Section 9
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Distance
6,9 km
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DD
Demanding
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Time required
5-6 h
Skuleskogens Nationalpark
In the magical world of Skuleskogen forest, only you imagination can limit your experiences.
This section of the High Coast Trail passes right through the national park, starting at the South Entrance and ending at the North Entrance. For thousands of years, the Skuleskogen forest has been silently rising out of the sea. The result is a breathtakingly dramatic combination of deep ancient forests, enchanting small lakes, sparkling blue sea, deep crevasses, high mountains and endless views. In brief: Skuleskogen leaves no one untouched!
This section has relatively demanding hiking with some steep climbs and descents. In the park there is a system of marked side trails covering over 25 km that all link back to the High Coast Trail. You can spend several days in here enjoying the absence of roads and power lines that otherwise disturb the experience of undisturbed nature. Less than a kilometre in you will find Kälsviken with its large, lovely sandy beach. There are two wind shelters here, campfire sites with wood supplied and an eco-toilet. Camping is permitted here. Fresh water can be taken from the stream on the north side of the bay, about 400 metres from the wind shelter.
One of Skuleskogen’s most famous sights is the deep crevasse known as Slåttdalsskrevan Canyon, which is about halfway along this section. The crevasse is about 210 metres long, 7 metres wide and 40 metres deep with sheer vertical walls.
Further along the trail is Tärnättvattnen – two small lakes separated by a marsh. Between the lakes is a cabin suitable for staying overnight, it is open for hikers and has four bunks and a wood stove. There is also a campfire site and an eco-toilet.
Cabins open for hikers along the trail:
Näskebodarna: Summer grazing farm with privately owned cabins. About 100 metres south of the clearing is a cabin for hikers with four bunks, a wood stove and an eco-toilet. Tenting is permitted here. Water can be taken from the stream.
Tärnättholmarna: A spacious cabin with room for six, wood stove, eco-toilet, campfire site and benches and table. Tenting is allowed here. Water can be taken from the stream on the mainland about 400 metres northwest of the cabin. On the outer islet is a simple hut with a wood stove and eco-toilet.
By Tärnättsundet on the mainland is a cabin with a wood stove and room for four to sleep. Drinking water can be taken from the stream.
At the end of the section and the North Entrance, there are benches, a table, eco-toilet, campfire site, rubbish bins and an information sign about the national park. For further information and a detailed map of Skuleskogen National Park, contact Naturum Höga Kusten. Brochures are available at the park’s three entrances between May and October.
Accommodations & side trails
Looking for a more comfortable place to sleep the night during your hike? Or do you want to explore more on your hike? Here are some tips on local accommodations and sights along the section.
Things to think about
How to get to the starting point? Where to buy a hiking trail guide? How to pack smart? And what do I have to think about when visiting the High Coast Trail? Here are some useful information to prepare your hike.
Getting to the starting point
Transport: No bus connection to the South Entrance where this section starts. Closest bus stops are Skuleberget E4 and Docksta Busstation.
Time tables can be found at www.dintur.se.
Section starts at the South Entrance. Free parking. Starting point: 63.085651, 18.481705. The road to the South Entrance is also open during winter time and the road is clear of snow.
Buy a hiking trail guide/map
The High Coast Trail hiking trail guide can be ordered here.
Pack smart
Hiking doesn’t require a lot of special equipment, but there are a few things worth thinking about that will help make your experience as enjoyable as possible.
First of all, think about what kind of person you are and what non-essential items you think you won’t be able to do without. And then convince yourself that you will be able to cope without them! Hiking is all about being present, living in the here and now, and taking the time to soak in your surroundings. Once you get in the zone, the only things of importance are having comfortable clothing and shoes, that your pack is comfortable to carry, and that you have something to eat and drink when you need to replenish your energy reserves. However, a camera/smart phone is always good to have along so you can document your adventure.
Find your way
Map, compass, waterproof map case, head torch and GPS.
For documentation & spare time
A pen, notebook and a good book.
Staying overnight
Tent, sleeping mat, a small sit pad, sleeping bag, pillow, head torch with extra batteries and a lantern for your tent.
Carrying your load
A backpack has to be comfortable to carry, preferably fitted to its wearer so that it sits well. If you are out on a daytrip or will be sleeping in hostels or hotels, you shouldn’t need to pack more than 30 litres of gear. If you are out for the weekend and need to take a tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat, you should be able to fit everything into a 50-litre pack. Your backpack, sleeping bag and tent shouldn’t weight more than 3 kg together, and food and clothing will be added to this. Distribute the weight evenly by placing heavy items against the back. It’s a good idea to take a rain cover for your pack, pack bags and hiking poles.
For undesired visitors
Mosquito net/mosquito hat, bug spray, tick remover.
Eating & cooking
Water bottle, camping kitchen (burner and pots), fuel, lighter/matches, knife, cup, cutlery, little wisp, pot handle, washing up liquid, dish brush, freeze-dried food, multi tool, coffee/tea, salt and pepper, energy snacks (e.g. dried fruit and nuts), rubbish bag.
Footwear & socks
Worn-in outdoor training shoes or running shoes are great for daytrips with lighter backpacks. It can be a good idea to use waterproof shoes with Gore-Tex, for example, on wet days. If you are going to hike long stretches and have a heavy backpack, light hiking boots are recommended as they give you more stability and better ankle support. Many hikers prefer to wear two pairs of socks – a thin inner sock and a somewhat thicker outer wool sock – this helps prevent blisters. Sports socks that are shaped to the foot and don’t fall down are preferable.
Clothing
Applying the layering principle is a good idea. Your base layer should keep you warm and wick away moisture from the skin (wool or synthetic), the mid layer should wick any moisture further away but keep warmth in (wool or fleece), and the outer layer should protect you from wind and rain as well as keep you warm. Garments to pack might include a long-sleeved base-layer top, a short-sleeved base-layer top, long johns, underwear (briefs, sports bra), woollen socks (thin + thicker), hiking trousers, warm sweater (fleece or wool), airy shirt in functional fabric, hat and/or buff, windproof gloves, rain gear (jacket and pants), waterproof pack bags for underwear, swimming gear.
A stitch in time
Needle and thread, duct tape, multitool, steel wire, strong thin cord that can double as a tent guy rope, patches for tent and any inflatable mats.
Hygiene & first aid
First aid kit, toothbrush and toothpaste, plasters for blisters, paracetamol, toilet bag, fast-drying towel, toilet paper, soap, sunscreen.
For when you reach civilisation
Wallet, phone, sunglasses, binoculars, waterproof pack bag for electronic devices.
Things to think about when visiting the High Coast Trail
The Right of Public Access gives visitors to the Swedish countryside the right to roam freely. But with this freedom comes responsibility. “Don’t disturb, don’t destroy” is the key concept to follow. Please think of the following when you are on the High Coast Trail:
- Don’t walk over gardens or cultivated land.
- Respect animal and bird life, leave nests and young in peace.
- Close all gates behind you when hiking through grazing land.
- You can swim anywhere other than by houses or where specifically forbidden.
- No littering.
- Only light campfires in designated places. Put your fire out with care! Avoid lighting campfires when the fire risk is high.
- Dogs are welcome along the trail but must be kept on a leash when hiking.
- You must have a fishing licence for fishing in lakes and watercourses (streams and rivers). No fishing licence is required for fishing in the sea.
In Skuleskogen National Park you need to follow specific rules and regulations that have been put in place to protect the park’s flora and fauna. You may:
- not light campfires anywhere other than in designated campfire sites from May 1 – September 30. You may only burn wood that is supplied or that you have carried in with you.
- only tent at designated sites and for a maximum of three nights at the same site during the period May 1 – September 30.
- only travel by foot in the national park.
- not cycle, with the exception of the coastal trail between the South Entrance and the North Entrance.
- fish in the sea but not in the rivers and lakes.
- have your dog with you but it must be on a leash at all times.
Sections
The High Coast Trail has been divided into 13 sections. Choose to hike one section at a time, combine several hikes for a longer tour or hike the whole trail.
Overview
The High Coast Trail has been divided into 13 sections so that each section has at least one option to stay overnight under a roof – though accommodation ranges from basic cabins to serviced hostels and hotels. There are also simple wind shelters and huts along the way for hikers to use. It doesn’t cost anything to stay in these, they can’t be booked in advance and you can’t refuse other hikers who would like to stay as well. Camping with tents is permitted almost everywhere along the trail, as long as you don’t disturb the surroundings. Be aware, however, that once you are in the Skuleskogen National Park, tenting is only permitted in designated areas.
The trail is easy to follow thanks to the numerous orange markers on trees and posts. In addition, there are metal signposts with High Coast Trail symbols where trails cross or fork.
All the sections are well maintained so unless you are unlucky you won’t need to get your feet wet at all. Despite this, we still recommend wearing hiking boots or similar sturdy footwear on the trail. Cycling is permitted, but in Skuleskogen National Park you are only allowed to cycle along the coastal trail that passes Näskebodarna.
At times, it can be difficult to find drinking water, especially in the peak of summer, so plan carefully using your trail map as a guide, it has water sources clearly marked. The quality of available water can also vary somewhat. There are some grocery stores along the way so you can plan ahead where you can replenish your supplies.
Regardless if you are a beginner or an experienced hiker, there will be sections perfect for you along the trail. We want you to have a fantastic time on the High Coast Trail – take your time and enjoy yourself, you are about to experience some of the World Heritage Site’s absolute highlights.
