Rautas fjällurskog, Protected mountain forest in Norrbotten County, Sweden

Rautas fjällurskog is a 67,712-hectare nature reserve and Natura 2000 site in Kiruna Municipality, stretching from Lake Torneträsk in the north to the Kalix River in the south. It covers low fell terrain with birch forests and open mires.

This reserve was established in 2000 as part of Sweden's effort to protect the forest ecosystems along the mountain range. The decision reflected growing recognition of the need to safeguard these northern forest environments.

The Sámi people have practiced reindeer herding and fishing here for generations, shaping how the land is used and experienced today. You can sense this long relationship with nature when walking through the reserve.

You can reach this reserve through forest service roads branching from the E10 highway, with main access points near Tansarijärvi and the Rautas stopover. Come prepared for remote terrain and changing weather conditions typical of the Arctic region.

The reserve contains palsas, distinctive landforms created by frozen soil layers that are rarely visible elsewhere. These frozen mounds reveal how permafrost shapes the character of landscapes this far north.