Tavelsjö: Mountain Trails, Lake and Church History

Tavelsjö combines marked trails to ten mountains with recreational opportunities at Lake Tavelsjö and a tangible link to church history. The range of routes is useful for planning your trip: alongside hikes to individual mountains, there is a longer hiking trail and a circular route around the lake. Water activities and a seasonal ice-skating track round out the options. You can tailor your stay around hiking distance, the lake and the season.

Hiking trails with different route formats

At Tio Toppar Tavelsjö, marked trails lead to ten mountains. The individual hikes are 0.5 to 2.1 kilometres each way and involve 42 to 165 metres of ascent. Trail conditions and parking availability may vary seasonally. The 42-kilometre Tavelsjöleden leads from central Umeå to Tavelsjö and connects with Vännforsleden and Vindelälvsleden. Tavelsjön Runt, by contrast, is a circular route of about 23 kilometres around the lake, used for hiking, cycling and horse riding. Along the route are several rest areas and detours to viewpoints by the lake or on the surrounding mountains; large sections of the route are adapted for accessibility.

Consider the distances in relation to the type of route: For Tio Toppar, the distances are given one way; Tavelsjön Runt circles the lake, while Tavelsjöleden leads from central Umeå to Tavelsjö. The individual mountain hikes, the loop by the water and the trail between two named places differ not only in length but also in their routes.

Lake Tavelsjö: Nature and activities on the water

Lake Tavelsjö is 25 metres deep and the largest lake in Umeå Municipality. In the municipality’s nature inventory, it is classified as Class 1, denoting the highest nature value. This brings together two distinct aspects: its size relative to other lakes in the municipality and its assessment for nature value. Recreational activities at and on Lake Tavelsjö include swimming, boating and fishing. Paddling is also possible; canoes, kayaks and SUP boards can be rented from Tavelsjö kanot & kajak. If you plan to rent specific equipment, check its availability before your trip.

Winter ice-skating track and travel

The Tavelsjö AIK ice-skating track is 9 kilometres long and is used from November to March. Skating conditions vary from one winter to another; take this seasonal dependence into account when planning your trip. The regional bus runs to the Tavelsjö AIK ice-skating track on Saturdays and Sundays. Check the timetable before travelling, taking weekend service and seasonal schedules into account. The period of use and the conditions are two separate planning considerations: November to March indicates when the track is used, while ice conditions vary from winter to winter.

A historical landmark

Today’s Tavelsjö Church was inaugurated in 1965 and stands on the same site as the former church from the 19th century. This distinguishes two points in time at the same church site: the former church and the inauguration of the current building.

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