Skuleskogen National Park

Landbridge to Tärnättholmarna
After a short hike up Skuleberget, Ben and I headed across E4 to Skuleskogen National Park. We were advised by the Naturum visiter centre and other tourists to try the southern entrance to the park as it most likely had the least snow. Though quite cold, we were unable to find said snow on our first day in the park, and thus were really glad we decided to go ahead and explore the park despite warnings that some trails might be unpassable.

Éntre Syd, South Entrance (disclaimer: photo taken on second day before heading back to Umeå, hence blue sky)
Our first day we spend hiking the blue marked path along the coast on the map below, from Éntre Syd to Tärnättholmarna. The trail is flat and quite easy with nice beaches and campsites along the way. In typical Swedish style – making the outdoors so effortlessly accessible, one of my favorite characteristics about the country – there are a fair number of great new cabins within the park, free on a first come basis, with 4 to 8 beds, a nice sitting area, stove, cooking equipment, and ample firewood. Since we brought our tents we opted to camp but the cabins were very tempting and I’m kicking myself for not taking any pictures.

Skuleskogen Map (main points from our route in red)
1: South Entrance
2: Tärnättholmarna, first night campsite

A beach along the trail

Admiring an ant

Beach campsite on Tärnättholmarna

Morning fire

Cleaning camp
On our second day in Skuleskogen, we left Tärnättholmarna and headed north to Éntre Nord where we would later join with the Höga Kustenleden (High Coast Trail) for the majority of second day, back to Éntre Syd (see orange trail on earlier map above).

Leaving Tärnättholmarna on our second day

Tall trees, long shadows

Lots of cool beaches in Skuleskogen

Snow and ice

Shadows, reflections, and bunny ears

Bridge

Beaver damn (apparently)

Lunch at Éntre Nord

Crackers, peanut butter, jelly, cold baked beans, sardines, tunafish, and boxed wine
After an interesting lunch at Éntre Nord, we turned back south onto the High Coast Trail.