AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Laxtjärnen is a tiny lake — just seven hectares of still water resting at 500 metres above sea level — deep in the Reivo Nature Reserve of Swedish Lapland. Its name translates as "the Salmon Tarn," a nod to the noble fish that once ran the streams feeding into the Piteälven river system. Today the lake is a quiet waypoint in one of Sweden's largest old-growth forest areas, reached by hikers following marked trails through ancient spruce, open mires, and low fells rising above the treeline.↗↗
The Reivo reserve, roughly twenty kilometres north of the town of Arvidsjaur, is a designated Natura 2000 site and a haven for biodiversity. Around Laxtjärnen the landscape is a mosaic of dense boreal forest, peat bogs, and scattered mountain lakes. There are no facilities at the tarn itself — the experience is that of the wider reserve: long quiet hikes, salmonid fishing in the stocked waters, and the ever-present possibility of encountering lynx, wolverine, or the three-toed woodpecker.↗↗
A Small Lake in an Ancient Wilderness
Laxtjärnen measures barely one kilometre around its shoreline, sitting in a gentle depression among the fells west of the Abmoälven stream. The water drains through a series of small channels into that creek, which joins the Piteälven system some 216 kilometres upstream of the Gulf of Bothnia. The catchment above the lake is almost entirely unbroken forest and bog — 82 % spruce and pine woodland, 17 % open mire. There are no roads leading directly to the tarn; the nearest parking is on a forestry track branching west from Route 45.↗↗
At an elevation of just over 500 metres, Laxtjärnen lies below the highest sub-arctic birch treeline but well above the coastal plain, giving it a transitional character: dense old-growth spruce on sheltered slopes, and patches of mountain birch and heath on exposed ridges within a kilometre or two.↗
Walking the Reivo Trails
The lake sits inside the 94-square-kilometre Reivo Nature Reserve, established in 1946 and upgraded to full protected status in 1997. Several marked trails cross the reserve, the most popular being Kyrkstigen (Church Trail), an 11-kilometre route through old-growth forest that once connected Arvidsjaur parish with outlying Sámi communities. Other options include Stigen till Guorbbåjvvie (3.3 km up to a summit viewpoint), Västra vandringsstigen (7.7 km through the western section), and Södra Paljavare (2.4 km climbing to a low fell). From any of these trails, the landscape around Laxtjärnen — forested ridges, peat bogs with their dwarf-shrub vegetation, and small tarns like this one — is visible in all directions.↗↗
For experienced hikers the lake can be reached by following forest tracks and open mires from the parking areas on the western side of the reserve. Distances vary; the tarn is not marked as a destination on official trail maps, so navigation requires a topographic map or GPS.
Fishing and Wildlife
Reivo's lakes and streams have been stocked with salmonid fish (the "lax" in Laxtjärnen's name refers to this tradition), and fishing is one of the reserve's most popular activities. The rules follow Sweden's general freshwater fishing regulations; a fishing licence may apply to certain waterways. Along the shorelines, look for the white silhouettes of dead trees from the devastating 1966 forest fire that swept through three square kilometres of the reserve — today that burnt area is a living laboratory for ecologists studying post-fire succession.↗↗
The old-growth forest shelters threatened species of insects, lichens, and fungi found nowhere else in the region. Birdlife is rich: listen for the drumming trill of the three-toed woodpecker, the booming display of the capercailzie, and on the mires the metallic "vi-vi-vi" call of the green sandpiper. The great northern diver calls across Reivosjön, the reserve's largest lake. With luck, a pine marten may cross your path, and in winter the tracks of lynx and wolverine can sometimes be read in fresh snow.↗
Cultural Layers in the Landscape
Reivo's terrain bears traces of centuries of human use. Mires that now look wild were hay meadows until the mid-twentieth century; visitors can still find decayed hay-drying stands and collapsed storage huts. Sámi heritage is equally present — ancient dwellings, reindeer-fence remnants, and hearth sites scattered through the reserve remind hikers that this has been important reindeer-grazing land for generations.↗
Practical Information
Reivo lies approximately 20 km north of Arvidsjaur and is reached by turning west from Route 45 onto forestry roads. Several parking areas exist at trailheads. The reserve has no entrance fee and is open year-round. Camping and campfires are permitted; bring your own firewood. In winter, snowmobile traffic is allowed on sufficiently snow-covered ground. The nearest town, Arvidsjaur, has a well-preserved Sámi church village (Lappstaden) worth visiting before or after your outing.↗↗
Best season for hiking is late June through September, when trails are snow-free and the forest glows with autumn colour. From October to March the landscape is snowbound and dark — ideal for northern lights if skies clear, but navigation becomes significantly more challenging. Arvidsjaur has a small airport with seasonal connections and is served in summer by the Inlandsbanan heritage railway.↗
What makes it special
One of Sweden's largest old-growth forest areas (94 km²), designated under Natura 2000↗
Trails ranging from short scenic walks (0.6 km) to full-day hikes (11 km)↗
Fishing for stocked salmonid species in mountain tarns and streams↗
Visible remnants of a 1966 forest fire — a living ecologists' laboratory↗
Deep Sámi and agricultural heritage in the landscape↗
A little planning goes a long way
- Bring a topographic map or GPS — Laxtjärnen is not a signed destination on trail networks
- Cell coverage is unreliable deep in the reserve; inform someone of your route and expected return
- The forest roads from Route 45 can be rough; a hard-shouldered vehicle is advisable for the final stretch
- Summer midges can be intense on mires; a head net is worth packing
- Fire restrictions may apply during drought — check current conditions with the County Administrative Board
About this guide
Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.
