Städjan-Nipfjället, Naturreservat

Städjan-Nipfjället is one of Dalarna’s most easily accessible mountains. The road from Idre leads up to the bare mountain in the valley between the two major peaks, Städjan and Nipfjället. From here, it’s easy to venture further into the wilderness. Together with adjacent protected areas—Rogen in Jämtland and Femundmarka in Norway—it forms Gränslandet, a large area of great natural and outdoor recreational value. View of Städjan from Nipfjället. Photo: Dalarna County Administrative Board

What can you do here?

Easy to get out for hiking or fishing

Numerous roads, marked trails, and paths make this area a popular nature reserve that’s easy to access. The parking lots up on the mountain plateau south of Nipfjället are good starting points for both summer and winter excursions. From here, you can take a day trip to the summit of Städjan, or just take a short walk up to Lillnipen.

The road between the summer and winter parking lots is called Trollvägen. If you park your car in a designated spot, disengage the clutch, and release the brake, the car will start rolling uphill! It’s a strange experience and one of Sweden’s most famous optical illusions. The two larger lakes, Burusjön and Stora Harundsjön, are popular fishing spots for game fish.

At Gränjåsvallen, there’s parking next to the summer and winter trails leading up to Städjan.

Stay overnight at Harundsjöstugan

What makes this place unique?

Majestic Städjan—and much more

The Städjan–Nipfjället Nature Reserve consists of a large mountain massif with the peaks of Städjan, Nipfjället, and Fjätervålen to the south. To the north lies the peak Klutsjövålen, surrounded by a vast wilderness area with extensive forests, marshes, and lakes. Städjan rises majestically above the surrounding landscape. The peak reaches 1,131 meters above sea level. From the south, it looks like a cone-shaped volcano, but from other angles, its well-known silhouette resembles a broom—which is how the mountain got its name.

Ridges and ridges reveal how the ice moved

The mountain slopes feature several remarkable formations. These are geological landforms that have proven crucial for understanding how the inland ice sheet moved. The Slukåsarna ridges on Fjätervåla are the largest in Dalarna and have been described in various scientific contexts. These sandy ridges wind down the mountain slope like molehills. Between Fjätervåla and Städjan lies an area of Rogen moraines. These are gravel ridges deposited perpendicular to the direction of the ice sheet’s movement.

Flora and Fauna

The vegetation in the mountains is dominated by dwarf birch and lichen heaths. On the western slope of Städjan, there is a lush primeval spruce forest. Around Lake Stora Harundsjön, there are areas of primeval forest—sparse pine forests with no traces of logging.

The old-growth forest is home to a variety of rare animals and plants. One of them is the yellow-green wolf lichen. The lichen is clearly visible on old stumps and dead pine trees. And in the vast marshlands, you can catch a glimpse of the rich bird life.

Photos in the slideshow: Stefan Hamreus, Sebastian Kirppu, Maria Jons, and Jens Montelius Risberg.

Access to the Nature Reserve

How do you get to the area?

Here we describe the entrance to the nature reserve from the new parking lot at Städjan.

GPS coordinates for the area

Städjan parking lot, entrance: 61.9030, 12.8585

Cell phone coverage in the area

Cell phone coverage in the mountains can never be guaranteed. Check your mobile carrier’s coverage maps for more information. According to coverage maps from Telia and Tele 2, for example, cell phone coverage is very good for hikes to the summit of Städjan.

Nature Reserve Sign at the Entrance

The phone number and email address for the Dalarna County Administrative Board are listed on the nature reserve sign at the entrance.

What can you do in the area?

Trail lengths

Service buildings and other facilities, and their design

This is what the terrain looks like when you take the trail to the summit of Städjan