Outdoor Activities

Nature awaits just beyond your doorstep

In Boden, nature awaits just beyond the city limits, and is one of the top reasons that many choose to call Boden home. Whether you like alpine skiing, hiking in the forest, mountain biking, or fishing in our winding rivers, the pristine nature of the Swedish Arctic lies just outside your doorstep. This is what we like to call #närhetsliv, our coined term for what it means to live and work near nature.

The forest

Boden is surrounded by expansive and diverse forestland, where you can hear the birds singing and listen to the wind as it moves through the treetops. Our forests are rich in both flora and fauna, where you can easily pick a variety of fresh berries, wildflowers, spot a hare or fox, or even encounter an elk, the king of the Swedish forests.

In wintertime, cross-country ski tracks wind their way through almost every village and urban district throughout Boden, enabling Boden residents to transport themselves into a winter wonderland just steps from where they live. 

In the summertime, you can enjoy the midnight sun, the period of 24-hour sunlight that enchants the entire region, where berries ripen and flowers bloom at unrivalled speed, soaking up the sunshine after the long winter. You can pick blueberries, blackberries, wild raspberries, or the famous northern Swedish cloudberries, and walk among fields of wildflowers or swim in some of the purest waters in the world.

The water

Boden is surrounded by water, with the expansive Lule River cutting its path right through the heart of the city, and the unspoiled Råneå River located to the north. 

The Lule River is great for salmon fishing and is also the source of Boden’s 100% fossil-free energy grid, supplying the city and its industries with vast amounts of hydropower. The Råneå River is also an ideal spot for fishing, as well as camping and hiking all year long, with the midnight sun in the summer and the northern lights in the winter.

The mountains & countryside

Boden is surrounded by mountains and beautiful rolling hills, making it a great place for downhill skiing. Boden has three ski slopes just a short drive outside of the city center, with options for all skill levels from beginners to professional athletes. 

Boden fortress, an old military fortress from WWII, surrounds Boden in its rolling countryside and is a fascinating site to explore. The fortress contains everything from big strongholds to small bunkers and hinders for foreign tanks. 

The hilly countryside, located just outside of downtown Boden, is a great place for long walks, tough hikes, and all levels of mountain biking. Within five minutes from leaving your office, you can be setting out on a trail, leaving the day behind you!

Explore your passion and connect with Boden residents 

Boden offers myriad ways to get connected, whether you’re new to the area or a lifelong resident, including orienteering groups, mountain biking groups, and courses in running, skiing, and mushroom picking. 

Children can learn more about nature and meet new friends with Friluftsfrämjandet’s Skogsmulle or Boden’s scout corps.