Rändåfallet -Ljusnedal, Romboleden Etapp 28

This stage follows the rushing waters of Rändån and traverses the rocky slopes of Lillfjället, offering magnificent views. On open mountains, the trail is marked by cairns.

You pass the ancient rest area Norgesvilden, and west of Lillfjället, a medieval signpost and altar. These landmarks testify that you are walking the same route as medieval pilgrims. Near Ol-Jonsvallen, you have a choice of two routes. Take the historic trail directly to the Bruksvallarna arena, or the trail that passes Ljusnedal and Funäsdalen.

The stage is demanding, lacks any services, and includes multiple fords and wet bogs. Bring a map, compass, extra food, and plan for two overnight stays.

Read more about the stage

The stage starts from Rändåfallet's parking lot. From there, the trail has long since been marked, on posts, trees and with cairns up in the mountain area. The paint is worn and it is necessary to be able to "read the nature" to find your way. It adds an additional historical dimension. It gives a feeling of following a path where people have walked for centuries.

Following the river Rändan's swirling and cascading water in smaller and larger waterfalls is an experience. Feel free to stop and enjoy Rändåfallet's rest house before taking the gravel road to help you get up the mountain. After Stensmolet and a beautiful mountain forest, you come to the marshes. There, it's time to aim for the rest cabin Lillfjällstugan, which is fantastically situated up on the mountain with a view that stretches for miles. Here you can sleep and just enjoy for a while. There is usually firewood in the wood shed. Feel free to leave a penny to Hede Snow mobile club, which has arranged the service in Lillfjällsstugan. The descent to Lillfjällsstugan is about 15 kilometers.

From Lillfjällsstugan follows a magnificent hike over the mountain Lillfjället. If the weather is bad, you should stay in the cabin until it gets better. Up in the mountain, it is easier to see the red-painted rocks but if is foggy outside its impossible. When you come down from the mountain, it can be a little more difficult to see the markings in the forest.

When you pass the height between Backvallsuggen and Gråvålen, the path is well visible and well used. Eventually you reach the snowmobile trail, it is then better to cross the river Tevån and walk on the minor road north of the river and towards Ol-Jonsvallen.

In Ol-Jonsvallen, you can choose to walk the former medieval route directly to Bruksvallarna's chapel, which today is an alternative route.

This stage continues towards Ljusnedal's church and is the recommended route after Ol-Jonsvallen as it is safer and more beautiful to follow. It is not historically accurate, but it takes you past the churches and Härjedalen's Fjällmuseum as well as the Ancient Park, which guide you about the medieval history of Western Härjedalen in different ways. In addition, there is everything you need from shops, restaurants, hotels and doctors in Funäsdalen. Feel free to take an extra rest day in Funäsdalen and take the opportunity to rent a bicycle to visit Hedningsgärdet, a historic site with remains from the 18th century. There is an altar that is used for outdoor worship services in the summer.

Historic route

During the 1990s, Tage Persson from Härjedalen's fornminnesförening participated and marked this stage. He says that they looked for ancient road markings. The stones could be almost completely overgrown with moss. They dug them up and they were positioned so that they showed the direction in which direction the path would continue next.

Walk in the footsteps of the pilgrims

Romboleden (Rombo Way) is a pilgrimage route that people began using in the 11th century. The Romboleden is Sweden’s longest pilgrimage route at 900 kilometres long. It starts in Köping in Västmanland and finishes in Trondheim on the Norwegian Atlantic coast. If you walk the entire trail, you will experience a beautiful and varied landscape. You will walk on old chalet paths, over mountains with magnificent vistas and along narrow country gravel roads. You will find easy one-day walks with cafés along the way, and long treks that take several days. The route often passes through small villages.