Kvarken Archipelago World Heritage Site Trails

A hiker reading an information board. There is a forest in the background.
A hiker reading an information board in Sommarö. Photo: Tuija Warén.
A misty and wintry sea landscape.
Wintry landscape in Risö. Photo: Tuija Warén.
A group of people in a lush deciduous forest.
Valsörarna. Photo: Johan Hagström.
Clouds reflecting off a calm sea surface. There is a shore further away where several boats and two buildings can be seen.
Svedjehamn. Photo: Fabiola de Graaf.
Four persons sitting at the table next to the seashore. They are having their packed lunch and looking out over the sea.
Björkö-Panike nature trail. Photo: Tuija Warén.
Four persons around a table by a summery shore.
Molpehällorna. Photo: Tuija Warén.
Big stones lying on the ground in the forest. A few of the rocks are forming the base of a house, consisting of rocks piled on top of each other.
Mickelsörarna. Photo: Tuija Warén.

Easy Trails

Bodvattnet runt 4-km circular trail, with a demanding accessible section of 1 km and 1.4 km /each way

 Demanding accessible nature trail symbol  Accessible dry toilet symbol.   

The nature trail is surrounded by birches with large branches and low vegetation on both sides. The trail is covered with short grass.

Estimated time to walk is about 1,5 h in summer.
Easy for beginners, families and groups. With wheelchair and baby carriages it is possible to go from Svedjehamn's parking area to the observation tower and Märaryggbridge (about 1 km) and to Bodback's old harbour (about 1,4 km).
Starting point: Parking area at the Svedjehamn fishing harbour.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 21.5687' lon: 21° 18.0069' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 70412731 E: 3215180

Description of Bodvattnet Runt.

Björkö-Panike Hiking Trail on the mainland side, 7.6 km /each way and partly Circle Trail

 Demanding accessible nature trail symbol Accessible dry toilet symbol.   

Big trees grow on both sides of the path.

Travel time when the ground is unfrozen 3.5 hours, no winter maintenance except for the trail leading to the Saltkaret observation tower and part of the parking area.
Two sheep fence crossings and quite rocky in places.
The section between Svedjehamn and the Märaryggbro viewing platform (1 km/direction) is demanding accessible.

Starting point: Parking area in the Svedjehamn harbour, 65870 Svedjehamn.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 21. 5709 ' lon: 21° 18.0090' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7041276 E: 3215182

Description of Björkö-Panike Hiking Trail.   

Sommarö Nature Trail, 1.5 km, a longer trail of 7 km / direction and demanding accessible 2.4 km circular trail

Demanding accessible nature trail symbol   

A nature trail with information arrows.

Estimated time to walk is about 1-2 h in summer. Easy for beginners, families and groups. Starting point: Parking area in the yard of the Sommarö guardhouse.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 09.8081' lon: 21° 18.2846'ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7019468 E: 3213471

Description of Sommarö Nature Trail.
 

Öjen Nature trail, 4.5 km /circular trail  

A coniferous forest with a fallen tree in the foreground.

Estimated time to walk is about 2,5 h in summer. Easy for beginners, families and groups.

Starting point: Parking area by the road running from Vaasa to Sundom. No winter maintenance.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 04.1704' lon: 21° 34.4469' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7007846 E: 3226122

Description of Öjen Nature Trail.   

Other Trails   

Vargis Trails; 
Älgrundan (elk trail) 2.6 km Circle Trail and Wargrundan 0.8 km Circle Trail

A small rocky area and forest around.
Estimated time to walk is about 1 h in summer. No winter maintenance.    
Älgrundan:      Challenging.
Wargrundan:  Rather challenging

Starting point: Vargis parking area. No winter maintenance. 
Coordinates for Vargis parking area : Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 19.083'
lon: 21° 10.289'  ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7034304 E: 208287  

Description of Vargis Trails. 

Risö Nature Trail, 4.9 km     

A reef bay.

Estimated time to walk is about 1-2 h in summer. Easy for beginners, families and groups. Duckboardtrail to bird watching tower. Starting point: Parking area at the end of Ampujatie Road.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 03.7663' lon: 21° 41.9537'ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7003634 E: 232305

Description of Risö Nature Trail.  

Kikanberget Nature Trail, 0.8 km back and forth    

​A bench and a table by a rocky beach.

Estimated time to walk is about 1h in summer. Mainly easy, climb to the rock a bit more demanding. The staircase to the observation tower is steep.
Starting point: Café next to the Klobbskat harbour.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 18.2621' lon: 21° 05.5286' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7033144 E: 204185

Description of Kikanberget Nature Trail.
 

Västerö Hiking Trail, 4.6 km/6 km/14 km       

Table and bench on a rocky beach.

Estimated time to walk is about 3 -5 h in summer. Rather demanding route. Starting points: Parking areas by Söderskatavägen and Equityvägen at Västerö.
Parking area by Söderskatavägen Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 20. 2521 ' lon: 21° 57.6175' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7036063 E: 3247942.
Parking area by Equityvägen: Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 21. 3112' lon: 21° 58.3042' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7037981 E: 3248668.

Description of Västerö Hiking Trail.
 

Mickelsörarna Nature Trail, 1 km/ 1.5 km circular trail
    
Sea view from a tower. Birches and stones in the foreground.

Estimated time to walk is about 1,5 h in summer. Rather demanding route. Starting point: Yard of the Mickelsörarna Nature Station.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 27. 6243 ' lon: 21° 46.3972' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7047522 E: 239649

Description of Mickelsörarna Nature Trail.  

Molpehällorna Nature Trail, 1 km/2 km/3 km circular trail     

A bay with reeds. A hiker stands on a rock and takes notes.

Estimated time to walk is about 1,5 h in summer. Rather demanding route. Starting point: Yard of the Molpe Nature Station.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 62° 53. 5349 ' lon: 21° 05.4567'ETRS-TM35FIN N: 6990306 E: 3199951

Description of Molpehällorna Nature Trail.

Valsörarna Nature Trail, 2,8 km /each way

People stand on a rocky nature trail. On both sides there is green shrubbery.

Estimated time to walk is about 3 h in summer. Rather demanding route. Starting points: Piers in the nothern side or southern sid of the island.
A pier in the nothern side of the island: Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 27. 6243 ' lon: 21° 46.3972' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7047522 E: 239649
A pier in the southern side of the island: 
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 27. 6243 ' lon: 21° 46.3972' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7047522 E: 239649

Description of Valsörarna Nature Trail.
 

The Archipelago Part oc the Björkö-Panike Hiking Trail, 8.0 km /  each way      

Deciduous forest in the summertime.

Estimated time to walk is about 4 h in summer. Rather demanding route.
Starting points: Parking area in the Vargis parking area or the parking area in the Svedjehamn harbour. From there, continue by boat to the hiking trail's archipelago part.

Parking area in the Svedjehamn harbour, 65870 Svedjehamn.
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 21. 5709 ' lon: 21° 18.0090' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7041276 E: 3215182

Vargis parking area, Vargisvägen, 65970 Söderudden, 
Coordinates for Vargis parking area : Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 19.083'
lon: 21° 10.289'  ETRS-TM35FIN: N: 7034304 E: 208287

Korsbådafjärden jetty : Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 21. 374 ' lon: 21° 14.566' ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7038208 E: 212220 

Rotörskatan
Coordinates: Euref-Fin (~ WGS84) lat: 63° 19. 5630 ' lon: 21° 09.4536'ETRS-TM35FIN N: 7035252 E: 207674

Description of Björkö - Panike Hiking Trail.