Kvikkjokk
Kvikkjokk (Lule Sámi: Huhttán) is a village in the municipality of Jokkmokk. It is known as trailhead for Padjelantaleden and Kungsleden hiking trails through Laponia, and for the delta of the rivers Gamájåhkå and Darreädno. Kvikkjokk–Kabla fjällurskog and Pärlälvens fjällurskog are in the vicinity. The area is traditionally Sámi, but mining, and later tourism, has brought in Swedish people.
Understand
The Swedish name comes from the old Sámi name of the river Gamájåhkå: Kuoihkajohko ("rapids river"). The Sámi name is from the Swedish "hyttan", a building for metal works.
In 1659 it became known that there was silver in the mountains 50 kilometres (30 mi) away. The site by the river was chosen for melting the silver, with the first batch melt in 1662. The first mine was opened in Kedkevare, later called Silbbatjåhkkå in Sámi (silbba=silver), another five years later in Alkavare (Sámi: Álggávárre). A mining town resulted.
The mining did not become profitable, and when the mines were laid down 1702 only the priest and the sexton remained, with missionaries to the Sámi using Kvikkjokk as base. In 1760 a church was built. Swedish settlers arrived in the 19th century, living from hunting and fishing.
Work with the Kungsleden trail started around 1900, with the first mountain cabins built 1907. The fjällstation of the Swedish tourist association in Kvikkjokk (the older building) was built in 1928.
Get in
Kvikkjokk is at the end of the road from Jokkmokk 120 km (75 mi) to the south-east. There are regular bus services from Jokkmokk and from Murjek (180 km) at the Malmbanan railway between Luleå and Narvik.
Get around
The town itself is small, use your feet. Feet (or skis) are used also for getting around a much bigger area. Also canoes and bikes are available. There are ferries across the rivers; in winter they can often be crossed by ski.
See
The main sights are the church from 1906–1907, the remains of the silver handling infrastructure, and the river delta. There is a lot of primeval forests to see on day trips. On longer hikes both low fells and high fells (alpine mountain) can be reached.
Do
The main activity is hiking. There are many options for day hikes or overnight trips, and also several options for long-distance hikes through Laponia along marked trails with cabins:
- Kungsleden is the most famous hiking trail in Sweden. The leg northward from Kvikkjokk towards Abisko, passing Kebnekaise and Nikkaluokta, is very popular, with cabins at regular intervals, making the hike quite easy (although the altitude means good hiking skills are needed in foul weather). The leg south towards Jäkkvik (on road 95 towards Bodø in Norway), Ammarnäs and Hemavan has fewer hikers and fewer cabins.
- Padjelantaleden leads to the lake Akkajaure, with boat transportation to Ritsem and buses from there to Gällivare.
- Nordkalottleden has its southern trailheads in Kvikkjokk and Norwegian Sulitjelma, reachable by this route in a week. After the fork at Staddajåkkå, the trail meanders through the Scandinavian mountains to Kautokeino in Norvegian Finnmark.
- European long distance trail E1, between Sicily in the south and Nordkapp in the north, can be reached via the other trails.
The main hiking seasons are July–September and March–April, the latter by ski.
The village is surrounded by old-growth fell forest, where you could hike (🌍 Kvikkjokk–Kabla fjällurskog and 🌍 Pärlälvens fjällurskog). Kvikkjokk is a trailhead also for Sarek National Park (part of Laponia). There are no marked trails in Sarek, except a short stretch of Kungsleden, and no cabins, but it is a worthwhile destination for experienced hikers.
Bårddetjåhkkå
Bårddetjåhkkå/Pårtetjåkko is a 2,005 m (6,578 ft) peak in the Bårdde/Pårte massif, Sarek. As it is above 2,000 m and reachable by just a 2·25-km trek from Kvikkjokk (perhaps three to four days), and its southern slope isn't too steep, it is a popular destination.
Before going, you should make sure you know how to use your map, compass and tent and how to deal with possible misfortunes, and that you have suitable clothing and other needed equipment. Also check forecasts and your planned route with somebody at the station. At 2,000 m at these latitudes, risk of foul weather is to be taken seriously.
Follow Kungsleden 11 km to Dáhtájiegge, take the path northward, west of the lake Uhná Dáhtá, past the research station at Boarekjávrre and the Boarek Sámi settlement 11 km from the Dáhtájiegge fork. Continue by the path to the north-west along the slope. When the path reaches Sähkokjåhkå after 6.5 km, start the climb to the north or north-east, turn left along the ridge south of the Bårddejiegna glacier, pass by the historic Pårtetjåkkå observatory (from 1910), and climb the peak, with a view to the glacier, many fells of Sarek to the north, Sulidälbmá/Sulitelma on the border to Norway to the west and the lowland to the south-east.
You will want to time your arrival at the peak so that you don't have to camp up here (mind that you will gain some 1,500 m (4,900 ft) of altitude after Dáhtá). You will probably at least want to get back the 6.5 km to Sähkokjåhkå. If you want a cabin, the nearest one is Pårtestugan on Kungsleden, 9 km farther from Dáhtájiegge, 10 km from the Boarek settlement as the bird flies.
Buy
There is a convenience store at the fell station.
Eat and drink
Meals are available at the fell station, at least by advance request. They also have bar and café service.
Sleep
- 🌍 Kvikkjokk fjällstation, Storvägen 19, ☏ +46 971 210 22, info@kvikkjokkfjallstation.se. Mid June–mid September, March–late April. Hostel operated by Hellsten Hotels on behalf of STF. A large mountain station, with convenience store. Canoes and fishing gear rental. Self catering facilities. Breakfast buffet and light meals available, real lunch and dinner in the summer season. Canoe and fishing gear rental. Rooms with bunk beds for two or four people (men/women/mixed) and a cabin for five. Shared facilities.
There are cabins along the trails, suitable also for shorter return hikes. The cabins in Padjelanta have an unlocked part available when otherwise closed off season.