The Áhkká massif and its glaciers rise south of Áhkkájávrre in Stora Sjöfallet, called Stuor Muorkke in Sámi. Deep valleys and open mountain ground lie to the north. Waterfalls gave the park its Swedish name, but hydropower development altered both its boundaries and the falls’ force. That history helps explain today’s landscape.
Vägen västerut, the road west, crosses parts of this northern Swedish park, offering a different approach from roadless Sarek and Padjelanta. Naturum Laponia and walks near Stora Sjöfallet are possible starting points. A trip towards Áhkká needs different planning, with onward transport and hiking. Choose your destination within the park first. The area remains part of Laponia’s living reindeer-grazing landscape.
Store Mosse National Park
Småland, southern Sweden · Raised bog, wooded ridges and bird lake
Open bog makes Store Mosse different from many woodland outings in Småland, southern Sweden. Peat has accumulated for thousands of years, while forested sand dunes form ridges and islands in the wetland. Kävsjön is a birdwatching destination; Svänö and Lövö preserve traces of older farming within the mire landscape. There are broad views and smaller habitats worth pausing beside.
Naturum and the large birdwatching tower stand near the main entrance. Wibecksleden provides an adapted path into nature, while other routes extend across the bog or around the lake. Choose by distance and surface rather than assuming every trail is alike. Official information distinguishes a visitor-centre outing from a longer wetland walk.
Tiveden National Park
Between Vänern and Vättern, southern Sweden · Boulder forest, cleft valleys and lakes
Stenkällan’s huge boulders and the Trollkyrkan hills give Tiveden its uneven shape. Between lakes Vänern and Vättern in southern Sweden, pine woodland surrounds cleft valleys and forest lakes. Vitsand’s beach offers a different destination from the rocks and hills. Historic fires shaped the woodland, and prescribed burning helps preserve its pine-forest habitats.
Stenkällerundan and Trollkyrkerundan both begin at the main entrance. Many trails climb over exposed rock and pass through narrow ground, so consider terrain as well as kilometres. For a first visit, choose a distinct destination and a circuit returning to your entrance. Official trail descriptions let you compare the routes before setting out.
Töfsingdalen National Park
North-west Dalarna, central Sweden · Boulder fields and old conifer forest
Old pines stand among boulder fields in Töfsingdalen. Wetter ground carries spruce woodland, with streams and small pools between the forest and rocks. Hovden offers a view across the trees and stony ground. This is a park where the shape of the terrain matters at least as much as distance.
In north-western Dalarna, central Sweden, the park has no roads reaching its boundary and no marked trails within it. The approach from Grövelsjön to Hävlingen involves about 13 kilometres of hiking; from Ängessildret it is around eight kilometres to the park. Choose Töfsingdalen for a prepared trip involving your own navigation across difficult boulder terrain, rather than a short entrance-area circuit.
Tresticklan National Park
Dalsland near Norway, western Sweden · Roadless forest, lakes and rocky ridges
Narrow ridges run north to south through Tresticklan. Long lakes and mires lie between them, giving walks a landscape with a clear direction. Sparse pine woodland and lichen-covered rock characterise this roadless area in north-western Dalsland, near Norway in western Sweden. Choose it for an extended forest walk with lakes between the hills.
The main Råbocken entrance is on the eastern side, approached from the road between Ed and Nössemark. From the car park, continue on foot for about 700 metres to the boundary. Budalsvika in the west and Klevmarken in the south are reached on foot. Entrance choice matters; do not assume the nearest boundary on the map has road access.
Tyresta National Park
South of Stockholm · Old forest, lakes and wildfire landscape
Old pines, tall spruce and woodland lakes lie only about twenty kilometres from central Stockholm in Tyresta. Dead trees and new growth support many species. The area burned in 1999 makes that change particularly visible: a walk reveals woodland developing after a major fire. Exposed rock and cleft valleys add variety between the lakes.
Tyresta village and Stensjödal are possible starting points for trails into the park. The village has historic farm buildings and naturum, the National Parks’ House, where you can get route advice. Proximity to Stockholm allows a forest visit without travelling to the mountains, but trails still differ in distance and surface. Choose around your time and interests.
Vadvetjåkka National Park
North of Torneträsk, far northern Sweden · Open fell, delta and limestone caves
Vadvetjåkka lies on the Norwegian border, north-west of Lake Torneträsk in far northern Sweden. Open uplands surround a bird-rich delta with lakes and willow, while cave systems run through the rock. Proximity to the Atlantic brings substantial precipitation. The park is also summer grazing land for the Talma Sámi community, with centuries of reindeer herding.
Its remoteness is tangible: the southern boundary is about eleven kilometres on foot from the nearest road. One approach begins at Kopparåsen on the E10, and entering the park also requires a stream crossing. Snowmelt and rain can raise water levels. Choose Vadvetjåkka with the experience and equipment for mountain walking and fording, using the manager’s visitor advice.