AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Stor-Lapptjärnen is a small, quiet forest lake sitting at 394 metres above sea level in the inland hills of Ångermanland, just outside the village of Näsåker in Sollefteå Municipality. With a shoreline barely 1.2 kilometres long, it is the kind of modest tarn that rewards a walk through surrounding pine and spruce forest rather than a planned day-trip itinerary.↗↗
The name translates roughly as the "Great Sámi Pond," a reminder of the indigenous Sámi presence in the inland forests of northern Sweden centuries ago. Today, the lake lies in a landscape that is 87 percent forested, and its water drains via Grundvattån toward the Nätra River and ultimately the Gulf of Bothnia.↗↗
A Tiny Forest Tarn in Inland Ångermanland
At just 0.07 square kilometres, Stor-Lapptjärnen is a small lake by any standard — more of a tjärn (forest pond) than a sjö (lake) in Swedish usage, though the "Stor" in its name suggests it was the largest in a cluster of similar water bodies when local people first gave it a name. It sits in the Norrland inland ecoregion, above the ancient coastline but well below the tree line, meaning the forests around it are mature boreal woodland rather than the open fell country found further west.↗
The lake is part of the Nätra River's drainage basin, with its outflow feeding Grundvattån and then continuing 90 kilometres to the sea. The immediate catchment is almost entirely forest, giving the lake a sheltered, enclosed quality typical of small Swedish inland tarns.↗
Getting There and the Surrounding Area
The nearest settlement of note is Näsåker, a small village of about 500 inhabitants in the Ångermanälven river valley. The lake itself sits in elevated forest terrain east of the village, accessible via forest roads that are part of the wider network of trails and tracks used for berry picking, mushrooming, and fishing throughout the region.↗↗
The Resele fishing-rights association manages nearby waters for trout, char, perch, and pike. While Stor-Lapptjärnen is not specifically listed among their managed fishing spots, the general area is known among local anglers for its quiet forest lakes. The village of Resele, a few kilometres away, offers a ski trail, floodlit paths, an open-air swimming pool at Höven, and basic services including a shop and fuel station.↗
When to Visit
Summer is the obvious season: long daylight hours, berries on the understory, and the warmth of a shallow forest lake on a calm evening. Late summer and autumn bring blueberry and lingonberry harvests. In winter the area becomes snowmobile terrain — several nearby lakes are reached this way for ice fishing — and the landscape turns to a still, white silence that is one of the quieter pleasures of inland Norrland.↗
Practical Notes
There are no formal facilities at Stor-Lapptjärnen — no parking sign, jetty, or information board. Access is via forest roads and informal tracks, so a vehicle with reasonable ground clearance is helpful in wet seasons. Sweden's allemansrätten (right of public access) allows free movement through uncultivated land, including swimming and walking around the lake, but visitors should respect the landscape and any posted property boundaries.
Cell coverage in this part of inland Ångermanland can be patchy. Download offline maps before heading into the forest road network around Näsåker and Resele.
What makes it special
A little planning goes a long way
- Combine a visit with the village of Resele, which offers a heated ski cabin, floodlit trails, and Höven open-air swimming pool in summer.↗
- If fishing interests you, the Resele FVOF association sells 24-hour and annual day passes for nearby waters including Prästorrsjön and Rämmasjön, both with trout and char.↗
- Bring insect repellent in midsummer — small forest tarns in this ecoregion are prime mosquito habitat.
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.
