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I’ve spent the past few summers driving and hiking around Härjedalen and Jämtland, the southern part of the Swedish mountain range (fjällen). Perhaps lesser known than Lappland, it is full of wild nature, mountain peaks, waterfalls, wild orchids, reindeer – and solitude.

I have been travelling up and down these counties, breathing the free air, doing day hikes and taking pictures. All of the following places are accessible by day hike from a car road, yet I was alone at every place. Some days I’ve walked for hours without meeting another person, and mostly had the road to myself as well. Most visitors come for winter skiing, but I say summer is the best time for visiting Härjedalen and Jämtland.

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    Helags

    Lunndörren

    Sonfjället

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    Wild orchid at Fallmoran shieling (fäbod)

    Sonfjället above the clouds

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    Helags

    Lappspira (Pedicularis lapponica) at Hamrafjället

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    Reindeer calf at the top of Hamrafjället

    Rhodiola rosea (arctic root, rosenrot) at the foot of Helags

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    Flatruet: stone age rock paintings, about 4000-6000 years old

    Reindeer on the road to Funäsdalen

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    Djävulshålet (devil’s hole) near Ljungdalen and Tossåsen

    Helags

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    Fettjeåfallet, between Vemdalen and Klövsjö

    Above Lillråndafallet

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    View from Skorvdalsfjället, Vemdalen (Sonfjället at the horizon to the right)

    Kvarnbäcksfallet, Ljungdalen

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    Reindeer on the path to Helags

    Wild orchid at the foot of Hamrafjället

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    Half of Fettjeåfallet, between Vemdalen and Klövsjö