
If you ride a mountain bike along the Isälvsleden trail, you'll experience a rich history, with traces of the ice sheet's advance and settlements from the Stone Age. The trail is about 60 kilometers long and stretches through a dramatic landscape of forests, lakes and high ridges. Along the way, you will experience active mud volcanoes, pebble ridges and dead ice pits.
Parts of the Isälvsleden trail go up on a mighty ridge and it takes 4-5 hours to cycle the six miles. There are several shelters and even a simple overnight cabin along the way, where the first come, first served principle applies. The many lakes and streams offer good fishing. Remember to buy a fishing license to take along on the trip. A cycling adventure for the whole family.
Isälvsleden starts (or ends) in the town of Vindeln. You start at the sports and ice rink Fritidscentrum in the northeastern part of the community. The trail initially follows the electric light trail. This stage is easy and you cycle with a slight climb over Degermyrliden and then pass the eastern edge of the village of Abborrtjärn.
From Abborrtjärn, the trail goes over Koverberget, through a slightly wetter spruce forest. Virgin Mary's keys grow here in several places and near Lappkuliden you can find Strutbräken and Nattviol. Just before Yttersjön there is a picnic area. In Hällnäs there is a grocery store and here you pass the railroad through the viaduct in the middle of the village. Make a detour to the old sanatorium, a mighty building in the middle of the pine forest.
On this short section along the crossrail you cycle towards Lycksele and over the mighty Hjuksåsarna with fine views of the Vindelälven valley and the village of Hjuken. Over Hjuksån you follow the highway bridge. This stage is about 3 kilometers and perfect for families with children.
You cycle initially along the highway and over a pine-covered dune landscape on the southwest side of Hjuksån and then continue between the village of Ekodalen and Stönningsliden. Make a detour to Lerfallet, a unique area where the water flow creates a miniature landscape of mud volcanoes. The area is particularly worth seeing during rainy periods. Just before the overnight cabin at Missutjärn, you will once again pass the crossrail towards Lycksele.
On this stage you cycle through a dead ice landscape with dead ice pits, sometimes filled with water, forming small ponds. The perch lakes along the trail are examples of water-filled dead ice pits. The steep pebble ridge Sundkammen is perhaps the most spectacular part of the Isälvsleden trail, which takes you out into Lake Åmträsket. There is a nice sandy beach with a shelter and barbecue area. On the northern part of the ridge, there is a stone settlement and two settlements with ancient remains. In Djupsund there are boats for crossing, make sure to leave the site with a boat on each side.
Here, the trail crosses ridges where fall storms felled forests. There is also a shelter on this stage. If you want a less challenging bike ride, you can choose the road around Abborrträsket.
Pebble ridges
Pebble ridges, which the Ice River Trail often follows, are elongated ridges of rounded rocks, gravel and sand formed by meltwater rivers during the melting of the ice sheet. These ridges, which can be hundreds of kilometers long and usually run north-south, were created when ice rivers flowed through tunnels under the ice and deposited material at the ice edge. The coarser rocks sank quickly while finer material was deposited further away, creating layers where the coarser materials lie at the bottom.
Mortuary pits and graves
Along the trail there are several small lakes formed when large blocks of ice from the ice sheet melted into depressions. These depressions, often located in valleys or between upland areas, have a flat bottom and steep edges. They often have marshes or open water at the bottom. The perch ponds along the trail are examples of water-filled dead ice pits.
Photo: Amanda Sveed.
Vindelforsarna is one of the Vindel River's largest and most powerful rapids. The rapids are most magnificent during the high water period in mid-June. In summer there is an art exhibition and café.
Sundkammen is perhaps the most spectacular part of the Isälvsleden trail. The steep pebble ridge leads out into Lake Åmträsket. There is a beautiful sandy beach with a shelter and barbecue area.
At Hjukenåsarna you cycle on forest trails through a breathtaking landscape. On Huvudåsen there is a barbecue area and the best view of the landscape. Feel free to stop and look at the exhibitions at "Konst i kvarn".
Västerbotten's own volcanoes can be found in Lerfallet. After periods of heavy rainfall, the mud volcanoes simmer and fizz. That's when you're most likely to see the phenomenon.
Missutjärn is one of the most beautiful lakes, surrounded by a fabulous old pine forest. There is a simple overnight cabin with a stove to warm up frozen or wet hikers and cyclists.
In Djupsund there are boats for crossing, make sure to leave a boat on each side.
Missutjärn is one of the most beautiful lakes, surrounded by a fabulous old pine forest.
In Lerfallet you will find Västerbotten's own volcanoes.
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