Kungsleden (King's Trail)
Kungsleden Trail by Shyguy24x7/Wiki Commons
Renowned the world over as one of the most scenic hiking trails, Kungsleden was created with the scenery in mind. Organized by the Swedish Tourism Association, the goal was to carve a trail through the Swedish mountains connecting Abisko to Hemavan some 440 kilometres (270 mi) away. The idea was to have huts dotting the trail to allow for shelter and supplies for hikers traversing the trail.
The effort first began in 1885, but construction of the trail took off when a railway line opened up access to the route in 1902. An already existing cabin at Abisko was turned into a tourist attraction, and hikers could start from there across the trail.
The trail is well marked and takes hikers past several iconic places in Sweden, including Kebnekaise (Sweden’s highest mountain), Sarek National Park, and the small villages of Kvikkjokk and Tärnaby. It is used as a skiing trail in the winter. Huts are found within a day’s reasonable hiking distance, generally about every 9-22 kilometres (6-14 mi).
The effort first began in 1885, but construction of the trail took off when a railway line opened up access to the route in 1902. An already existing cabin at Abisko was turned into a tourist attraction, and hikers could start from there across the trail.
The trail is well marked and takes hikers past several iconic places in Sweden, including Kebnekaise (Sweden’s highest mountain), Sarek National Park, and the small villages of Kvikkjokk and Tärnaby. It is used as a skiing trail in the winter. Huts are found within a day’s reasonable hiking distance, generally about every 9-22 kilometres (6-14 mi).
