- Challenging 12,4 km
- 4,5 hours hiking time
- 95 vertical metres
- Water & open toilets in the 4-way crossing just north of the ferry quay and at Ålö Storsand
The ferry quay to Ålö Storsand
4.8 km
Technical section
When you disembark at the ferry quay, you will see Båtshaket (a summer restaurant) on your right. Continue straight on the gravel road to the left of the barn.
You will reach an intersection where you can find water at the pump and open dry toilets.
At the intersection, follow the sign to the right, heading south. After about 100 meters, continue straight, then turn right at the next fork where the path goes up to the left.
Follow a forest road along the coast, where there are beautiful swimming cliffs. About 700 meters after the four-way intersection, the SAT trail turns onto a path to the left. Here comes a slightly more technical section. Follow the trail and make sure to spot the next marker as you climb onto the rock formations with the sea to your right, heading straight south.
You will pass a small bay with a cabin on the peninsula. Continue into the forest, where the SAT trail gently ascends to the right to follow a slightly higher level. About 1,800 meters after entering the forest path, you will reach an old fortification on a hill with a fantastic view to the southeast. From here, the trail descends.
At the beginning, there are a few large steps down—be careful. The trail then continues through the beautiful forest until you reach the cliffs with the open sea and horizon in front of you, about 350 meters from the fortification.
Now begins a 1,400-meter section that follows the coastal cliffs. Be careful to locate the next trail marker and watch your step. If you lose sight of the markers, simply follow the coastline, and you will find them again.
At the end of this section, there is a steep descent to a rock ledge at the southern end of a large horseshoe-shaped bay. Deep inside the bay, you will see Ålö Storsand. You reach it via the path that follows the water on the left side, through a sparse pine forest.
Ålö Storsand has nice barbecue areas. The water here is shallow and great for swimming. There is also a water pump and open dry toilets available.
If you want to return to the ferry quay from here, follow the signs and the gravel road by the toilets, heading into the forest away from the sea.
Ålö Storsand to Ålö Gård via SAT
3.4 km
Technical section
The SAT trail continues along the coast at the northern end of Ålö Storsand. The first section is very technical, following the cliffs to Laxvik, a beautiful beach with a barbecue area 1,500 meters after Storsand. Laxvik offers a view straight east.
From Laxvik, the trail follows a coastal path, weaving in and out of the forest. If it’s wet, some cliffs may be slippery. About 1,100 meters after Laxvik, you will reach Källviken, where there is also a barbecue area. From here, the trail ascends to the left onto a forest road, which leads to a gravel road after a few hundred meters. Turn right onto the gravel road.
After about 100 meters, you will see a beautiful wetland on your left (south side of the road), with pastures on the opposite side. Continue over a small hill, and after another 100 meters, you will reach a turnoff to the right, marked by SAT signs. Turn right off the gravel road, from where you see Ålö Gård in front of you.
If you are in a hurry to return to the ferry quay, stay on the gravel road straight ahead to Ålö Gård, turn right at the farm, and then left at the large four-way intersection. Follow the signs towards Båtshaket and the ferry quay (Waxholmsbåten).
Ålö Gård to the Ålö bridge
1.4 km
Gravel road
From the right-hand turnoff just before Ålö Gård, take the drive-way/forest road passing a large yellow house on your right. This house was used in the filming of the new Saltkråkan series. The SAT trail passes to the left of the house on the forest road. Continue for about 250 meters to a T-junction. Here, turn right onto the gravel road, heading northeast. If you go in the opposite direction, you will reach the ferry quay after just over 2 km.
Turn right onto the gravel road. Be sure to walk on the left side to see any oncoming traffic. Walk for just under a kilometer on the gravel road. Here, the SAT trail enters the forest on the left, marked by signs.
If you are heading to Utö, continue straight on the gravel road northward. It is about 250 meters to Ålö Bridge. On the other side is Utö, and about 8.5 km to Utö Värdshus.
Ålö bridge to the ferry quay
3 km
Technical section
This can be either a starting or ending point for the Ålö section for those arriving from or heading to Utö to hike this trail.
As mentioned above, SAT is about 250 meters south of Ålö Bridge on the gravel road. Here, the trail enters the forest to the northwest before turning south, climbing quite steeply to reach a plateau. From there, the trail follows a path through the sparse forest southward along the plateau.
After about 2.2 km, you will reach a fantastic viewpoint with a vast panoramic view to the south. From here, the SAT trail descends through rocky terrain. Be careful—it is steep and quite technical. The final step down the cliff into the forest is quite large.
Once you are down in the forest, the trail turns left and follows the coast slightly inland. You will cross a small hill and then two wide wooden footbridges before reaching the gravel road at the four-way intersection where there are dry toilets and a water pump on the right.
Turn right onto the gravel road. The far-right road leads about 150 meters down to the ferry quay. The middle road leads to Båtshaket (the summer restaurant), and the left road follows the SAT trail as described at the beginning of this hiking guide.