STF Ritsem

STF Ritsem is a mountain accommodation facility operated by the Swedish Tourist Association (Svenska Turistföreningen, STF), a non-profit membership association founded in Uppsala in 1885. The lodge is located by Lake Akkajaure in the village of Ritsem, within Gällivare Municipality in Swedish Lapland, next to the Ritsem Sámi settlement. It sits at the edge of some of Sweden's most spectacular mountain areas, including Sarek, Padjelanta and Stora Sjöfallet National Park, and faces the Áhkká mountain massif across the lake. STF Ritsem serves as a base for hikers, ski tourers, anglers and other outdoor visitors. The facility offers comfortable beds, a café, and a small shop. It is a key access point for the Padjelanta Trail, which leads two kilometres to STF Akka Mountain Cabin, and for boat connections across Lake Akkajaure used by tourists heading to or from northern Padjelanta and northern Sarek. In winter, visitors can cross the frozen lake on skis or by snowmobile; in summer, hiking, fishing and relaxation are the main draws. Nearby attractions include the Vuojatätno rapids for anglers, a swimming spot about 300 metres from the accommodation, and the church hut at the Sámi settlement in Vaisaluokta, which hosts a popular church weekend every early July. As part of STF's network, STF Ritsem contributes to the association's mission of making Sweden's nature and culture accessible to everyone. STF today has around 185,000 members and offers roughly 250 places to stay, including hostels, hotels, guest houses, mountain stations and mountain cabins across the country. The association also organises thousands of courses and activities each year and advocates for sustainable tourism and environmental protection. STF Ritsem has received a guest rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 192 ratings on the official STF website. The lodge is accessible by regular bus service from Gällivare in both summer and winter. Its location near Stora Sjöfallet National Park and the Ritsem hydroelectric power station makes it a notable hub in the region.

STF Ritsem is a mountain lodge operated by the Swedish Tourist Association (Svenska Turistföreningen, STF), a non-profit membership association founded in Uppsala in 1885 by a group of geology students with an interest in outdoor activities. From the start, STF aimed to promote tourism and make Sweden more accessible for everyone, initially focusing on the Swedish mountain world. The association began marking hiking trails in 1887 and started ambitious plans for the Kungsleden between Abisko and Kvikkjokk two years later. The first mountain cabin was built in 1888 – the Varvek shelter, a simple one-room cabin with fixed benches, a table, an earthen floor, a stove, and a few bunks, costing SEK 310 including a footbridge across the river. Since then, STF has developed a network of mountain accommodations spread along trails across large parts of the Scandinavian mountain range. STF Ritsem itself is located in the village of Ritsem in Gällivare Municipality, Swedish Lapland, by Lake Akkajaure and next to the Ritsem Sámi settlement. The area is known for the Ritsem hydroelectric power station, whose supply drains Lake Sitasjaure into Lake Akkajaure. The lodge primarily serves tourists heading to or from northern Padjelanta and northern Sarek, who use a boat line across Lake Akkajaure. Ritsem lies near Stora Sjöfallet National Park and has a regular bus connection with Gällivare in both summer and winter. While the exact founding year of STF Ritsem is not specified in the available sources, it forms part of STF's extensive network of mountain accommodations that has grown since the late 19th century. STF opened its first hostel in Gränna in May 1933, and within two years, 187 hostels were operating under its auspices. Today, STF has around 185,000 members and offers approximately 250 places to stay, including hostels, hotels, guest houses, mountain stations and mountain cabins across Sweden. The association organises thousands of courses and activities annually and advocates for sustainable tourism and environmental protection. STF Ritsem continues to operate as a key access point for the Swedish mountain region, offering comfortable beds, a café, and a small shop. It has a guest rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 192 ratings on the official STF website. The lodge is a base for hiking and ski touring in Sarek, Padjelanta and Stora Sjöfallet National Park, with activities available year-round, including winter crossings of Lake Akkajaure on skis or by snowmobile, and summer hiking, fishing and relaxation.

• 1935

  187 hostels operating under STF auspices.

• 1933

  STF opens its first hostel in Gränna in May.

• 1888

  First STF mountain cabin built – the Varvek shelter.

• 1887

  STF begins marking the first hiking trails.

• 1885

  Svenska Turistföreningen (STF) founded in Uppsala by geology students.

One of Sweden's premier starting points for hiking and ski touring in the most spectacular mountain areas, offering comfortable mountain accommodation with café and shop services.

• STF Ritsem mountain lodge accommodation

  Comfortable beds in the heart of the mountains, with café and small shop.

• Café and shop services

  Small café for breaks and a shop selling items such as smoked fish.

• Access to outdoor activities

  Hiking, ski touring, fishing, swimming, and boat connections across Lake Akkajaure.

1. 1STF Ritsem - Swedish Tourist Associationswedishtouristassociation.com
2. 2The history of STF - Swedish Tourist Associationswedishtouristassociation.com
3. 3About STF - Swedish Tourist Associationswedishtouristassociation.com
4. 4News - Swedish Tourist Associationswedishtouristassociation.com
5. 5Ritsem - Wikipedia (Swedish)sv.wikipedia.org
6. 6wikidatawikidata.org