Sälenfjällen is both one of Sweden's most accessible and most protected mountain areas. Here you meet availability and nature conservation in balance. This protection is based on several levels: nature reserves, Natura 2000 sites, biotope protection and species protection. Together, they preserve the distinctive character of the mountains and make it possible to develop trails and outdoor recreation without compromising natural values. Areas such as Norra Transtrandsfjällen and Tandövala are good examples – places where tranquillity, open spaces and biodiversity are preserved through active management.
The mountains in Sälenfjällen
Sälenfjällen is a low mountain range at around 900 metres, situated between the village of Sälen and the Norwegian border in the municipality of Malung-Sälen. The highest peak is Östra Granfjället in the Norra Transtrandsfjällen range, 948 metres according to Wikipedia and »at most 949« according to the County Administrative Board’s nature reserve decision; followed by Stor-Närfjället at 931 metres and Hundfjället at 925 metres, with the valley floor at 610 metres. The ski areas are situated at altitudes of 570–890 metres. The tree line here does not run at a fixed altitude: researchers have shown that it has risen above the old peaks, so that Sälenfjällen is no longer a mountain in the botanical sense – which is why the bare mountain is often a narrow zone above mountain birch forest with spruce growing amongst it. Which mountain is the highest, and which ones can be climbed: Which mountain is the largest in Sälen?.
Habitat types and vegetation
In the Stor-Närfjället Natura 2000 site in the Norra Transtrandsfjällen mountains, just over half of the area consists of scree above the tree line, which is dry and dominated by heather and crowberry, with thick mats of lichen, as the heathland has been protected from grazing for a long time; just over a third consists of western taiga, and the remainder comprises mountain birch forest, nutrient-rich spruce forest, open bogs and marshes, aapa mires and scree slopes. There is no reindeer herding in Sälenfjällen; Dalarna’s only Sámi community is located in Älvdalen. Among the birds in the reserve’s old-growth forest, the three-toed woodpecker, the Siberian jay, the spotted woodpecker and the capercaillie breed; bears are found throughout Dalarna, wolves mainly in the south and east, and lynx in slightly increasing numbers.
Protected areas – nature reserves and Natura 2000
Five nature reserves are situated within or adjacent to Sälenfjällen: Norra Transtrandsfjällen, 8,931 hectares of mountain and mountain forest approximately 15 kilometres north-west of the village, comprising Granfjället, Närfjällen and Synddalskläppen; the Hundfjället Nature Reserve, comprising 560–580 hectares of old spruce forest on the southern slope of the mountain; Skarsåsfjällen, including Näsfjället, covering 2,300 hectares approximately 30 kilometres to the north-west; Tandövala, Sweden’s southernmost mountain, 3,498 hectares west of Limedsforsen; and Bredvalla, a 142-hectare stream canyon one mil south-west of Sälen. To the north lies Fulufjället National Park, which includes Njupeskär. Stor-Närfjället and Tandövala are Natura 2000 sites, as are Hundfjället, Skarsåsfjällen and Bredvalla. Distances, trails and regulations for each reserve: nature reserves and national parks near Sälen.
Map of Sälenfjällen
Official maps: Lantmäteriet’s ‘Min karta’ for elevations and trails, the County Administrative Board’s nature reserve maps on each nature reserve page, and the ‘Naturkartan’ map for the municipality covered by Malung-Sälen, featuring 54–56 walking, running and cycling trails. The mountain map Sälen–Idre, on a scale of 1:50,000, covers the entire area. The summer trails in Sälenfjällen are marked with red crosses on posts, whilst the national trails are marked with orange-red paint on stones and cairns.
Visitor rules
The right of public access applies, but the regulations differ between the reserves: in Norra Transtrandsfjällen, camping and lighting fires using your own wood or dry twigs is permitted, and snowmobiles may be ridden on the marked trail, whilst Hundfjället and Skarsåsfjällen only allow fires in designated areas. In Fulufjället, dogs must be kept on a lead and snowmobiles must stick to marked trails on snow-covered ground. Off-road cycling is prohibited in the reserves, as is off-road driving with motorised vehicles. Dogs must be kept under supervision and on a lead from 1 March to 20 August, in accordance with general law.
Reserves and habitats
The nature reserves in Sälen range from open mountain heaths and moors to mosaics of mountain birch, coniferous forest and clear stream ravines. The transition zones between forest and bare mountain are particularly valuable - species from several environments meet there, making Sälen unusually species-rich for low mountains. Grouse, golden plover, elk, fox and mountain hare thrive here, and in late summer the moors glow with blueberries and cloudberries. Several of the trails pass through these zones, making it easy to experience the wealth of species without leaving the marked path.
How protection is visible in the landscape
Protection affects how the whole infrastructure is planned. Ski areas and hiking trails are built where there is the least impact on nature, bridges and footbridges protect sensitive moors, and winter trails reduce soil erosion. New trails and construction projects are checked against reserve regulations and EU Natura 2000 rules, and routes are often adjusted to avoid nesting sites, key biotopes and erosion. This means that family activities and outdoor recreation can be developed without harming nature.
What applies to you as a visitor
The right of public access applies throughout Sälen, but within nature reserves there are special rules. You can hike, ski and have a coffee almost everywhere - but you are expected to stick to marked trails, make fires in designated areas and take all rubbish home. Dogs must be kept under extra control from 1 March to 20 August and kept on a lead where reindeer are available all year round. Off-road driving by car, quad bike or scooter is prohibited outside marked trails. Special permits may be required for drone flights and nature photography depending on the area and season.
The impact of the seasons
Spring is the most vulnerable time - the soil is waterlogged and roots are exposed. This is when paths and clear trails are most useful. In late summer, the ground is more resistant but still important for animal foraging. In winter, the snow carries your weight and protects the ground, making winter the most hard-wearing season, as long as you stick to groomed trails and respect signposted zones. Those who follow these guidelines can safely enjoy skiing, tour skiing and nature experiences without leaving a trace.
A quiet and vibrant mountain nature
The fact that the mountains are protected is evident in the experience. In the morning mountain lakes clouds are reflected in still waters, and old spruces stand covered in lichen in forest areas where time has been allowed to work undisturbed. The biodiversity and tranquillity that characterise the mountain environment are precisely what protection is designed to preserve. That's why the rules exist - so that every visitor can feel the freedom without losing anything.
How to contribute to sustainable mountain tourism
Small choices make a big difference. Make your choice mountain lodgings in Sälen and actors working with sustainability, walk or cycle shorter distances instead of taking the car between areas, avoid shortcuts that break new tracks over moors and bogs, and switch off outdoor lighting at night in mountain environments. Please report littering or broken paths to local hosts or the county administrative board. In this way, the protection of the mountains becomes not only formal - but alive through how we move and take responsibility.