There are plenty of waterfalls and rapids along Vildmarksvägen, the Swedish Wilderness Road. One, or rather two, of these are found at Brakkåfallet. This is a waterfall in two parts close to Stora Blåsjön in Strömsund Municipality in Jämtland County.
For many Swedes, this is a place known from the movie about Dunderklumpen. This was a Swedish movie from 1974 about the lonely hobo Dunderklumpen and includes characters such as the giant Jorm and the bear Pellegnillot. Several places in this area of Jämtland played an important role in either the film itself or in giving inspiration to the book the film is based on.
Things to Do and See
Brakkåfallet is split into the upper and the lower waterfall. The lower fall is located about 100 meters from the parking spots along the road. It is not a long distance, but the path can have its challenges. In the gorge of the lower fall, there is the possibility to either swim in the cool water or just enjoy the waterfall itself. To reach the upper fall there is an additional hike of 100 meters uphill. This one too has its challenges. Neither of these falls are easily accessible for people with mobility issues. You can expect to be climbing a bit up and down, but the view will be worth it.
How to Get to Brakkåfallet
- Flights: The nearest airports are Vilhelmina Airport (VHM) and Åre Östersund Airport (OSD)
- Car: Brakkåfallet is located along the Vildmarksvägen, the Wilderness Road. These are rural roads to the west of Vilhelmina, towards the border with Norway.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 769 kilometers (9 h)
- Gothenburg – 1053 kilometers (13 h 10 min)
- Malmö – 1377 kilometers (15 h)
- Linköping – 964 kilometers (11 h)
- Kiruna – 717 kilometers (9 h 20 min)
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