Discover Åsele: Culture, River Landscapes and Hiking Trails

Åsele lies in forest country between the mountains and the coast. The Ångermanälven shapes opportunities for water-based activities and winter pursuits in the municipality. Cultural attractions, hiking trails and destinations outside the town centre offer more ways to make each day different.

Cultural attractions and local traditions

Åsele Hembygdsområde is in the centre of Åsele and includes 17 buildings and 50 exhibitions. Guided tours of the grounds and buildings are offered in summer. The site includes, among other things, a clothing museum and an exhibition about the history of the Sámi in the municipality. Anyone interested in local history and regional culture will find several topics brought together here.

Åsele Marknad is also part of the town’s cultural calendar: the four-day summer market dates back to the 17th century. The specific market dates vary; check the dates for your travel year. Torvsjö Kvarnar offers a different perspective on the area. The water-powered mill complex is still in operation, has been legally protected as a historic building since 1972, and is designated a cultural environment of national interest. A readily accessible hiking trail also runs beside Kvarnbäcken at the mills.

Tegelbacksgården offers traditional tunnbröd, blodbröd, fikabröd and other products baked on the farm. The variety of breads mentioned makes a visit interesting for travellers who want to discover regional food culture.

River, swimming area and winter activities

The Ångermanälven flows through Åsele Municipality, offering opportunities for recreation and leisure. These include fishing, swimming, canoeing and boat trips. In winter, the river is often used as a route for walking, skiing and snowmobiling.

Stamsjöbadet is a gently sloping swimming area with a sandy beach, about 4 km from the centre of Åsele. The facilities include a jetty, barbecue areas and a large car park. You can reach the swimming area by bicycle, car or on foot. Åslia, meanwhile, is a ski area with lifts, about 3.5 km from the centre; whether it opens during the ski season depends on snow conditions. In winter, a floodlit cross-country trail in the town centre is groomed for both classic and freestyle skiing. In summer, you can use the same trail for walking, jogging and running.

Hiking trails and natural areas

For a hike with a clearly described route, Kyrkstigen runs from Norrstrand, by Gamla Lyckselevägen, through the forest to Älgsjö. It is considered Åsele’s closest hiking trail to the town. The Åslia Magical Forest Trail starts at the car park by Åslias Toppstuga, which can be reached by car via a gravel road. Several wind shelters with fire pits are located along the trail through the pine forest.

Stockholmsgata Nature Reserve contains a 1.5-kilometre-long, 50-metre-deep ravine. The area provides habitat for rare lichens such as skuggsprötslav and trådgelélav, as well as Siberian jays, three-toed woodpeckers and capercaillies. In Stenbithöjden Nature Reserve, a hiking trail leads to Höjdakojan. The cabin has one room and four sleeping places; from there, you can continue to Toppstugan.

Other destinations offer different highlights. Vitterhuset is a rock formation in the village of Östernoret, about 12 km outside the centre of Åsele. From the Östernoret bathing area, an easy hike leads there through Vittermyren and the forest. Bergvattenberget, popularly known as Offerhällan, is a viewpoint in Sörnoret. The hiking trail there climbs 120 metres and includes some steeper sections; at the summit, there is a wind shelter and a fire pit.

Rangelsten can also be visited as part of a hike: the boulder, shaped by the inland ice, is about 7 metres high and 4 metres wide, has an almost flat top and serves as a viewpoint. A marked trail leads there from Rangelberget, which is accessible by car. For another drive, the Angsjön main entrance to Björnlandet National Park can be reached from Åsele via Highway 92 towards Umeå. From the turn-off, an approximately 24-kilometre gravel road leads to the entrance. Road conditions can vary; plan your journey accordingly.

The Hembygdsområde and the floodlit cross-country trail are in the town centre; Stamsjöbadet and Åslia are each located the stated distance outside the centre. This information can help you weigh up culture, winter sports and swimming trips as different priorities for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Åsele, Hälla, Fredrika, Bjurholm, Dorotea, Vilhelmina, Umeå, Lycksele.

For the main travel overview: Västerbotten.