The summit of the Skuleberget mountain in Docksta is one of the top destinations for people visiting in Sweden the High Coast UNESCO world heritage.
In every season of the year, a trip at the Skuleberget is a phenomenal opportunity for people and families aiming to have fun spending an exciting day in the Nature.
People running within this natural reserve collect unique sensations and long-lasting memories of epic trailrunning sessions.
The Skuleberget stands proud on its surrounding area and has bagged itself a mountain status even topping out at “only” 296 m above sea level.
It has the character of a real mountain and encompasses its characteristics:
at 286m a.s.l. on its summit, the world’s highest point of land to have been uplifted by a postglacial isostatic rebound
natural reserve
breathtaking views over the fjords and the islands of the archipelago, and over the surrounding mountains and forests
paths in the woods, walkable safely, and segments on large rocks of red Nordingrå granite
wide natural areas still wild and parts that became an astonishing playground for hikers, runners, climbers, and skiers
hosting ski slopes - with an unique seaview! - and a brand new chairlift on the sunny side of the mountain and, at its steep eastern slope, the climbing routes of the "Via Ferrata"
at its summit, few well positioned shelters and the Toppstugan
at its feet, the museum Höga Kusten Naturum and the Tourist Center, the Via Ferrata, campsites and accommodation areas, and opportunities for organized outdoor activities (climbing, kayaking, cycling, classes of fitness outdoor).
Trailrunning passionates found at Skuleberget an unique playground because there are at least five different path to follow to run up and down on the mountain.
The #HighCoastRunner group named these five steep segments: “ELK, FOX, BEAR, EAGLE and LYNX”.
They are the “BIG5 uphill paths” of the Skuleberget.
Every walk or run - fast or slow - up to the summit following one of these trails have a proper meaning and will leave emotions in your memory.
Every run on these uphills will push you out of your comfort zone.
Know all the #BIG5 segments
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The FOX path at the Skuleberget
This is the youngest path: it was born in 2017 and it is known as the “Höga Kusten Stigen”.
Facing to southwest, the segment starts strong from the first hundreds of meters in the wood, where it engages you on steeps stairs, roots and stones.
When you're just out of the woods, your track will be an imaginary line drawn on the large rocks that brings you up-up-up to the first peak at the Litoberget.
From there, it will be a never-ending up and down in the wood again, over rocks and terrain paths of stones and roots before to restart again to firmly climb up to the last technical segment that will slow you to see the Toppstugan at the summit of the Skuleberget.
Find on Strava.com the segment:
SKULEBERGET FOX path [ BIG5™ uphills ]
SHARE YOUR #HIGHCOASTRUNNER PASSION:
Celebrate your session up on the FOX path!
[ SKULE BIG5 #TAGMUG ]
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The EAGLE path at the Skuleberget
This is the shortest and steepest segment to reach the summit following an almost vertical route on the east face of the mountain.
Starting from the museum, the path takes you directly to the top in just 800 meters, climbing big stones and steep steps of stairs fixed into the rocks.
On this segment, vertical runners and climbers are in their playground, but everyone will really enjoy this mission out of the comfort zone. Remember to have charged your camera: there are breathtaking views from up there that you can’t miss.
This is a one-way segment, from down to up: to walk it downhill is not recommended. Also wet conditions should have to be avoided, since this hike can become very difficult.
Find on Strava.com the segment:
SKULEBERGET EAGLE path [ BIG5™ uphills ]
SHARE YOUR #HIGHCOASTRUNNER PASSION:
Celebrate your vertical run on the EAGLE path!
[ SKULE BIG5 #TAGMUG ]
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The ELK path at the Skuleberget
You'll love to run or walk this segment because the “old yellow" is probably the most preserved path.
It is one of the historic trails leading to the top of the mountain but now very few hikers know it and is rare to meet people up there even during the summer.
It's marked with yellow dots, on trees & stones and few remaining wooden poles.
The late afternoon and the evening in the summer is the best moment of the day to be there: the light that filters through the trees from west is magical. It's a wonderful segment if you like trailrunning in the real nordic nature.
Downhill it is very technical: a mix of steep segments and challenging trails into the wood. Rocks and roots to "manage" and continue changes of direction. It's 100% pure fun.
During raining days, a lot of water flows downstream on the trail. It happens also to have to jump over a tree, even large ones, that obstructed the path blown down by the wind. It's impossible to lose the flow during this sort of mindful running…
Find on Strava.com the segment:
SKULEBERGET ELK path [ BIG5™ uphills ]
SHARE YOUR #HIGHCOASTRUNNER PASSION:
Celebrate your exploring the ELK path!
[ SKULE BIG5 #TAGMUG ]
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The BEAR path at the Skuleberget
The final meters of this segment reaching the summit at the Toppstugan are definitely challenging
Here you are on the ski slopes at the westerly side of the mountain.
The BEAR segment follows the steep terrain road that runs up to the summit from the start of the chairlift (Skulebergets Linbana). It is steep: it starts steep, continues steep, and finishes eve steeper at the summit by reaching the Toppstugan.
Runners that raced the 43k of Höga Kusten Trail remember this uphill: it represents the shocking final vertical segment that brings them to the finish line (and the second ascend to the peak of the mountain that the competitors run in the last 5k of this fantastic ultra trail).
Find on Strava.com the segment:
SKULEBERGET BEAR PATH [ BIG5™ UPHILLS ]
SHARE YOUR #HIGHCOASTRUNNER PASSION:
Celebrate your steep run on the BEAR path!
[ SKULE BIG5 #TAGMUG ]
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The LYNX path at the Skuleberget
If you are in Docksta, don't miss to run this segment, following the northerly path that starts from the east side of the mountain.
If you pass the High Coast tourist center and the museum "Naturum" following the Höga Kusten Leden to North, you find where the LYNX starts: it's a challenging, very steep segment that is shaped on rocks and roots and climbs up in the woods.
It is marked with blue dots of paint on trees and stones. To dominate it, you have to run, walk and also climb, keeping on changing the pace.
If it's raining hard, you find a lot of mud and water on the trail. In winter, if the snow is deep, it can be really challenging to find the track (check if someone that really knows it have been there marking with his steps the route in the snow before to venture alone up there).
High Coast runners like this two kilometers uphill trail because there is a sort of tension that brings you up despite the rocks, roots and stones. Nevertheless, in summer it is unusual to find many people there: the trail is very technical and to keep effective your proceeding uphill you need to adapt fast your running to approach the different ground surfaces until the last meters of the segment at the peak.
Find on Strava.com the segment:
SKULEBERGET LYNX PATH [ BIG5™ UPHILLS ]
SHARE YOUR #HIGHCOASTRUNNER PASSION:
Celebrate your hiking the LYNX path!
[ SKULE BIG5 #TAGMUG ]
The #BIG5uphills are calling your name and are waiting for you in Docksta!
If you're based in Docksta, the trails of the Skuleberget are one step away from your front door (and from the piers of the Marina, too).
All the segments start at a distance that you can cover by running (or walking) during your warm-up.
If you overnight in Docksta or if your boat is moored at the gästhamn, the feet of the mountain are less than 2km from the village.
Trailrunning the #BIG5
High Coast Runner’s tips to get the most of the Skuleberget Mount
Roots, mud, rocks and stones, branches and trees, berries, lichens and flowers, leaves and pine needles, ice, snow, water, wind, the sound of your steps and the rhythm of your breathing.
Take your time to walk or run at the Skule: every path is different, with nuances that you can grasp by opening your real senses. Enjoy the outdoors.
DRINKING WATER: you don’t need to carry large supplies to hydrate yourself because at the summit you can stock up on drinking water at the sink which is available to the hikers you find at the back of the Toppstugan cabin.
TOILETS: at the Visitor Center and in the large parking area at the feet of the mountain close to the E4 road. At the summit, close to the Toppstugan and the chairlift's station.
SHOES: the paths are rough: wear a pair with the necessary grip (you will need it a lot, particularly on the downhill or with wet and icy conditions). You will run on ever-changing surfaces, over rocks and stones, encountering roots almost everywhere but also dirt and mud. On the snow, specific outsoles with deep lugs or metallic studs and a good pair of gaiters are reccommended.
Be in tune with the mountain
#BIG5 trailrunning ETIQUETTE
keep the curves and the steps in the trails (or limit your go off trail), to avoid to contribute to the erosion of the path
leave nothing but footprints (don't litter)
keep it wild
say hello to those you meet
share the experience with other runners
The MAP-POSTER above can be customized with your notes to record your #PB on the #BIG5 upphills.
You find it on the E-SHOP: the collections of map posters tailored for trailrunning in the Höga Kusten >
How to sequence the #BiG5
Do you have 3 trailrunning sessions to spend in Docksta?
Here we would suggest you how to mix the experiences of these paths at Skuleberget:
DAY 1#
LYNX path UPHILL
FOX path DOWNHILL
DAY 2#
EAGLE (or BEAR) path UPHILL
ELK path DOWNHILL
DAY 3#
FOX path UPHILL
LYNX path DOWNHILL
The High Coast Runner group is sharing running experiences within the High Coast World Heritage in Sweden: join the group on Strava.com!
Do you need info about the Skuleberget #BIG5 and the #HighCoastRunner group?
CONTACT ME:
Tommaso De Rosa
+46 (0)76.3136909
or +39.335.1309207 (WhatsApp too)
dockstahavet@gmail.com
