4x4 and Offroad
- Four-wheel drive in Jämtland
- TET - Trans European Trail
- 4WD Map
- Moose and Reindeer
- Fishing
- 4WD Camping
- 4WD in Winter
Four-wheel drive in Jämtland
Sweden, Jämtland and especially the region around Galå Fjällgård offer many opportunities to really put your 4×4 or SUV to the test.
In this area, small and undiscovered natural gems await the four-wheel drive enthusiast. Several of Jämtland’s 230 nature reserves are also located nearby and can be reached via exciting tracks and remote gravel roads.
South of the Jämtlandsfjäll, around the River Ljungan and along the route through Funäsdalen, Ljungdalen, Börtnan and Åsarna, there are many gravel roads, as well as forest tracks and woodland trails, which can be explored by four-wheel-drive vehicle. You can also experience the wilderness on some small gravel roads around the Fjäll from Börtnan via Klövsjö and Vemdalen, all the way to Sonfjället National Park near Hede.
With 4x4 on the forest track
Wooden bridge near Lövdalen
Scenic route across the Flatruet
TET - Trans European Trail
Galå Fjällgård and the Fäbodvägen (Mountain Pasture Road) are part of the Trans European Trail, or TET for short. The TET is a recommended route and adventure journey of now more than 100,000 km of enduro riding across Europe for motorcyclists. Sweden is part of the western route of the TET through Europe, and in our region the trail runs from Funäsdalen over the Flatruet mountain pass road and continues along gravel roads beside the Ljungan river, via the approximately 40 km long Fäbodvägen and on towards Bydalen, Vålådalen and Undersåker. Detailed information and GPX track downloads for each country are available at www.transeurotrail.org
This TET Route 15 via the Fäbodvägen is also suitable for 4x4 vehicles and is definitely recommended for off-road enthusiasts.
Bikers welcome: we also have special offers for TET riders and motorcyclists passing through.
4WD Map material
Those who want to plan their off-road tour through Sweden in advance, the online maps "Naturkartan" or "Min Karta" and "Grusvägskartan" provide useful planning tools for your trip through Sweden.
- Naturkartan ("The Nature's Map") provides a comprehensive (but unfortunately rather incomplete) overview of national parks, nature reserves, places of interest and hiking trails in Sweden, overlaid with a topographic map.
- Min Kartan ("My Map") from the Swedish Land Survey Office Lantmäteriet is the official topographical map of Sweden.
- Grusvägskartan ("The Gravel-Road-Map") is a great resource for planning a four-wheel-drive and off-road trip through Sweden. The online map provides a good overview of all the small, unpaved roads and tracks. To find roads near Galå Fjällgård, simply use the search term "Galåbodarna" or "Börtnan"". However, caution is advised, as not all of these roads may be publicly accessible.
Moose and Reindeer
With just 1.3 inhabitants per square kilometre, Bergs Kommun (Berg Municipality) is one of the least populated parts of Sweden. In the western part of the municipality, there are hardly any inhabited areas left, and one can still find true wilderness. The forests around Lövdalen, Torsborg and Börtnan are traditionally home to many moose, as well as bears and lynx. In addition, around 6,000 reindeer live in this area, which you will regularly encounter on the roads and in the surrounding nature. Early in the morning or in the evening, on a moose safari across undriven and remote roads, you have a good chance of encountering the king of the forest or even a bear.
Sweden’s highest public mountain pass Flatruet at 975 metres, located between Ljungdalen and Funäsdalen, is also not far away. True four-wheel drive enthusiasts can reach the Flatruet from Galå Fjällgård exclusively via small, remote gravel roads. Along the way you are likely to encounter herds of reindeer, and certainly at the top of the pass.
Land Cruiser 4x4
Slättbrännberget
Offroad in Sweden
Fishing
Fishing enthusiasts will also find plenty to enjoy by a 4x4. At the Sölvbackar rapids (Sölvbackar strömmar), the unique and untouched rapids of the Ljungan River offer excellent fly-fishing opportunities.
Many lakes, streams and small fishing spots can be reached via forest- and gravel roads in the Storsjö kapell, Flåsjön, Börtnan and Skålan fishing conservation areas (fiskevårdsområde).
Pickup Camper
4x4 Conversion
MAN Expedition Vehicle
4WD Camping
We also warmly welcome four-wheel-drive campers to our small campsite. Guests visit us with rooftop-tent 4x4s, Land Rover Defenders or pickup campers. Larger vehicles such as Iveco 4x4 or MAN four-wheel-drive expedition vehicles are also regular visitors, both in summer and in winter.
4WD in Winter
In winter, 4x4 and off-road enthusiasts will find a wide variety of snow-covered roads in Sweden. Smaller roads are usually covered with compacted snow and are great fun to explore.
Another adventure are the official ice roads on the way to Östersund across Lake Storsjön. The longest crossing across the lake runs from Vällviken to Sunne and is approximately 4 km long. The island of Norderön can also be reached from Isön via a 1.5 km-long ice road. For this, the ice on the lake must be 25 cm thick. Signs always indicate when a crossing is open, and is usually granted for vehicles from 2 tonnes up to, in some cases, 4 tonnes.
Of course, all winter roads in Sweden can also be driven safely without a four-wheel-drive vehicle, including the ice roads. Studded tyres are not necessary, but good winter tyres are mandatory. However, driving a 4×4 vehicle adds extra enjoyment, as it allows you to test the vehicle under these conditions.
Ice Road Storsjön
Flatruet in Winter
Across the Lake
Sights and Tours
Excursions and Tours
On trips to the surrounding area, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful landscape and interesting sights. You will find a collection of local places worth seeing in your holiday home.
We provide information about trips to Klövsjö and Vemdalen, Persåsen and Hoverberg, Östersund, Åre, Ljungdalen and Flatruet. On these tours you will pass waterfalls, historic churches, traditional "open-air museums" and handicrafts.
Cafés and Restaurants
The Swedish coffee break takes place as a "Fika". We love this tradition and are happy to recommend you the best cafés in the area.
Those with a sweet tooth appreciate the typical range of waffles, biscuits and chocolate balls. If you don't like sweets, you should try the "Tunnbrödstut" (a sandwich with thin flatbread) typical of northern Sweden.
Many cafés and tourist facilities focus on the Swedish summer season from around 15/6 to 20/8. The rest of the time, the offer is limited, but not completely gone.
Indian Summer at Galå Fjällgård
Fall colors begin to brighten up the Oviksfjäll in late august/early september. The intense summer with many bright nights gives way to the beautiful fall-time.
In Sweden, we often experience wonderful moments with sun and bright colors during the days, while the temperatures already start going down during the fall nights.
Indian Summer at Galberget
Feather in fall
Hiking in the mountains
Hikes in Jämtland in fall
Fall-time is ideal to explore the mountains and forests undisturbed on one of our well-kept hiking trails. At this time of year nature is at its most beautiful!
Bike Tours and Mountain Biking
In addition to hikes, our tour program also offers some appealing mountain bike tours. It is a special experience to explore the early fall with its colors and scents on mtb.
Galåbodarna alp
Dwarf Birches
Colourful raised bogs
Collecting Berries and Mushrooms
The berry season in Oviksfjäll starts in the beginning of august with the first ripe cloudberries. The blueberries and cranberries can be harvested well into september. Mountain cranberries even tolerate the first frost.
Mustering of reindeer
The local Sami village Tossåsen performs its mustering of reindeer for 2-4 days between 12/09 and 20/09 each year. We are happy to invite guests to this event and explain the backgrounds of up to 6,000 reindeer being collected.
Reindeer in the Fjäll
Reindeer at the Hundshögen
Mist in fall
Beginning of the aurora season
The first dark nights start to come at the end of august. In recent years there have been wonderful northern lights as early as september. This is where this beautiful shot came from.
Taking Pictures
For amateur photographers, fall-time has a special appeal with its many new colors, even with bushes and mosses changing color. In this time, we like to take our camera along anywhere, like for picking berries or simply hiking.
Hiking in fall
View of Galåbodarna
First ice in late fall
Barbecue Hut
The barbecue hut in Galå Fjällgård is always a popular meeting point among our guests. Here you can sit together undisturbed, exchange experiences or simply watch the fire in silence. The use of the barbecue hut including the firewood is free of charge for our guests.
Summer
Cycling and mountain biking is possible on numerous forest paths or roads with little to no traffic in the area. Many guests bring their own e-bikes or e-mountain bikes, but we also have two to four mountain bikes up for rent for our guests.
When going on a canoe-trip, you see the surroundings from a way different, very interesting, perspective.
Mushrooms and Berries
During the summer and fall months (late) july, august and september you can collect blueberries, mountain cranberries, raspberries and cloudberries on your hikes. These typical northern berries ripen to different times.
Depending on the weather and humidity, mushrooms will appear from the end of July on. The birch boletes grows on a widespread area, but also penny buns are found quite often. Later in fall, the funnel chanterelles will sprout. (Yellow) chanterelles are rather rare at our altitude and can usually only be found above 800 m.
Forest raspberries
Blueberries in fall
Cloudberries in the swamp
Birch boletes
Yellowfoots
Chanterelles
Cloudberries (also known as nordic berries) are very rare in Central Europe, and in Sweden they are considered the gold of the north. They are the symbol of Lapland. The berry is rich in vitamin C and only grows in swampy areas. Cloudberries are often served with waffles and whipped cream.
You can find edible mushrooms in Jämtland including Sheep Polypore (Albatrellus ovinus), Sweet Tooth (Hydnum repandum), Olive Wax Cap (Hygrophorus olivaceoalbus), Pine Bolete (Boletus pinophilus), Slippery Jack (Suillus luteus) or Yellowfoot (Craterellus tubaeformis).
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