This varied trail takes you from the small village of Storberg and into Vittjåkk-Akkanålke nature reserve were you’ll hike past the summit of Akkanålke mountain or Áhkánålggie in sami (meaning “hag shoulder”). The mountain provides an astonishing view of the mountains in the east as well as Vittjåkk and Guorbbabouvda in the reserve itself. A small trail leads from the summit towards the cliff of Stenträskflygget that also is a good viewpoint. For a person who deosn’t want to hike but want to enjoy the view anyway there’s a road almost all the way up to the summit of Akkanålke. Note that there’s a traffic light at the mast at the top and that it’s forbidden to drive past it since this can put the visitor in danger.
The path continues down the mountainside towards the lake Stenträsket were you can fish for arctic char. Fishing card and boat can be bought and rent at Intersport in Arvidsjaur.
By lake Stenträsket the trail will take you over planked wetlands and connect to the path Vittjåkk 15km that ends at the parking of Vittjåkk. Here you can continue on Vittjåkksleden all the way to Arvidsjaur town.
The Akkanålke path takes the hiker through the whole spectra of laponian nature; unspoiled forests, vast wetlands and mountains above the tree line. The hike is recommended as a two-day-hike if the plan is to hike all the way to Arvidsjaur. There are shelters and fire palces along the path but it’s recommended to bring a tent.
A legend tells of the famous sami woman Rika Maja from Mausjaur that was born in 1661. She had her reindeers around Guorbbabouvda and Stenträsket and she called them home every morning dressed in veil by playing on her magic drum. When she got old and blind news came that a large bush fire had started on Guorbbabouvda. Again dressed in vail she was led out in the Mausjaur lake were she whistled and played on her magic drum in the water. A thunderstorm appeared over the mountain and the rain it brought extinguished the fire. Her pastures were saved.
En sägen berättar om den kända samekvinnan Rika Maja från Mausjaur som föddes 1661. Hon hade sina renar kring Áhkánålggie, Guorbbabuovda och Stenträsket och varje morgon kallade hon in dem genom att spela på sin trolltrumma iklädd offerslöja. När hon blev gammal och blind nåddes hon av nyheten att en häftig brand utbrutit på Guorbbabuovda. Återigen iklädd offerslöja lät hon sig ledas ut i Mausjaursjön där hon visslandes slog med sin trolltrumma i vattnet. Ett åskväder drog då in över fjället och regnet det förde med sig släckte branden. Renarnas betesmarker var då räddade.
För vem: en van vandrare med bra kängor och bra kondition, stigen är väldigt sank på vissa ställen och sluttar brant på fjället. Ibland kan stigen vara svår att se och spången över myrarna vid Stenträsket är i dåligt skick. Stigen från Storberg och upp på toppen är däremot i bra skick.
Ta med vatten och mat.
Vägbeskrivning: det finns två parkeringsmöjligheter vid leden, båda längs vägen mot Akkanålke. En är placerad längs vägen ungefär halvvägs upp och en precis nedanför trafikljuset uppe vid toppen. Notera att det inte är tillåtet att parkera vid ledens start i Storberg eftersom den börjar på privat mark.
För att ta dig till Akkanålke från Arvidsjaur kör du på E:45:an mot Arjeplog, sväng vänster efter 8km mot Arjeplog och fortsätt ytterligare 3km tills skylten mot Storberg dyker upp. Sväng vänster och kör ca 1 mil tills du på vänster sida ser grusvägen upp mot Akkanålke.
Who should go: experienced hikers with good hiking boots and fit enough to hike in steep and wet terrain. Bring your own food and plenty of water. On certain places it’s hard to see the path and the planked parts are in a bad condition. Although the path from Storberg to the summit is in a good condition.
Directions: there’s two parkings along the road towards Akkanålke. One is placed about halfway along the way up to Akkanålke and the second one is right below the traffic lights at the top. Note that it’s forbidden to drive past the traffic light.
To get to Akkanålke you’ll have to drive on E:45 for Arjeplog. Turn left after 8km for Arjeplog and continue 3km. Turn left again at the sign for Storberg. Drive on this road for about 10km until you reach the dirt road for Akkanålke on your left hand side.
To do: enjoy the view over Arvidsjaur and the mountains Vittjåkk, Akkanålke and Guorbabuouda. Hike through an old unspoiled pine forest with many rare plants and enjoy the silence of Swedish Lapland. Bring lunch and have a picnic by one of the many tarns along path. Bring your fishing rod and fish in lake Stenträsket, you can buy a fishing license at Intersport in Arvidsjaur.
Accommodation and cafés: there are shelters were you can sleep but we recommend bringing a tent.
In Storberg there’s a bed and breakfast with 6 beds. They’re also offering dinner and lunch on request.
Map: map of the trail to the right under this link http://www.arvidsjaur.se/Documents/Vandringsleder/Vittjokk-Akkanalke.pdf. A printed, much larger map is available for free at the Tourist information in Arvidsjaur.
How to behave when you’re hiking in nature:
Littering, leave no trace: it’s forbidden to leave garbage in nature. Bring it home with you. A tip is to bring an extra plastic bag for garbage in you backpack.
Lighting a fire: it’s forbidden to light a fire directly on cliffs and note that there might be special rules in nature reserves. It’s recommended that only existing fire places are used and note that if you light a fire no traces of the fires is to be left when you leave the spot. Check that there’s not a fire ban at the time (link here).
Dogs: are to be held on leash in nature reserves and national parks. During march 1th to august 20th all dogs has to be held on leash not only in nature reserves but in all kinds of nature including parks. This is to protect the wild animals.
Berries, mushrooms, fish and protected plants: it’s permitted to pick berries and mushrooms but some plants and mushrooms are protected (more information here). It’s also forbidden to pick plants and branches etc. of trees. Bring your own wood or use wood that is placed by the fire places. Note that in nature reserve also dead trees are an important part of the forest. Do not harm these trees. If you want to fish you have to buy a fishing card. They are sold at Intersport in Arvidsjaur.
Reindeer industry: many sami villages have their pastures were the trails are. If you meet a flock of reindeers or a stray reindeer you have to stay calm so that the reindeers are not frighten by our presence.
You’ll find more information about the Swedish Right of Public Access here.
Längd: 6,3km enkel väg (till Vittjåkk 11,9km)
Höjdskillnad: 288m
Tid: 2h enkel väg (till Vittjåkk 6h)
Svårighetsgrad: Svår
Koordinater (parkering Akkanålkevägen): N65° 30,795 E18° 58,507
N7271461 E0683752