Åreskutan - At the top of the mountain in

July 09, 2025•6 min read

Challenging climb to the top of Åreskutan. Amazing views over rivers and mountains while reaching the top, and sky gliders soaring in the sky.

People went sky gliding from the side of the mountain where the lifts went. Lifts went from the bottom of the mountain to base camp. To reach the top of Åreskutan, the last part has to be taken by foot.

A quiet start to a demanding climb

We started our hike up Åreskutan around 10 in the morning. The weather was on our side - warm with just enough wind - so we packed light: windproof jackets, a hat, sunglasses, plenty of water, lunch and some snacks. The day before, we had spoken to a local who suggested we take the black-marked trail 215. According to her, it wasn’t much harder than the red trail, but far less crowded since most families choose the red route.

The black trail is well-marked and easy to follow, but it is still a climb. You need a bit of mental grit to get through it. The route goes uphill almost the entire time, with some steep sections where you gain height quickly. Just when you think you’re close to the top, a “false summit” appears. It took us five hours to reach the peak - with my dog Vizze in tow, we took extra breaks so he could drink and cool off in shady spots or in small streams along the way.

Landscapes and moments along the way

The trail offers a mix of terrain - solid underfoot with stones, roots, and some looser gravel sections. There are also short downhill stretches before the climb continues. Near the top, patches of snow still linger. We saw reindeer resting on the snow, cooling down in the sun. Vizze was overjoyed to find snow in the middle of summer and couldn’t resist rolling around in it.

Closer to the summit, the climb gets more technical. In some places, we had to use both hands and feet to scramble up. The view just kept opening up as we gained height - valleys below, gliders soaring in the air, and cyclists speeding down the mountain.

At the top - waffles and well-earned rest

Reaching the summit felt amazing. There’s a small summit café where we treated ourselves to waffles. At 85 SEK for a medium-sized one, it was a bit pricey, but worth every bite after hours of climbing. We had also packed lunch, snacks, and coffee that we had during the hike which was well needed!

The way down - changing plans

Originally, we thought we’d hike all the way down to Base Camp, but after a short rest and a visit to the toilet, we realised both Vizze and our legs were starting to protest. The sun had moved, now shining straight onto the slope, making it hotter. We decided to take the cable car down instead. Good call - we made it just in time for the last lift at 5 PM before they closed. If you’re planning the same, make sure you’re there in time.

Facts about Åreskutan

📍 Location: Åre, Jämtland, Sweden
⛰️ Height: 1,420 meters above sea level
🥾 Trail taken: Black-marked Trail 215
⏱️ Time to summit: About 5 hours with breaks (and a dog)
☕ Facilities: Summit café, toilets, cable car down to Base Camp
🌞 Season for our visit: Summer hiking (check weather before going)

Good to Know & Tips

🚶‍♂️ The black trail is less crowded than the red but still challenging.
💧 Bring plenty of water - there are a few small streams, but not many.
👟 Wear sturdy shoes with good grip - some sections are steep and loose.
🌅 Start early to avoid hiking in the hottest part of the day.
🚡 If you plan to take the lift down, note the last departure (usually 5 PM).
🧥 A windproof jacket is useful, even on warm days - the summit can be breezy.
🐕 Dogs are allowed but make sure they can handle the distance and terrain.

Reflection

Climbing Åreskutan via the black trail was demanding, but also enjoyable. We had stretches where it was just us, the mountain, and the sound of the wind. Seeing reindeer in the snow and watching gliders drift in the air made the experience even more memorable. It’s not a climb you do without effort, but that’s what makes it so satisfying. If you’re in Åre and want a challenge away from the crowds, this route might be just what you’re looking for.

Read more about Åre here.

Check out the hiking trail here - Trail 215

Trail map of Åre mountain - Map of all trails on the mountain.

We took the trail 215 to the top. It is a black trail which means it's more challenging to hike.

Photos

Finding our way to the trail that starts by VM6, which is a lift. The route to get there was quite well marked from Åre village.

Signs of the different trails available. We took trail 215, which was a black trail, meaning it is steeper and a bit more advanced.

The lifts was working hard bringing people up the mountain. You don't have to hike all the way. The lift can bring you most of the way there, the last 20-30 min though must be made by foot.

About 30 min up, we got this view.

Walking into the designated area for hiking. During winter, Åre is a popular ski resort. During summer, it attracts downhill bikers. To make it safer, the hiking trails are separated from the slopes.

The trail continued to go up, up and up.

This picture was taken about halfway up.

Here we were closing in to the top, and we met bikers. There was places on this trail where we had to crawl on all four. I could never imagine taking a bike down that route 😂 This guy on the picture was very experienced. There was another guy on the right side of this picture who was a bit nervous about getting down, he carried his bike from time to time.

Parts of the trail went along steep edges. At some parts it was so steep we had to get on all fours to climb.

1420 meters above sea level.

The view from the top was amazing! We had such good weather and not a cloud in sight.

At the top, there was a small cafe in a cabin that served waffles and beverages. We ate a waffle with brown cheese and red deer jam, and it was the absolute best waffle I've ever had! I must say I was sceptical about the brown cheese, but I was not disappointed! 😋

Vizze admiring the view. (And searching for reindeer).

Paragliders flew from the mountainside when we were heading back down. This might be on my to-do list next time I'm here. They started from where the lifts ended. They had a little area of their own for takeoff, and someone at the foot of the mountain helped to guide them for their landing.