Our sailors' favorite day hike (11.4 km) start from South entrance (duration: 5-6 hours with photo/rest stops).• Morning start recommended (8:30-9:00) • Skuleskogen trail maps available at Club House •

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Practical Tips for Sailors

Trail Details 👉 Get a step-by-step guidance of our sailors' favorite day hike at Skuleskogen in this blog post.

Getting There 👉 We suggest several options for our moored Guests: While the summer bus service is no longer available, we've got you covered: • Safe mooring while you explore • Flexible arrangements for longer stays • Local taxi arrangement • Courtesy pickup service (New for 2025: ask at Club House) • Carpooling with other guests • Rental bike from your mooring • Local knowledge and trail maps • Secure yacht monitoring during your adventure

Pro Tips 👉 • Book transportation day before • Start early to maximize day • Pack extra water and food • Download our trail map

Crew Tips 👉 • Perfect for full-day adventure • Safe harbor while exploring (Marina services and monitoring) • Flexible return times

As told by Michael W., 🇩🇪 S/Y Nordwind

“When Helen and I planned our Baltic sailing adventure from Kiel to the Höga Kusten, Skuleskogen National Park was just another waypoint on our chart. Little did we know it would become the highlight of our journey, thanks to an unexpected act of kindness at Docksta Havet marina”.

A Windy Welcome

Beginning June, brought challenging northerly winds to Höga Kusten. After a demanding passage from Härnösand, finding Docksta's sheltered harbor was a relief. Our Hanse 495 needed a safe berth for a few days while the weather settled. "Perfect time to explore inland," I thought, until we learned the summer bus service to Skuleskogen hadn't started yet.

The Marina Host's Solution

During our first morning coffee at the Sailor's Club House, we mentioned our disappointment about missing the national park to Tommaso, the marina host. "Leave your boat to me," he said with a warm smile, "I'll drive you to the south entrance myself." Such spontaneous hospitality - so rare in modern marinas!

Into the Wilderness

Setting off at 8:30 AM with Tommaso's hand-drawn trail course on the map, we set off for what would become our most memorable hiking experience in Scandinavia. The early morning light filtered through the coastal forest, creating an ethereal atmosphere we'd never seen before. The first section of the trail, cleverly designed to hug the coastline, let the eastern sun rays dance through the pine branches, illuminating the moss-covered rocks in a way that made Helen reach for her camera every few minutes.

A Trail of Discoveries

The path revealed its secrets gradually. Ancient sea caves, now perched impossibly high above the water, told the story of the land's dramatic rise. "It's like walking through geological time," Helen noted in our logbook, her geologist's eye catching details I might have missed.

The trail through ancient forest reminded us of fairy tales, but nothing prepared us for Slåttdalsskrevan - a dramatic crevice that would look more at home in the Alps than by the sea.

The Summit Revelation

Reaching Slåttdalsberget's terrace, we understood why Tommaso insisted on an early start. The vast expanse of the High Coast archipelago spread before us - a maze of islands, fjords, and forested peaks that no nautical chart could truly capture. While we couldn't spot our boat in Docksta from here, the panoramic view of the entire High Coast was beyond anything we'd imagined. The flat terrace of red granite made a perfect spot for our packed lunch, as we traced potential sailing routes through the islands below. "In all our Baltic sailing," Helen remarked, "we've never seen landscape quite like this."

The Unexpected Encounter

At Slåttdalsberget's granite terrace, we met Björn and Eva, a Swedish couple from Stockholm who had swapped their sailing life for a motor-home adventure. As we shared our trail mix and stories, they pulled out a well-worn hiking map covered in handwritten notes from years of High Coast exploration.

"We used to sail here every summer," Eva reminisced, tracing the coastline with her finger. "First with our Hallberg-Rassy, always mooring in different harbors. But you know what? We found ourselves spending more time on the trails than on the water. The High Coast has this effect on you - it draws you inland, up these ancient hills."

Björn, pointing towards the South, shared their favorite memory: "Ten years ago, we moored right there in Docksta. Planned to stay two night, ended up staying almost a week. Each morning, a new trail called to us. Now we come back with our motor-home, but we always tell other sailors: don't just admire these mountains from your cockpit - climb them!"

Their enthusiasm was contagious. As they marked their favorite viewpoints on our map, Eva added with a knowing smile, "The funny part? Like sailing, the trails are always open - but you still need to check the weather forecast!"

What struck us most wasn't just the dramatic views or the pristine trails, but finding ourselves part of an informal community of sailors-turned-hikers!

Back to Base

After six hours of hiking, Tommaso's friendly face greeted us at the pickup point. "How was your 'berg-wanderung'?" he asked in attempted German, genuinely interested in our experience. Our boat was just as we left it, though the wind had picked up considerably - we'd never have attempted the hike without knowing she was in good hands.

A Sailor's Reflection

That evening in our cockpit, watching the midnight suns paint Skuleberget in gold, we realized why Docksta felt special. It's not just a marina - it's a gateway to experiences we'd never expected to find on a coastal sailing trip. As Helen noted in our logbook: "Came for safe harbor, found wilderness adventure."

Practical Tips from Our Experience: • Trust the local knowledge - trail recommendations were perfect • Start early - the morning light on the coastline is spectacular • Follow the tip to pack extra water and extra snacks - the terrain is more demanding than it looks on paper • Don't rush - the views deserve time for contemplation • Bring a good camera - your sailing friends back home won't believe these views

Why We'll Return

We've sailed many harbors, but few offer this combination of secure mooring and wilderness access. Next time, we're planning a longer stay to explore more of Höga Kusten's trails. As I told Tommaso when we reluctantly departed: "You've shown us that the best sailing adventures sometimes happen on land."

Your turn to explore

Like every sailor who visits Skuleskogen, you'll have your own unique story to tell. Whether it's an early morning start with magical sunlight through the pines, or a chance encounter at Slåttdalsberget's summit - some adventures are best experienced firsthand.

Ready for Your High Coast Story?

Drop by our Sailor’s Club House at Docksta Havet marina - we'll share our maps, local knowledge, and maybe a morning espresso before your hike. After all, the best sailing adventures sometimes happen on land.

• Docksta Havet Marina: +46 76 3136628

• Email: dockstahavet@gmail.com

• Instagram: @DockstaHavetBaseCamp

🌲 Exploring Skuleskogen National Park?

This is just one chapter of your Höga Kusten sailing & hiking journey:

There's more to explore in the #HighCoastSailor Mini-Guide!

📌 Bookmark: dockstahavet.se/high-coast-sailor-mini-guide

and 💡 share with fellow sailors :)

🥾 Need park insights? WhatsApp Tommaso: +46.763136909