EXPLORE STRÖMSUND
Where the Wilderness Road begins
Strömsund lies on Ströms vattudal, about 100 kilometres north of Östersund. Small-town life, local history and nature meet here. From a walk through the town to a full day in the mountains – there is plenty to discover.
IN STRÖMSUND
The open-air museum
Around thirty old buildings by Ströms vattudal, with exhibitions on local history. The buildings are open in summer.
The giant Jorm
At the open-air museum stands the six-metre giant Jorm, from Beppe Wolgers' much-loved film Dunderklumpen. The statue was unveiled in 1974, the same day the film had its world premiere in Strömsund. With the map "I Dunderklumpens spår" you can carry on exploring to the places where the film was shot.
Ström Church
In the middle of town stands Ström Church, inaugurated in 1847. Take a walk past the historic building and discover a piece of Strömsund's older history.
Fågelvägen nature trail
An easy trail of about seven kilometres, largely on boardwalks, from Strömsund campsite to the bird lake and tower at Tullingsås.
Canoeing
Explore Ströms vattudal from the water. The 170-kilometre canoe route between Strömsund and Ankarede takes you through beautiful scenery with wide lakes and forested shores.
Golf
Strömsund golf course is in Näsviken, just outside the town. Here you play a nine-hole course in beautiful natural surroundings, framed by pine forest.
AROUND STRÖMSUND
Rock paintings at Fångsjön – about 10 km
A short trip east of Strömsund takes you to Fångsjön, where prehistoric rock paintings in red ochre are preserved by the water. A marked trail of about 400 metres leads from the car park down to the lake.
Alanäs – about 40 km
Alanäs Church stands on a headland in Lake Flåsjön, along the Wilderness Road. Nearby are military fortifications from 1940–1945, built to defend Sweden against an attack from occupied Norway.
Hammerdal – about 40 km
Visit the Hammerdal open-air museum, or take a detour to the Vackermyren nature reserve in Fyrås. Around midsummer several kinds of orchid flower on the bog, which has boardwalks and rest areas for visitors.
Hoting – about 50 km
For motoring enthusiasts, Ivars Bilmuseum (car museum) in Hoting is a good day out. It has almost a hundred cars and around forty motorcycles, from everyday classics to rare collector's vehicles.
Backe and Rossön – about 50–60 km
In Backe you can discover traditional craftsmanship at Svartvik hand paper mill, where paper is still made by hand. Carry on towards Rossön to explore the area's ancient history, including at the Stone Age museum. At Brattforsen you'll find a beautiful waterfall, an old 19th-century watermill and prehistoric rock paintings of elk.
The Bear Road (Björnvägen)
Road 801 runs north along the west side of Vattudalen, through one of the densest bear habitats in the world. The road takes you through vast forests and past lakes, with good chances to experience the rich wildlife of the area. With a little luck you may spot bears, moose, roe deer and birds of prey, or forest birds such as capercaillie and black grouse.
BIGRIVERCAMP – OUR SISTER HOTEL
BigRiverCamp – about 40 km
A hotel, spa and restaurant in the mountains by Hotagen Nature Reserve, with the same owners as Grand Hotell. Guided activities start from here: freeriding, ice drifting and snowmobiling in winter, mountain hiking, fishing and kayaking in summer. BigRiverCamp also has mountain cabins and is open all year.
Visit bigrivercamp.seALONG THE WILDERNESS ROAD
The Wilderness Road (Vildmarksvägen) is a loop of about 500 kilometres through Jämtland and southern Lapland. Along the way you'll find rushing waterfalls, deep forests, Sami cultural sites and open mountain plateaus.
The section over Stekenjokk is normally open from 6 June to 15 October. Plan your trip in advance and check current road conditions.
Hällingsåfallet – about 120 km
One of the most spectacular stops on the Wilderness Road. Here the water plunges more than 40 metres into a deep ravine and carries on through a long, narrow canyon. A powerful experience, both to see and to hear.
Gäddede and Frostviken – about 130 km
Gäddede is the gateway to the mountains of Frostviken, close to the Norwegian border. Here you'll find nature information, local history and opportunities for fishing, hiking and day trips.
Korallgrottan – about 190 km
Explore Sweden's longest known cave on a guided tour. Korallgrottan lies in a nature reserve and offers a different kind of experience underground. Visits must be booked in advance.
Ankarede – about 190 km
A historic Sami gathering place and church site in the mountains. From here you can hike along the Lejarälven river to the Lejarfallet waterfall, a walk of about eight kilometres there and back.
Stekenjokk – about 220 km
High up on the bare mountain, the landscape opens up around the highest stretches of the Wilderness Road. Wide mountain views and unspoilt nature make the journey at least as memorable as the destination. Please be considerate of reindeer and the sensitive bird life.
IN WINTER
Snowmobiling
Strömsund Municipality has mile after mile of groomed snowmobile trails. At our sister hotel BigRiverCamp in Storåbränna, about 40 km from Strömsund, guided snowmobile tours are offered both for those who want to enjoy the scenery along the trails and for those looking for more adventurous freeride riding in powder snow.
Ice drifting
At BigRiverCamp you can also try ice drifting, a fast-paced winter activity where you get to experience driving a car on ice and practise controlling skids on a slippery surface. A different kind of experience for anyone who enjoys speed and engines.
Skiing
Strömsund has cross-country ski and exercise tracks. The nearest downhill slopes are in Fyrås (Vikberget), at Lake Jansjön between Backe and Rossön (Landsomberget), and at Stora Blåsjön in the mountains.
STRÖMSUND THEN
Grand Hotell has been here since 1909. A few pictures of the streets around the hotel in the early 1900s.
