The feeling of standing at the top of a mountain and taking in the sweeping views is absolutely amazing. There’s something special about summiting a mountain. Reaching your goal under your own steam—the summit of a mountain and a small part of the world. The feeling of reaching such heights is unique.
Here are some suggestions for summit hikes:
Hovdetoppen
914 meters above sea level. A prominent peak located right in the center of Vemdalsskalet. Start at the town square and head toward the children’s area. From here, follow the Blåbärs trail as it winds along the edge of the mountain (you can also take the Hovde slope, but it’s steeper). Say hello to the Hovde gnome and check out the view toward the Funäs and Oviks mountains, or Björnrike the south.
Skalstoppen (Also known as Stöten or Toppen)
946 meters above sea level. The mountain is located “directly across from” Hovdetoppen. The hike starts directly across from the Högfjällshotellet and follows Hildings Backe uphill; it begins through forested terrain, but halfway up the slope, the trees thin out and you’re surrounded by rocky sections dotted with dwarf birch. The view from the summit is fantastic, with Hovdefjället in the foreground and Skorvdalstoppen and Sonfjället a little further away. An easy-to-navigate hike—just follow the trail up and back.
Varggranstoppen (also known as Varggranshågna)
904 meters above sea level. The most scenic route here starts at the trailhead in Björnrike you first follow the signs toward Varggranstjärnen. The hike begins gently in a beautiful valley lined with dwarf birches and passes Björnrikestugan, a cabin in a sheltered south-facing spot—perfect for a snack break with a view of Sonfjället. The trail is narrow and quite rocky, but fun to hike; children usually enjoy hopping along the rocks. From the summit, you look down on Varggranstjärn, where there is put-and-take fishing. A moderately difficult hike suitable for older children and adults. You can also hike here from Vemdalsskalet.
Skorvdal Peak
1,009 meters above sea level. This is a somewhat more challenging hike that can be rocky in places. Start at the trailhead in Björnrike a cozy rest hut located in a sheltered valley between Gråhogna and Högfjället, with views of Sonfjället. Then follow the marked trail to Timmerkojan. From there, hike freely across the terrain toward the summit. Once at the top, you’ll look out over Skorvdalen, where, with a bit of luck, you might spot a golden eagle.
Stor-Kvällshögen
940 meters above sea level. This is a beautiful peak located far from any settlements, so the wilderness experience is intense. Start from Storhogna, pass Oxsjövallen, and continue on to Sandvikdalen. From there, turn off the trail and hike freely through the terrain toward the summit. From the highest point, you’ll enjoy a fantastic view of Lake Klövsjön and the surrounding mountains. A full-day hike that requires some familiarity with the map.
The High Mountains
900 meters above sea level. Högfjället is the mountain ridge above the village of Vemdalen, near Björnrike. This is a wind-protected hike that mainly follows forest trails. From Vemdalsskalet, take the connecting trail toward Björnrike follow it until you see a sign pointing right toward Högfjället. From here, the trail is narrow but easy to walk on. From the summit, you can see the entire village of Vemdalen, the Oviksfjällen mountains to the north, and Sonfjället to the southwest. Follow the same route back. The hike is wet in places, so hiking boots are recommended. You can also start from Björnrike; this is a slightly shorter hike with more open mountain terrain.
Medaftonshogna
964 meters above sea level. This isn’t the most striking peak in the area, but it’s well worth a visit. Parts of the hike follow a nice trail—a bit rocky and tricky, but very beautiful—which is one reason why the Vemdalen Mountain Marathon passes through here.
Sonfjället
1,278 meters above sea level. A fairly demanding full-day hike, but with views across the entire Härjedalen valley. On a clear day, you can see Helags with Sweden’s southernmost glacier, the Oviksfjällen mountains, and the Lunndörrsfjällen mountains. From Nyvallen, follow the trail up through the mountain birch forest. Lillfjället may be a good place to rest. Otherwise, continue along the marked trail up a steep slope until you reach the mountain plateau. From there, the trail leads on to the highest peak.
Ripfjället
921 meters above sea level. An easy hike of just over 3 km suitable for the whole family. Start at the trail center in Vemdalen, follow the cross-country ski trails to the intersection where you turn onto the winter snowmobile trail, which is signposted toward Jaktstugan. The hike leads through the forest, which gradually gives way to open mountain terrain. Once you arrive at Jaktstugan, you’ll see far into the valley toward Oxsjön, with marshland and mountain birch. Continue up to the summit east of the cabin.
Milestone-lined
943 meters above sea level. A pleasant, moderately difficult hike that partly follows unmarked terrain, but it’s not hard to find. You start in Storhogna and follow the cross-country trail toward Samevistet. About halfway there, you turn north toward the mountain plateau and choose your own path through the mountain birch forest. After a climb of a couple hundred meters, you’ll reach the plateau and can follow the ridge toward the highest point. The trail can be wet in places, so hiking boots are recommended.
These peaks are marked with a blue flag onthe hiking map. Several of the peaks can be reached from different directions in the area, ranging from a few hundred meters to a mile from the nearest road, so you can choose your own level of challenge. You can also create your own list of peaks to climb.
Sonfjället National Park offers a rewarding but challenging hike to the summit of Högfjället, which offers fantastic views on a clear day. You can find this hike in the brochure *Sonfjällets National Park – A Guide to Hikes in the Heart of Härjedalen*, which can be ordered fromthe online store.