Sorsele on the Vindelälven: Nature, Culture and Trails

Sorsele combines river landscapes, regional history and varied trails to create a destination with many different holiday ideas. The town is partly located on an island in the middle of the Vindelälven. When looking for an apartment or holiday home for your trip, you can therefore decide during the planning stage whether walks, water experiences, culture or excursions on the Inlandsbanan should be the main focus.

River, island and trails around Sorsele

The Vindelälven shapes the surrounding area in a special way. A riverside promenade runs along the river, while the Skibbikkleden is a natural and easy-to-walk hiking trail from Sorsele to Skibbikken. Skibbikken is located there on a sandy beach along the Vindelälven. The water is shallow and suitable for swimming. Skibbikkeudden also offers a wide view over Nedre Gauträsket, the southern part of Storvindeln.

For a quieter part of the day, Hälsans stig is a good option, a well-maintained circular trail in the centre of Sorsele. Another possibility is the hilly, illuminated running and training track. During the snow-free season, it is used for walking and running, and in winter for cross-country skiing. This makes it possible to combine different types of days: a walk by the water, an active circuit or an excursion into the landscape.

Discover culture and history

The Inlandsbanemuseet is located in the former freight depot of Sorsele railway station. The exhibition deals with the history and construction of the 1,289-kilometre Inlandsbanan railway. For the 2026 season, the summer opening period began on 1 June; the museum is open seasonally. The station is also connected to the Inlandsbanan. During the summer months, the train travels to Sorsele on the route from Kristinehamn in the south to Gällivare in the north.

Today’s Sorsele kyrka is also part of the townscape. It was built in 1859–1860, and its church tower can still be seen from a great distance when approaching the town. In the Hembygdsgårdsområde, you can walk around a small lake, learn about historic buildings and their history, and enjoy the view of the Vindelälven. From 1 July, the Åttkantslogen there houses a local heritage museum about the history of the municipality.

Another historic site is Benstampen, an old mill and bone mill. It was built at the end of the 19th century by merchant Nils August Rönnholm and bailiff J G Lindberg, and has been restored inside to working order. Benstampen has parking and information boards; the site is signposted from Road 363.

Water experiences and regional specialities

Stensundsforsen is just a walk from the centre of Sorsele. The rapid on the Vindelälven is a place where people fish for grayling. If you would like to plan a swimming experience with children, Sorsele has a swimming pool with a sauna; the swimming pool offers families the opportunity to go swimming. Boat tours are also available in Sorsele, cycling is possible as an activity, and ice fishing is one of the activities popular with local residents.

There is also a local culinary connection: palt is considered a regional speciality in Sorsele Municipality and brings the villagers together for lunch on Wednesdays. For an excursion outside the town, the Brudslöjan waterfall lies west of the village of Svarttjärn, approximately halfway between Ammarnäs and Sorsele. The path to the waterfall is about one kilometre long and partly steep.

The right base for planning your trip

When looking for accommodation, you can use your preferred holiday pace as a guide. Sorsele itself combines a railway station, riverside promenade, trails, cultural attractions and opportunities for swimming. For longer days out, the Inlandsbanan offers a special way to travel; an Inlandsbanan ticket also includes the bus journey to Ammarnäs. When choosing your apartment or holiday home, therefore consider above all which experiences you would like to combine and how much room your trip should leave for activity, history or water.

See more places

If you would like to compare other places in addition to Sorsele, you can continue browsing here: Ammarnäs, Gargnäs, Blattnicksele and Råstrand.

To the higher-level travel overview: Sorsele.