Skarsåsfjällen, Naturreservat

A true primeval forest, with moose and owls and a lovely hiking trail up to the summit. Or should I say summits? You can choose from four of them to enjoy a fantastic view of large parts of both Sweden and Norway. View from the summit of Skarsåsfjället.

The “In-Between” Mountains with Beautiful Hiking Trails

This small mountain range lies between the Sälen Mountains and Fulufjället, and perhaps that’s precisely why it isn’t as well-visited as those. The reserve consists of four low mountains—Skarsåsfjället, Faxfjället, Mellanfjället, and Näsfjället.

Hiking to the summit on foot from the Skarsåsen mountain pasture is the best way to experience the area. From there, it’s about 5.5 km to Lilldalsstugan. Alternatively, you can drive to the ski resort on Näsfjället, from where there’s a 2.5 km hiking trail to Lilldalsstugan.

Primeval Forest Full of Surprises

The hike from Skarsåsen’s mountain pasture up toward the mountain isn’t particularly steep. But it climbs steadily, up and up… Through a sparse and easy-to-hike pine forest, where the Siberian jay occasionally makes an appearance. The annoying chatter of small birds also reveals a pygmy owl perched in a pine tree—a pleasant surprise! This forest is one of the last remnants of true primeval forest. But there have been frequent fires here, which means the trees aren’t very old. There are, however, a few giant pines here and there that you simply can’t resist hugging.

Wind shelter at the reserve boundary

Where the hiking trail—which is also part of the Södra Kungsleden—crosses the reserve boundary, there’s a wind shelter and an outhouse. But this isn’t where we plan to have our packed lunch. No, we want to head up to Lilldalsstugan, a hike of just over five km. So we keep walking. We spot Koch’s fritillary and pearl-bordered fritillary butterflies on cloudberry flowers. Otherwise, the dry and acidic pine forest is rather sparse in terms of species.

Rest at a cabin with beautiful views

Eventually, we reach the tree line, and shortly thereafter, Lilldalsstugan. It’s beautifully situated with both Norwegian and Swedish mountains forming a backdrop behind it. Inside the cabin there’s a stove, a table, and benches, but today, with the sun shining so nicely, we have lunch outside on the steps instead. It feels good to rest our feet, enjoy a bear sausage sandwich, and have a cup of hot soup.

Hike off the beaten path to a summit with a view

On the way back, we decide to take our own route, via the summit of Mellanfjället. It’s an easy climb, and from there you have a panoramic view in every direction. Näsfjället lies safely right next to it; to the south, you can see the northern parts of the Transtrandsfjällen (Sälenfjällen); to the west, several majestic Norwegian mountain peaks are visible; and to the north, you can see Fulufjället.

Geological Formations

Several parts of this mountain range are of great geological value. This is because there are unique landforms here that were created by meltwater during the retreat of the inland ice sheet. There is a system of sinkholes along Näsfjällsåsen, as well as erosion gullies on the southern part of Mellanfjället. In addition, there are also larger and smaller fields of rocks and boulders, which can be difficult to navigate where the terrain is steep. So watch where you step—or better yet, go around them! Twisting your ankle up here isn’t exactly ideal...

Photo in the slideshow: Maria Jons, Dalarna County Administrative Board.