The Gratian area offers a wide range of activities and experiences.

The Mountains

Gardfjället, with its highest peak at 1308 metres, and Ryfjällsmassivet, with its highest peak at 1413 metres, are unspoilt mountain ranges that dominate the local landscape. Brattikken nature reserve with old-growth forest and mountain bogs also offers a fine natural environment. On the northern slope of Gardfjället is Lappstugan, which is open for overnight stays. Trails are available for hiking in summer and in winter the landscape is open for snowmobile or skiing excursions along fine snowmobile trails. http://www.naturkartan.se/vasterbotten

Winter – skis & snowmobiles

With Slussfors as a hub, where there is a petrol station and shop, a vast wilderness is accessible. You can easily get to Ryfjället and Gardfjället and on to Tärnaby, Kittelfjäll and Ammarnäs. Skiers and dog sleds also travel on the snowmobile trails. For those who prefer to ski on prepared ski trails, we can recommend the illuminated trails in Forsmark and Slussfors. The ski stadium with clubhouse, slalom slope with button lift and illuminated trails are also in Slussfors.

Active snowmobile clubs in the area are Forsmarks Skoterklubb and Slussfors Snöskoterklubb,
but many other volunteers maintain our fine snowmobile trails in the area.
Blue trail markings on the map show which trails are maintained by the snowmobile clubs and sponsored by the municipality and the dashed blue trails are maintained more sporadically and voluntarily.

We refer to Skoterleder.org, Jimmy Lindbergs Skoterguide and Storumans kommuns web page about snowmobile driving in the municipality for information on the trails in the area.

Slussfors Snowmobile Club is the oldest club in Sweden and offers a trail certificate in the form of a sticker that you pick up at Slussforsboa for a paid membership or trail contribution to the club.

Keep everyone’s safety and the environment in mind when driving snowmobiles in our area. Respect the rules and temporary bans on snowmobiling. For up-to-date information see www.storuman.se/kommun/kultur-fritid/Idrott-friluftsliv-och-motion/Skoterakning/.

Summer – Hiking

Between Slussfors and Boksjön there are fine fishing waters, including in the unregulated Kirjesån river, which flows through the Kirjesålandet primeval forest area close to the mountains. Magasjöstugan by lake Magasjön is a timber-framed single cottage from the late 19th century that is open to the public. A dairy and other farm buildings have existed on the site where Sami and settlers met. There are 17,000 hectares of protected primeval forest with 600-year-old trees, home to rare animals and abundant flora. The road through the area is a pleasant alternative route to and from Tärnafjällen. At Kirjesån, the county administrative board has set up a nature trail with information about the special flora of Kirjesåland.

Hiking tips: Boksjö-Viktoriakyrkan through a primeval forest reserve and Forsmark-Matsdal over Norra Gardfjället. Hiking trails are marked in green on the map, smaller trails with a dashed green line.

Hunting & Fishing

There is good access to hunting for birds and small game in the area. See for example Länsstyrelsens sida om Vindelfjällen or TSA (Tärna Stensele Allmänningsskog). Hunting and fishing licences can be purchased via https://natureit.se, https://ifiske.se/ or at the store in Slussfors.

There are many fine fishing waters here – from rapids to still waters, lakes and ponds. As an example, we can mention:
– Kirjesån, which comes from Nedre Boksjön (Girjan) and flows into the Ume River at Slussfors. The river is partly located in Kirjesålandet, where there are good paths and bridges for access to fishing spots.
– Gardsjöbäcken is a flowing forest stream with rapids and still waters. The fishing area reaches from the bridge along road 1132 to the outlet in Lake Storuman. At the outlet there is a simple wilderness campsite with a toilet, barbecue hut and space for a tent or caravan.

The municipality’s tourist information centre has good information about fishing in the municipality.

Culture

The entire history of the village is collected in the Gratian Local History Museum in the former school home in Umnäs. The Gratian Local History Association was founded in 1961 and has contributed to the documentation of many interesting events and the preservation of artefacts.

The history of the area goes back a long way and many documented ancient remains can confirm this.
Feel free to search on the Swedish National Heritage Board’s website.

One of the local artists, Börje Rydenfalk Njajta from Forsmark, has been painting since the 1970s. More recently, he has also created works of art in wood and metal, which can be seen on the website www.rydenfalkskonst.se.

An important part of our culture is the voluntary work carried out by community organisations. Many of the villages’ activities and facilities exist thanks to this work.

Accomodations

If you need to rent a cottage or a house during your stay, there are many options. You can find them on Airbnb, for example, but there are also others such as Esso Nostalgi Motell and Boksjögården.