Kungsleden Etapp 22: Vuonatjviken - Jäkkvik

The Kungsleden Etapp 22: Vuonatjviken – Jäkkvik is an 18-km point-to-point trail in northern Sweden, gaining roughly 550 m of elevation across one to two days of walking. Rated moderate, this remote southern Kungsleden stage pairs a 5-km motorboat crossing of Lake Riebnes with a high, mosquito-free plateau and a hand-rowed boat finish into the village of Jäkkvik.

About the Kungsleden Etapp 22: Vuonatjviken - Jäkkvik

This stage forms part of the southern Kungsleden, the 440-km King’s Trail that runs through Swedish Lapland from Abisko in the north to Hemavan in the south. Running 18 km on foot — plus a 5-km lake transfer and a 300-m rowboat crossing — the Vuonatjviken to Jäkkvik leg sits within the municipality of Arjeplog in Norrbotten County, deep in the Pite River wilderness. Because different guidebooks and apps split the Kungsleden into different numbers of sections, you will see this exact leg labelled as Etapp 22 here, but also referred to elsewhere as stage 15, 17 or 12. The endpoints, however, are always the same: the lakeside fishing camp of Vuonatjviken on Lake Riebnes, and the small road-connected village of Jäkkvik on the shore of Hornavan, Sweden’s deepest lake.

The character of this stage is defined by water. It opens not with a footstep but with a boat ride: a motorboat carries hikers roughly 5 km across Lake Riebnes from the Vuonatjviken camp to the trailhead on the far shore. From there the path climbs steeply through mountain birch forest onto an open plateau above the treeline, before descending toward Jäkkvik and ending with the only mandatory rowboat crossing on the entire Kungsleden — a short 300-m pull that catches out first-time rowers. The reward is a wilderness that feels genuinely remote yet finishes in a village with a shop, a hostel and a bus stop, making this one of the more logistically friendly stages of the far-southern trail.

This is high-latitude Arctic terrain at around 66°N. The landscape shifts over the day from raw, exposed fell country — bare rock, dwarf willow and reindeer-grazed heath — to greener, more pastoral forest as you near the lakes around Savdal and Jäkkvik. Power lines appear shortly before the village, the first reliable sign that civilisation is close. For hikers walking the whole southern Kungsleden, this leg marks the transition from true backcountry into a stretch with more frequent resupply.

Route Overview & Stages

Most hikers complete the 18 km of walking in a single long day, though the stage splits naturally into two shorter days for those who want to camp on the plateau. The table below breaks the leg into its three logical segments, including the boat transfers that bookend the walk.

Underfoot you can expect a mixture of good marked trail, rocky fell paths and a few stretches of boggy, root-tangled forest near the lakes — the muddy sections are short but memorable after rain. The Kungsleden is waymarked throughout with the trail’s characteristic orange-tipped cairns and red painted blazes, so navigation is straightforward in clear weather. In low cloud on the plateau, a map, compass or GPS remains essential.

Highlights & Points of Interest

• Vuonatjviken fishing camp — a year-round lakeside camp with a restaurant, cabins, a small shop selling dried food and mosquito spray, a sauna and a wind shelter; the natural staging post before the boat.
• Lake Riebnes boat crossing — a scenic 5-km motorboat ride that replaces a long shoreline detour and sets the tone for a water-bound stage; the landing involves a short scramble up a slope.
• The birch-forest climb — a steep first kilometre from the north shore with reliable running water for refilling bottles before the exposed high ground.
• The open plateau — high, treeless fell country with magnificent wilderness views and, helpfully, far fewer mosquitoes than the valleys below.
• Kapellströmmarna rest area — a fire pit, wind shelter and drop toilet on the south side of the lake, a logical lunch or camp spot.
• Savdal power lines — the first sign of approaching civilisation and a marker that Jäkkvik is within reach.
• The mandatory rowboat crossing — a 300-m hand-rowed traverse just before Jäkkvik, the only obligatory row on the whole Kungsleden and a genuine novelty for many walkers.
• Jäkkvik village & Lake Hornavan — the finish, set on the shore of Sweden’s deepest lake, with a hostel, an ICA supermarket and a bus connection.

Best Time to Hike the Kungsleden Etapp 22: Vuonatjviken - Jäkkvik

The reliable hiking window on the southern Kungsleden runs from late June to mid-September. Outside that window the boats stop running, the huts and camps close, and snow can linger on the plateau well into June. The single best month is August: the worst of the mosquito season has passed, the long Arctic days are still generous, water levels and stream crossings are at their most manageable, and the first cloudberries and crowberries ripen on the heath.

Early summer (late June to mid-July) brings near-endless daylight and lush green fells, but also peak mosquito and midge pressure in the forest and valleys — one reason the high plateau on this stage is so welcome. July is warm and busy by Lapland standards, with daytime temperatures often around 12–18°C. By early September the air sharpens, biting insects vanish, and the birch forest turns gold during the brief, spectacular Arctic autumn; nights, however, can already drop below freezing, and the boat services begin to wind down.

For 2026, plan your trip around the boat timetables rather than the calendar alone. The Vuonatjviken motorboat and the seasonal services that make this stage practical typically operate from roughly midsummer until early September, so as of 2026 you should confirm exact start and end dates directly with the operator and the Swedish Tourist Association before committing to a date. Weather here is genuinely changeable: pack for sun, rain and wind on the same day, and treat any clear, settled forecast as a window to be seized rather than expected.

Practical Information

Accommodation

At the start, Vuonatjviken is a proper fishing camp with heated cabins, a restaurant and a sauna; cabin rates typically run from around €40–70 (approximately 450–800 SEK) per night depending on size and season. Camping beside the camp is free or low-cost, and there is a wind shelter and fire pit for hikers. Along the route, Kapellströmmarna offers a simple wind shelter and fire pit for no charge — bring a tent if you want to break the stage in two. Wild camping is permitted across Sweden under the allemansrätten (right of public access), so you may pitch for a night on the fells at no cost provided you stay clear of cabins and leave no trace.

At the finish, Kyrkans Fjällgård in Jäkkvik is a church-run mountain hostel with dorm and private rooms; expect roughly €30–55 (around 350–600 SEK) per person per night, often with self-catering kitchen access. The village ICA supermarket lets you resupply for onward stages or restock for the journey home.

Getting There & Back

The nearest sizeable airport is Luleå Airport (LLA), roughly a 3.5–4 hour drive east. From Luleå or Arvidsjaur, regional buses on the Silvervägen (Silver Road, route 95) serve Jäkkvik directly, making the village the practical access point. Most hikers reach Vuonatjviken by combining bus, a connecting road transfer and the camp’s own boat, or by walking south from earlier Kungsleden stages. Because Vuonatjviken has no public road right to the trailhead, the motorboat across Lake Riebnes (around 250 SEK, roughly €22, card accepted at the camp) is effectively part of the route rather than an optional extra. Always phone ahead: the boat runs only when there are passengers, and northbound pickups are timed about 30 minutes later.

Permits & Fees

No permit is required to hike this stage of the Kungsleden, and access to the trail itself is free under Sweden’s right of public access. The costs you will actually meet are practical ones: the Lake Riebnes motorboat (around 250 SEK / €22), any cabin or hostel nights you book, and the bus fares to and from Jäkkvik. The 300-m rowboat near Jäkkvik is free to use — etiquette simply requires that boats are left balanced on each bank, so if you take the last boat across you may need to row twice more to return a spare. For authoritative, current details on the trail and its facilities, consult the Swedish Tourist Association (STF) and the regional trail portal Naturkartan.

Gear & Packing List

This is a short stage by Kungsleden standards, but it is still committing Arctic terrain with water crossings, exposed fells and fast-changing weather. A lightweight, weatherproof setup pays off. For a one- to two-day push, a streamlined 35–55 litre pack is ideal; consider the Abisko Hike 35 for a fast single-day carry, or the 2400 Windrider if you want a fully waterproof ultralight option that shrugs off the boat spray and the rowboat. Hikers linking several southern Kungsleden stages with full camping kit will want the larger 3400 Windrider. If you are weighing up packs more broadly, our roundup of the best ultralight backpacks of 2026 compares seven tested models.

Beyond the pack, prioritise a waterproof jacket and trousers, warm insulation for the plateau, sturdy waterproof boots or trail shoes that cope with mud, and a head net plus repellent for the early-summer insects. Carry a map, compass or GPS for low-visibility days, and pack enough food for the whole stage plus a contingency meal, since resupply only appears at Jäkkvik. To dial in your rations, see how to estimate how many calories you need hiking a full day and build your food list around it.

Similar Trails You Might Like

If this stage whets your appetite for the southern Kungsleden, the neighbouring legs make a natural multi-day itinerary — each shares the same boat-and-fell character but adds its own lakes, climbs and resupply villages. The stages immediately adjoining Jäkkvik are the obvious next steps, while the northern legs around the Sarek and Padjelanta wilderness offer a wilder, higher counterpoint.

• Kungsleden Etapp 23: Jäkkvik - Adolfström — 22 km, the direct continuation south from Jäkkvik.
• Kungsleden Etapp 24: Adolfström - Sjnultje — 23 km of remote fell walking.
• Kungsleden Etapp 25: Sjnultje - Ammarnäs — 46 km toward the southern resupply hub.
• Kungsleden Etapp 13: Vakkotavare - Saltoluokta — 30 km in the dramatic northern mountains.
• Kungsleden Etapp 16: Aktse - Pårte — 22 km on the edge of Sarek National Park.

For a contrasting European long-distance experience, our guide on how to hike the Theth to Valbona trail in Albania covers a very different but equally rewarding mountain crossing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to hike Kungsleden Etapp 22?
August is the single best month. By then the heaviest mosquito season has eased, daylight is still long, and stream levels are manageable. The wider hiking window runs from late June to mid-September; outside it the boats stop, huts close and snow can linger on the plateau. Always confirm the 2026 boat timetable before fixing your dates.

How difficult is the Vuonatjviken to Jäkkvik stage?
It is rated moderate. The 18 km of walking is short by Kungsleden standards, with a steep early climb of around 450 m onto the plateau and some boggy forest near the lakes. The real challenge is the mandatory 300-m rowboat crossing before Jäkkvik, which can fluster first-time rowers but is otherwise straightforward in calm conditions.

How many kilometres per day should I plan?
Most hikers walk the full 18 km in one day, plus the 5-km motorboat transfer and the 300-m row. If you prefer a relaxed pace or want to camp high, split it into two days of roughly 9 km each, using the Kapellströmmarna shelter or a wild-camp pitch on the fells as your midpoint.

What accommodation is available on this stage?
Vuonatjviken offers cabins, a restaurant and a sauna from around €40–70 per night, with low-cost camping nearby. Jäkkvik has Kyrkans Fjällgård hostel at roughly €30–55 per person and an ICA supermarket for resupply. Mid-route, Kapellströmmarna has a free wind shelter and fire pit, and wild camping is permitted under Sweden’s right of public access.

Do I need a permit or fees to hike here?
No permit is needed; trail access is free under the allemansrätten. Your real costs are the Lake Riebnes motorboat (around 250 SEK / €22, card accepted), any cabin or hostel nights, and the buses to and from Jäkkvik. The 300-m rowboat is free to use, with the simple etiquette of leaving boats balanced on each bank.