The Höga Kusten (High Coast), in northern Sweden, offers spectacular gravel terrain on a coastline listed by UNESCO for a unique geological phenomenon: the land here keeps rising faster than anywhere else on Earth since Ice Age glaciers melted away.
Coastal tracks on ever-changing terrain
From Docksta, at the foot of Mount Skuleberget, forest tracks and coastal paths head into a landscape of steep cliffs and dense forest toward Örnsköldsvik and then Härnösand. Expect around 35 km and 500 m of elevation gain for a loop representative of the region, on terrain that alternates rolling forest tracks with more technical sections near the cliffs.
Getting the ride right
Versatile gravel tyres around 40-45mm suit most of the area’s forest tracks and coastal paths. The elevation gain, modest compared with Alpine massifs but real, calls for solid fitness over the full route.
When to go
May to September, with summer offering the best conditions to enjoy views of the High Coast Bridge and the mouth of the Ångermanälven. The long days of the Nordic summer allow for extended rides without watching the clock.
Good to know
Docksta and Örnsköldsvik offer a decent choice of accommodation, with convenient access to Härnösand for extending the stay along this Swedish coastline of ever-changing relief.
