Juktådalen

This valley is one of the most valuable from a nature conservation viewpoint. The Övre Juktan Lake is unregulated. The forests in the valley lie at a relatively low altitude, and many are very productive. Near the River Juktå, the forest was once felled. Traces of bark harvesting can be seen in these forests.

Juktådalen is the only major mountain vallet in Västerbotten that lacks any real settlements. There is, however, the odd house in this wilderness.

River Juktå                                                                                  The River Juktå is largely made up of rapids, broken by the odd calmer stretch. The calm stretches at Dikselet and Viddarselet form a braided river with alluvial deposits. A mixture of alpine and lowlad plants grow along the shore. Cinnamon rose grows in the scrub by the rapids. The River Juktå is well-known for its good trout and grayling fishing.

The Viktoria Church
The Viktoria Church (‘Viktoriakyrkan’) lies near the mouth of the Övre Juktan Lake. In the 1930s a number of locals, including a church dean, Göte Haglund, came up with the idea of a church between Ammarnäs and Tärnaby. Haglund was summoned to Stockholm Castle by Axel Munthe, Queen Viktoria of Sweden’s personal physician. Munthe donated SEK 12000 on condition that the church be named after the queen. The timber was felled and sawn on site. It was taken from Korpberget, where the spruce forest grows particularly splendidly. The total construction cost was SEK 36000. The church was first used in 1938.

Habitat type: spruce forest with bilberry

Aivak
Aivak is an 18 km hike from Ammarnäs. The route passes onto the alpine heath past Riborvardo and over Mount Guvertfjäll. The birdlife is very rich around the Aivak Lakes. The forests around Aivak are very lush and contain tall herbs.
There is a small hut in Aivak where you can spend the night, but the standard is low.

Vapskojan
Not far from Vapsliden, within coniferous forest, is a timbered cabin that is open to the public. There are no paths or trails leading to it so you will have to use your orienteering skills to get there. The furnishings are basic, with a table, chairs, wood stove and simple beds. There is room for 6-8 people. The County Administration’s rangers supply the cabin with metre lengths of firewood. You will have to saw and cleave the wood yourself. The cabin is owned and managed by the County Administration in Västerbotten.