Katterjåkk (also spelled Katterjokk) is a tourist destination in the far north of Sweden, close to the border with Norway. It is known as a “turiststation” in Swedish, a place offering accommodation in the Swedish wilderness. It is run by Friluftfrämjandet, a non-profit organization organizing outdoor activities. The railway between Kiruna and Narvik goes through here and a small station makes it possible for tourists to get on and off the train and enter the wilderness, either for skiing or hiking.
Permanent residents do not exist in Katterjåkk. Instead, there is a larger resort area developing around the station. Cabins, a grocery store, and a restaurant have been built in the more recent decades. A few hikers might pass by here during the summer, but Katterjåkk is by most definitions abandoned at this time of the year. Instead, it is the winter season that is the main event here. The area is famous for its large amount of snow during the winter.
A Short History of Katterjåkk
The railway that goes between Kiruna and Narvik was opened in 1903. During its construction, Katterjåkk was one of the many accommodations for the navvies, the construction workers. The accommodation was later re-used for tourists and was between 2007 and 2009 extended with around 40 cabins, an apartment hotel, a grocery store, and a restaurant.
Things to Do and See
The four main activities found in Katterjåkk are cross-country skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and fishing.
Cross-Country Skiing
There are plenty of routes for cross-country skiing. One of these is the route to Vassivagge, also known as Soldalen, the Sun Valley. The distance through the valley is about seven kilometers, while it is only four kilometers to reach the wind shelter.
Lairevaggi is another possible destination for cross-country skiing. According to the local organization, the route here takes six to ten hours. It includes a climb of about 400 meters in altitude.
Hiking
Hiking in the mountains? There are several trails in the area, some following the same routes as for skiing. There are trails leading both north and south, but also towards Riksgränsen and the Norwegian border and to Abisko in the east.
Mountain Biking
There are plenty of paths to explore on a mountain bike. Biking in these mountains is popular during the summer months and there are plenty of options to choose between.
How to Get to Katterjåkk
- Flights: The closest airport is Harstad/Narvik Airport (EVE) 87 kilometers away across the border in Norway. Another option is Kiruna Airport (KRN) 137 kilometers away.
- Car: Katterjåkk is along the E10 between Narvik and Kiruna, very close to the border with Norway.
- Bus: Regional buses from Länstrafiken Norrbotten connect Katterjåkk with the rest of the Norrbotten region in Sweden.
The driving distance from 5 major Swedish cities, according to Google Maps:
- Stockholm – 1363 kilometers (15 h 8 min)
- Gothenburg – 1709 kilometers (19 h 18 min)
- Malmö – 1971 kilometers (20 h 53 min)
- Linköping – 1558 kilometers (16 h 56 min)
- Kiruna – 130 kilometers (1 h 33 min)
Find out more about other destinations in Sweden by visiting our page Exploring Sweden
