Are you looking for a not too challenging hike, but still want to experience the atmosphere of Swedish off-grid life in nature? Then the hike to the Skrattabborrtjärn cabin in Skuleskogen National Park is ideal! The hiking trail takes you past pine forests, rocky areas and beautiful views over the park, with a wooden cabin located at the Skrattabborrtjärn lake as the final destination.
Skuleskogen is a national park located on the High Coast (Swedish: Höga Kusten) of Sweden. The park was established in 1984 and covers an area of approximately 30 square kilometers. The main attraction of Skuleskogen is the 40-meter deep canyon Slåttdalskrevan, but the phenomenon of postglacial rebound is also an important aspect of the park. The largest part of the region of the park was under the sea less than 10,000 years ago. This was due to the ice cap that was on top of it at the time. Over the years, the ice cap has melted and the ground bounces back up about 8 mm per year. But above all, the park is a hiking paradise! There are several hiking trails through the park, which you can walk back if you are looking for something easy or extend if you want more of a challenge. The park is also open during winter and you can go cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. In addition to hiking, there are also opportunities to camp in the park, both with a tent and in wooden cabins, of which there are seven in the park. One of those cabins is the Skrattabborrtjärn hut. It’s the perfect destination for those who want to experience the atmosphere of Swedish off-grid life in nature without having to go on a very long or difficult hike.
Hike Skrattabborrtjärn Skuleskogen National Park
The hiking trail to the Skrattabborrtjärn hut starts at Entré Väst, one of three entrances to the park. From the starting point, you walk along a well-marked path through a pine forest. Along the way, you will pass an information point where you can read more about the history and flora and fauna in the park. As you go deeper into the park, the path winds along small streams, marshy areas and rocky plateaus from where you sometimes have a beautiful view over the park. Eventually, you will arrive at an open field with a charming wooden cabin: Skrattabborrtjärn. This is one of seven cabins in the park where you can spend the night. They are open all year round, freely accessible and you do not have to book anything in advance.
You can choose to take a break here and enjoy the peace and Swedish nature. So take a look around the cabin, make some food outside over a campfire and enjoy the view over the nearby Skrattabborrtjärn lake of the same name. Afterwards you can walk the same route back to the parking lot. In total (to the cabin and back) you are hiking for about 3 to 4 hours, depending of course on how many stops you make along the way. Do you want a bit more of a challenge? Then you can also choose to walk further into the park or to spend the night in the cabin and walk back the next day.
All cabins in the park are equipped with wooden beds, mattresses, a wood stove, table and chairs. So don’t forget to bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and cooking utensils if you plan to spend the night in the cabin. Furthermore, there are also a number of rules and there are a number of things that are good to take into account:
- If there are more guests than beds, the person who has already spent the night in the cabin must give up his bed to the new guest
- You may stay a maximum of two nights in the cabin
- Bring a tent during high season, then you can also spend the night outside
- Dogs are allowed in the cabins, but are absolutely not allowed to sleep in the beds
- The wooden stove heats the cabin, but it’s too slow to cook on. Therefore, always bring your own camping burner or cook outside over a campfire
- Wood for the stove is ready in the nearby shed. Always chop extra before you leave and put it inside in the basket so that new guests have dry wood to start a fire
- The cabins are not cleaned. So leave everything tidy and take your rubbish with you
- Don’t leave any food behind either. This can attract rodents