Jamtland in Summer: Are Without the Skis

When the snow melts, Åre’s valley turns into a base for mountain walks, lift-served biking, a thundering waterfall and a big lake with a monster legend. This page sorts summer Jämtland into three areas, dates what changes and points you to the in-depth guides.

When you need this

You are planning a summer or early-autumn trip to Åre, Östersund or the fells west of them. Maybe you want a first hut-to-hut walk, or you want to reach the mountains by train. Or you are weighing Jämtland against Lapland for light nights, hiking and mosquitoes, and want to know which lifts, stations and museums are open on your dates.

Jämtland at a glance

Jämtland is the mountain-and-lake county in the middle of Sweden. The county also covers the province of Härjedalen, and its regional authority is Region Jämtland Härjedalen. In winter it is ski country. In summer three areas matter:

Åre in summer

The lift company runs a short summer season. In 2026 the trail park opened on 5 June, the cable car (Kabinbanan) and VM8:an lift on 19 June, and several lifts ran daily from 29 June. In September the cable car ran Thursdays 12:00–18:00 and Friday to Sunday 10:00–16:00, and the last lifts ran on 27 September. Dates for 2027 are not out yet, so check before you book.

At the cable car’s top station, the Åreskutan 360 loop is about 300 meters of boardwalk and ramps, usable with strollers and wheelchairs. Single lift trips for hikers are sold online; the hours page lists no prices.

Know what “out of season” means here. The lift company says that outside the season its bike trails are neither maintained nor checked, protective gear and signs may have been removed, and all cycling is at your own risk. If something happens, call 112. The Åre Bike Festival is set for 7–11 July 2027.

Tännforsen

Tännforsen is, in the county board’s words, one of Sweden’s largest waterfalls: the water drops 38 meters over a 60-meter-wide edge. It sits in a 97-hectare nature reserve, formed in 1971 and extended in 2019, about 20 km west of Åre. Turn off the E14 at Staa onto Skalstugevägen and follow the signs. Wide gravel paths with handrails lead to the falls, and the toilets are adapted for walkers and wheelchairs. In winter the falls freeze into ice formations.

The reserve’s regulations (föreskrifter) are binding:

• Fires only at the prepared places, with wood you bring or the manager provides
• No cycling off the trail built for it
• No climbing in the mist zone (forsdimma)
• Berries and edible mushrooms may be picked; other species may not

The county board states no entry fee.

The Jämtland Triangle

For a first Swedish mountain walk, the Jämtland Triangle (Jämtlandstriangeln) is the classic. STF describes it as 47 km in three stages of 12–19 km, 4–8 hours of walking a day, between its stations (fjällstationer) at Storulvån, Sylarna and Blåhammaren. All three have a shop and a self-catering kitchen, and Storulvån and Sylarna have restaurants, so you carry no tent or full food load. Blåhammaren has no restaurant.

Most people walk it in this direction; the reverse starts with the short climb to Blåhammaren. Reach Storulvån by train to Duved or Enafors and a booked bus or taxi transfer, or drive: signs start from the E14 at Enafors. STF recommends the Fjällkartan app or Lantmäteriet’s map Z54 and calls its own online map a planning tool only.

Warning: STF says sub-zero temperatures and snowfall happen even in summer on the Triangle, and the Sylarna–Blåhammaren stage is especially exposed to wind. About 4 km south of Blåhammaren you may have to wade a stream at high water, and the last stage crosses a watercourse by wading. Carry rain and wind gear and ask about conditions at the station before each stage.

Stay on the summer trail, marked by cairns, sometimes painted red on top. Winter routes can take a different line and lead into bog or toward a lake. Emergency boxes are stocked in shelters and huts in the Sylarna–Helags and Vålådalen areas, and Telia’s network is often usable around Storulvån–Sylarna–Helags.

Book beds early: STF says the stations are often full in high season, and its visitor calendar marks them busiest from about week 28–29 to week 33. The stations’ summer season runs from midsummer to mid or late September, varying by station. Card works at Storulvån, Sylarna, Blåhammaren, Helags and Vålådalen, and all STF huts take cash in SEK. Allemansrätten applies on most of the trail; camping near a station costs a tent and service fee paid on site. With young children, STF calls the stages long and suggests day walks from Storulvån first.

Kungsleden and Vålådalen: two name traps

The Triangle is not Kungsleden. Kungsleden, the King’s Trail, runs 450 km between Abisko and Hemavan in Lapland. The county board of Dalarna uses the name Södra Kungsleden for a separate trail from Sälen to the Härjedalen border. Neither is the Jämtland Triangle.

There is no Vålådalen National Park. Naturvårdsverket ended the Vålådalen–Sylarna–Helags national-park project in 2019, and Vålådalen–Sylarna remains a proposal only. Vålådalen and Helags have STF stations and huts; they are not a national park.

Östersund and Storsjön

Östersund is the county town on Storsjön. Jamtli, at Museiplan 2 about 10 minutes’ walk from the center, has three museums in one place. On 25 September 2026 the indoor exhibitions were open 11:00–17:00, and adult entry was 160 kr, with under-18s free alongside an adult. Its open-air museum has free entry in spring, autumn and winter, except during special events. In summer it hosts Jamtli Historieland, with role-play in the historic farms (22 June–16 August in 2026). Hours and prices vary by season, so check the museum’s calendar for your date.

Storsjöodjuret, the lake monster, is folklore. Jamtli’s exhibition counts more than 260 reported observations but no proof, and tells the story of an 1894 company formed to catch the creature and of the 1986 protection decision. The municipality lists observation points around the lake, from Vallsundsbron to the top of Hoverberget.

Gaaltije is a Sámi museum in Östersund, run by a foundation with particular knowledge of South Sámi (sydsamiska) culture; South Sámi is one of five Sámi languages spoken in Sweden. In week 39 of 2026 it was open Monday–Friday 12:00–17:00 and Saturday 12:00–15:30.

Fishing: Storsjön is one of five large lakes where anyone, visitors included, may fish with a rod or other hand tackle without a permit. Minimum sizes and protected times and areas still apply. Every other Jämtland lake and river needs a local fiskekort.

Getting there and around

The railway runs through Åre village, and the station is in the village center. SJ has run the Stockholm–Duved night train, calling at Östersund and Åre, since summer 2018. A new state contract from 13 December 2026 to 13 June 2027, with options, requires one night train each way per day. Snälltåget’s Jämtland night trains are sold for winter only (16 December 2026–2 May 2027). Before planning summer 2027 around a night train, check that departures after 13 June are on sale.

By day, Norrtåg links Östersund and Åre in about 70 minutes (2025–26 timetable), and Åre Östersund is one of Swedavia’s state airports.

Länstrafiken Jämtland runs the buses:

• Pay by bank card on board or with a mobile ticket in the app; cash is not accepted on the bus
• A paying adult takes two children under 7 free
• Bikes ride free if there is room; the operator’s page (last updated June 2025) says summer bike buses run in Åre as line 702
• Dogs and cats ride free, on the floor and on a lead
• Länstrafiken tickets are not sold on Norrtåg; only a 30-day period ticket is valid on the train

Light, bugs, bears and reindeer

No midnight sun. It needs a position north of the Arctic Circle, at about 66.5° N, which crosses the E45 just south of Jokkmokk. Jämtland lies well south of that, so the sun sets. But SMHI says that from about the Dalälven river northwards summer nights never get fully dark: twilight runs into dawn.

Mosquitoes. STF puts the mountain peak between mid-June and early August, worst in the mountain birch forest (fjällbjörkskog) and around mires. The open fell (kalfjället) is usually windy and relatively mosquito-free, and numbers drop clearly in August.

Bears. Jämtland was one of seven counties with licence bear hunting in 2026, from 21 August to at most 15 October.

Reindeer. Reindeer are herded throughout the Triangle area. The law requires dogs not used in herding to be on a lead or shut in when reindeer are around. Sametinget describes reindeer as easily frightened: a scattered herd can undo days of herders’ work, and in spring a frightened female can lose her calf.

Mistakes to avoid

• Calling a Jämtland trail “Kungsleden”
• Looking for “Vålådalen National Park”
• Expecting the midnight sun
• Turning up at a Triangle station in July without a booking
• Offering the bus driver cash
• Treating Storsjöodjuret as a wildlife sighting

Practical information

FAQ

Is Åre worth visiting in summer?

Yes, if you want mountains without crowds of skiers. In 2026 the cable car ran from 19 June to 27 September, with lift-served bike trails and an accessible 300-meter viewpoint loop at the top station. Tännforsen, one of Sweden’s largest waterfalls, is about 20 km west, and the STF hut stations start beyond Enafors. Outside the lift season you walk.

How long is the Jämtland Triangle hike?

47 km, usually walked in three days between STF’s Storulvån, Sylarna and Blåhammaren stations: 16 km to Sylarna, 19 km to Blåhammaren and 12 km back to Storulvån. Days take 4–8 hours. Each station has a shop and kitchen, so you need no tent, but book beds ahead: the stations are often full in high season.

Is the Jämtland Triangle part of Kungsleden?

No. Kungsleden is the 450 km trail between Abisko and Hemavan in Lapland. The county board of Dalarna uses the name Södra Kungsleden for a separate trail from Sälen to the Härjedalen border. The Jämtland Triangle is its own loop from Storulvån, reached by train to Duved or Enafors and a transfer.

Is there a midnight sun in Jämtland?

No. The midnight sun needs a position north of the Arctic Circle, at about 66.5° N, which crosses the E45 just south of Jokkmokk in Norrbotten. Jämtland lies well to the south, so the sun sets every night. But SMHI says that from about the Dalälven river northwards summer nights never get fully dark, so Jämtland’s July nights are twilight.

Can you get to Åre without a car?

Yes. The railway runs through Åre village: SJ’s night train from Stockholm calls at Östersund, Åre and Duved, and Norrtåg’s regional trains link Östersund and Åre in about 70 minutes on the 2025–26 timetable. Åre Östersund is a state airport. Local buses take bank cards on board but not cash.

Can I fish in Storsjön without a permit?

Yes. Storsjön is one of the five large lakes where anyone, foreign visitors included, may fish with a rod or other hand tackle without a fishing permit. Minimum sizes and protected times and areas still apply, so check the county rules first. Every other Jämtland lake and river needs a local fiskekort.

Are the mosquitoes bad in Jämtland in July?

In the forest, yes. STF puts the mountain peak between mid-June and early August, worst in the mountain birch forest and around mires. On the open fell above the trees it usually blows, and it is relatively mosquito-free. Rain and still air make it worse, sun and wind better. Late August is a quieter choice.

Related guides

• STF mountain huts and stations — booking, payment and what a station offers.
• Mountain safety in Sweden — trails, weather and help phones before you set off.
• Åre in winter — the ski areas and the night trains in season.
• Swedish national parks — all 31, and why Vålådalen is not one.
• Mosquitoes in Sweden — when and where the bugs are worst.

Also useful: hiking in Sweden, Kungsleden, the midnight sun, Sámi culture, reindeer, free fishing, ticks, wild camping, bears, night trains north, train travel and bikepacking. At the other end of the country: Skåne and Österlen.

Facts verified 2026-09-25. Sources: Länsstyrelsen Jämtland, Länsstyrelsen Dalarna, Naturvårdsverket (Sveriges nationalparker), Fjällsäkerhetsrådet, SMHI, Sveriges riksdag, Sametinget, Svenska Turistföreningen, SkiStar, Jamtli, Gaaltije, Östersunds kommun, Länstrafiken Jämtland, SJ, Norrtåg, Snälltåget, Swedavia — full register in this topic’s source file. Found something outdated? Tell us and we’ll fix it.