Grannäs: Lakes, Forest and Storuman Gravel

Grannäs combines a landscape shaped by spruce forest with lakes, hiking experiences and a remarkable Sámi history.

Lakes and trails around Grannäs

The Gippmokksjöarna area comprises three lakes: Inre Gippmokksjön, Yttre Gippmokksjön and Västra Gippmokksjön. Small boats can be launched at the Gippmokksjöarna bathing area. The bathing area in Grannäs also has a jetty, a wind shelter, benches and a fire pit with firewood. These different facilities make the lake landscape interesting for travellers who want to combine time by the water with their own activity or a quiet break.

Around Grannäs, a short, partly steep hike leads to Gippmokkhobben. In clear conditions, it offers panoramic views of mountain peaks, forests and lakes. The nearby trailhead is on the winding gravel road between Ullisjaure and Harrvik. A sign there indicates 1 km to the summit. Anyone planning to take the trail should therefore distinguish between the marked trailhead and the actual ascent.

Gravel route and winter access

For cycling travellers, Grannäs is a notable point on the Storuman Gravel route: it marks the halfway point of the second day. On Storuman Gravel XL, there is also a shorter section of about 1 km near Grannäs on an off-road track instead of a regular road. This makes the village part of a route where not only the landscape but also the route layout plays a role in travel planning.

In winter, the western and outer Gippmokksjön lakes can be reached by walking on the ice and skiing. Buföringsviken is named as the starting point for the western Gippmokksjön, while the bathing area is the starting point for the outer Gippmokksjön. Visitors to Grannäs during the cold season can take this information into account when choosing their activity, without confusing the two starting points.

Sámi history and local traces

The area around the lakes Grannäs and Ullisjaur is considered an important Sámi settlement area. It is said that many Sámi in Vapsten have their roots in the Grannäs and Ullisjaur area. This historical perspective adds a cultural dimension to the nature experiences. On property 1:17 in Grannäs there is also a bakehouse with half-timbering from the mid-19th century and carved details on the front porch.

A distinctive landmark on the gravel route is Jippmokks kapell in Grannäs at kilometre 345. It is a shelter intended exclusively for emergencies. This restriction is important for travel planning: the site should not be understood as a regular destination whose use can simply be assumed to be available.

Water, fishing waters and travel planning

The Gippmokksjöarna lakes are home to trout, char, perch and whitefish. The fishing waters include waters used jointly by Grannäs skiftelslag as well as leased areas. Anyone interested in the lakes and their use should take these different areas of responsibility into account when planning their visit. The immediate surroundings of Grannäs also include meadows and arable land, complementing the destination’s character shaped by forest and water.

Grannäs can therefore be discovered from different perspectives: as a section of a gravel trip, in connection with the nearby hike to Gippmokkhobben, as a destination for the lakes of Gippmokksjöarna and as a place with Sámi and local cultural traces. For further orientation, you can also consider Åskilje, Gunnarn, Tärnaby, Hemavan, Storuman and Slussfors.

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Storuman.