Södra Kungsleden – Autumn Vibes 2025

The second part of the Södra Kungsleden, running from Sälen to Flötningen, covers roughly 145 kilometers and took us seven days to complete, including some detours. Compared to the Storlien–Grövelsjön stretch, this section is wilder, more solitary, and less frequented, which gives it a distinctly remote character. The trail follows the Scandinavian mountain range northwards along the Norwegian border and leads through a varied landscape of open mountain plateaus, birch forests, deep spruce valleys, and countless lakes.

Starting in Sälen, the trail first passes through forest and lake country before reaching Fulufjället National Park, home to Sweden’s highest waterfall, Njupeskär, which plunges 93 meters. On the plateau above, hikers walk across vast, windswept terrain and may visit Old Tjikko, a 9,500-year-old spruce often described as the world’s oldest living tree. From there, the path continues through sparsely populated wilderness, where encounters with moose and rich birdlife are common.

Infrastructure is more limited here than in the northern Kungsleden sections. There are very well-maintained STF huts and basic cabins. Resupply opportunities are rare. Toward Flötningen, the trail gradually descends into dense forests and secluded valleys, eventually reaching the small settlement at the border, which also serves as a gateway toward Grövelsjön, Femundsmarka National Park in Norway.

In essence, the Sälen–Flötningen stretch of the Södra Kungsleden offers a quieter and more rugged experience, rewarding hikers with striking natural contrasts, from the thunder of Njupeskär waterfall to the silence of remote forest wilderness.