Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve
Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve
Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve is in Västerbotten County in Swedish Lapland, around the towns of Sorsele and Storuman. It is Sweden’s largest nature reserve and one of Europe’s biggest protected areas, covering about 563,000 hectares (roughly 5,600 square kilometers).
What it’s like
The reserve sits in the Scandinavian Mountains and includes several main mountain ranges: Artfjället, Norra Storfjället, Ammarfjället and Björkfjället. This places a wide range of landscapes in one area—from rugged alpine peaks to high plateaus and open plains. The landscape is shaped by the Vindel River and its larger neighbor, the Ume River, with the eastern side turning into the Lapland Plains. The area includes coniferous forests (taiga) in the east and birch forests on the western and southern parts, plus many wetlands, lakes and rivers.
Tärnasjön, one of the reserve’s lakes, is a Ramsar site (a recognized wetland of international importance). The wetlands and valleys support a rich bird life, especially in places like Marsivagge and around Tärnasjön. Glaciers remain in the high mountains, and the region has a diverse set of habitats, from permanent glaciers to alpine meadows and heathlands.
Wildlife and plants
Vindelfjällen is home to animals typical of Swedish mountains and forests. The arctic fox is a symbol of the area and is critically endangered in Sweden. Other present predators include Eurasian lynx (vulnerable), brown bear (vulnerable) and wolves (very rare in the region). The reserve is also important for reindeer, which are kept by Sami herders and roam the mountains in large numbers.
Birds are abundant, especially around wetlands. Marsivagge alone hosts around 120 bird species. The lakes and forests support many ducks, waders and songbirds. The mountains and plains host birds such as golden eagles and falcons. In the forests, you’ll find the usual mix of boreal species, with birch forests often dominated by deciduous trees as you move down from higher elevations.
Flora is varied too. Birch forests dominate most of the subalpine zone, with mossy and meadow birch types common. The wetlands are rich in mosses, sedges and drooping willows, with many special lichens and fungi in the forested and rocky areas. The Artfjället area is particularly noted for its diverse plant life.
History and people
People have lived in and around Vindelfjällen for thousands of years. The Sami, a nomadic people of Northern Europe, used the land for hunting, gathering and later reindeer herding. You can find old Sami traps, graves and remnants of ancient settlements in the area, and many Sami place names reflect a deep cultural history.
Swedes began settling the region more in the 18th century. In the 20th century, concerns about hydroelectric projects led to protests to protect the Vindel River and its watershed. This helped pave the way for the creation of the reserve in 1974, with extensions in 1988 to protect primary forests in the foothills. The Vindel River itself was given strong protection in 1993 as a national river. The area was later included in the Natura 2000 network, an EU-wide system to protect valuable habitats and species.
There has been talk of upgrading the reserve to a national park, but this has faced local opposition. Residents worry that stricter protection could limit activities like snowmobiling, hunting and fishing, while supporters say national park status would boost international recognition and tourism and protect more of the area from mining.
How it’s managed
Vindelfjällen is managed by Västerbotten County, with the state owning the land. Rules aim to balance protection with traditional uses and tourism. It’s generally forbidden to build new infrastructure or exploit forests inside the reserve. Some activities are allowed with rules, such as hunting and fishing with licenses and certain reindeer-herding rights for Sami people. Snowmobiling is allowed on designated paths, and a limited number of motorized uses are permitted in specific areas.
Visitors and access
The reserve attracts many visitors for hiking, wildlife watching and Sami culture experiences. The best starting points are the villages of Ammarnäs and Hemavan. The famous Kungsleden trail runs through the reserve, along with other trails like Drottningleden and Vindelvaggileden. There are about 600 kilometers of trails, many boardwalks over wetlands and several bridges, including notable long bridges across Lake Tärnasjön.
Accommodation ranges from paid huts (stuga) to free cabins (koja) and simple shelter huts (rastskydd). In the past, the area saw growing tourist use, with thousands of overnight stays reported in the 2000s and 2010s along the Kungsleden and in local villages. The Hemavan airport provides flights to Stockholm, making the area accessible from the capital and beyond.
Science and research
Vindelfjällen has long been a site for scientific study. Since the 1960s and 70s, researchers have tracked the area’s flora, fauna and waters. Projects like LUVRE (Lund University Vindel River Expedition) and SEFALO (a study on polar foxes) have contributed to understanding the reserve’s ecosystems. An on-site research station in Ammarnäs hosts ongoing studies and monitoring.
About the name
Vindelfjällen means the Vindel mountains, with Vindel River beginning in these ranges. The landscape and its Sami and Swedish cultural layers give the area its distinctive character.
In short, Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve protects a vast and diverse swath of Swedish Lapland, preserving mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers and wildlife while welcoming visitors who want to explore, learn and connect with Sami culture and the natural world.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 18:37 (CET).