This October, the Stockholm Archipelago Trail will officially open, offering a unique perspective on this stunning landscape.
With the opening of the trail, nature enthusiasts an unparalleled opportunity to explore the stunning Stockholm archipelago like never before.
If you’re interested in impressive and historic banks, Switzerland is the place to go. But if you prefer strolling down cliffs and sandbanks, you really should visit Sweden and the Stockholm Archipelago. A new hiking trail in the outer archipelago of the Swedish capital, the Stockholm Archipelago Trail is a 270 km route with 20 sections. The Archipelago is one of the world’s largest island groups with about 30,000 islands, islets, and skerries, and the new trail opens upon hiking opportunities on 21 of these islands.
The best hiking season is during the Magic Season, between summer and autumn. The water stays warm for about 14 days longer than on the mainland, and the calm after the hectic holiday weeks in the summer has subsided. The sun is still warm, and hikers can experience the unique nature at their own pace.
The North-South boat line runs along the Stockholm Archipelago Trail (SAT) in the summer, and walkers can stay overnight on each section. This means you can spend 20 days in the archipelago if you want to experience each section one by one. To make it easy to get out to the outer archipelago, there are also “Stockholm Archipelago Trail heads” with west-east transportation. Important trail heads include Norrtälje, Stockholm City, Vaxholm, Stavsnäs, Årsta, Dalarö, and Ankarudden.
Highlights of the trail include Sandhamn, a historic island in the archipelago’s outermost edge that’s home to barren rocks, white beaches, windswept pine forests and approximately 108 permanent residents; Utö, one of the largest islands in Stockholm’s southern archipelago and one that’s rich in history, having served as a base for sea pilots, customs officials, and soldiers since the 17th century.
In addition, Ålö is an island in the southern part of the archipelago known for its rich plant and bird life and has been a nature reserve since 2008; while Nåttarö, another nature reserve, attracts visitors with fantastic beaches and varied nature. Storsand in the east is one of the archipelago’s longest sandy beaches with large sand dunes.
