Backe lies at the foot of the mountains in a mosaic landscape of forests and waterways between the Fjällsjöälven and Backsjön. Cultural history, outdoor trails, water activities and paper art offer different ways to shape your trip. To choose what to see, it is worth comparing specific destinations: a church with medieval artworks, a viewpoint after a walk of about one kilometre, or activities on the water.

Church, local history and historic objects

Backe has medieval origins and was an early trading centre. In the town centre, Fjällsjö kyrka stands on the shore of Fjällsjön. Its furnishings include a 13th-century Madonna figure of the Norwegian-English type and a late-medieval winged altarpiece. These works bring together different historical periods within the church.

The stairwell of Gamla Lasarettet in Backe features murals by Kaj På Höjda depicting life in earlier times. Fjällsjö Hembygdsgård on Backsjön complements this visual and architectural art with historic objects: around 1,000 objects from bygone times are on display there.

Backe kägelbana also tells the story of the town. It was built in 1888 at Kägelbaneudden, just outside the town. The bowling alley is once again playable, and balls and pins are available. This means that historic artworks and collection pieces in Backe sit alongside an old facility that is still in use.

Fjällsjömarknaden is held in Backe on the first weekend of July and has taken place in its current form since 1946. If the market is the reason for your trip, check the dates in advance.

Paper art and planning your visit

Paper art is made and sold at Svartvik handpappersbruk. There is also a gallery featuring unique works. Handpappersbruk offers courses of varying lengths, so the time required may be a factor in your planning. Opening hours vary by season, and visitors are asked to contact the venue in advance.

Walking trails and outdoor destinations

From Backe, you can access 60 kilometres of trails in the Fjällsjö hiking area. Specific routes have set distances: Lidtjärnsstigen leads to a viewpoint overlooking Lidtjärn after a walk of about one kilometre. Stigen runt Backsjön is 3.5 kilometres long and is 100 metres from the town centre.

Vasatallarna are several-hundred-year-old pines bearing traces of fire. They lie just outside Backe and can be reached by a short path from the road. Jansjöbodarna is a historic summer pasture established in the mid-19th century. It lies at the end of Djuptjärnsstigen and is also accessible by car, so the walk can be shortened.

On the way to Jansjöbodarna is Mystiska korset: an ochre painting on a huge glacial erratic, which is also an archaeological site. Its age is unknown; the find is believed to be around 1,000 to 2,000 years old. This is therefore an approximate estimate, not an exact date.

Water, cycling and skiing

You can canoe on Backsjön and follow the waterway to the river. A beaver safari is also suggested as an activity. The water and trails offer different ways to spend time outdoors.

Backe Bike Park covers 3,000 square metres. Its facilities include a pump track, a pump trail, a dirt line with a wall ride, and a skills arena with balance obstacles. Nearby is also the Landsomberget ski and recreation area on the shore of Jansjön, between Backe and Rossön. It has a vertical drop of 211 metres and three runs, one of which is illuminated.

Discover more destinations: Norråker, Lidsjöberg, Hammerdal, Rossön, Strömsund, Hoting, Stora Blåsjön, Gäddede.

Return to the main travel overview: Strömsund.