About This Route
Following the old inland railway through central Sweden, this route passes through vast forests, pristine lakes, and traditional Sami villages. The road is virtually traffic-free and perfect for touring.
Why ride Inlandsbanan Backroads Tour
Inlandsbanan Backroads Tour sits in Scandinavia, Sweden, and earns its place on this guide for a simple reason: it gives riders something most roads can't — scenery that genuinely makes you stop the bike, with a rhythm that suits a relaxed touring pace.
Across roughly 300 kilometres of asphalt, you'll get a real feel for what riding in this corner of Sweden is about. It's not the longest route in the region and it isn't trying to be — it's a focused, high-quality stretch that rewards riders who take their time.
What the riding actually feels like
On a easy-rated road like this one, this is a road most riders can enjoy without stress. Sightlines are generally good, corners are predictable, and you won't need racetrack focus to keep things tidy. It's the kind of route where a passenger can actually relax and enjoy the view.
Read the road first, then commit. The combination of surface, sightlines and traffic on this route rewards a smooth, relaxed pace far more than aggressive corner entries. The route's twistiness rating of 3/5 and scenic rating of 4/5 give a fair indication of where to focus: more on letting the landscape unfold than on chasing apex after apex.
Best time of year to ride
The honest window is June-August. In practical terms, this route is at its peak in summer, when the passes are fully open and you have long evenings to ride out the day. If you only have a narrow weather window, aim for a weekday rather than a weekend — you'll share the road with far fewer cars and tour buses, and the popular pull-offs won't be jammed.
Fuel, food and stops
Reliable fuel options along or near the route include Every 100km approximately. Top up before any long climb — pumps in mountain villages can be closed at lunch or on Sundays.
For food and coffee, Small villages along route are solid stops. Aim for a proper sit-down lunch rather than a vending-machine snack — the locals eat well in this region.
⚠️ Safety and hazards to watch for
Specific hazards on this route include: Moose; Long distances between services.
- Remote areas
- Limited fuel stops
- Wildlife on roads
- Effectively a summer-only route (snow roughly October–May), with long gaps between fuel stations north of Östersund and high moose/reindeer collision risk at dawn/dusk — check current conditions and fuel up before remote stretches.
Who this route suits
Inlandsbanan Backroads Tour works especially well for photographers and slow-tour riders chasing scenery, adventure bike riders who don't mind the occasional rough patch. Recommended bike types are Touring, Adventure, but realistically anything in good mechanical condition with decent tyres will do the job — the road matters more than the badge on the tank.
Insider tips
- Midnight sun in summer
- Moose spotting likely
- Carry supplies