Hiking in Åsnen national park

The national park has many adapted footpaths with colour markings.

SUNNABRON ENTRANCE & BJURKÄRR NATURE RESERVE

There are many different-length paths here, which can also be combined for a longer route. A map of the trails can be found on information boards and leaflets on location in the national park. The 0.9 km Östra Torpaslingan loop connects Sunnabron with Bjurkärr. Park your car in the Sunnabron car park and walk along the beach where you can enjoy incredible views over Åsnen, while surrounded by beautiful deciduous forest.

In Bjurkärr, you can then take the 1.7 km Bokslingan loop or the slightly stonier Strandslingan loop of 2.6 km. These trails will take you directly into the heart of the old beech forest, which is rich in flora and fauna. Bokslingan loop is marked in yellow and adapted for wheelchairs and prams. At Bjurkärr car park there’s a nice rest area in a glade with wind shelter and barbeques. Along the trail is a place known as Famntaget (the embrace) where a beech tree embraces a pine, and there’s a wooden deck looking out over the water. Strandslingan loop is the most complete round of the peninsula’s deciduous forests, but it’s uneven and narrow in places. The path partly runs along the edge of Bjurkärr’s outermost point, which is a bird conservation area. Access to the area is not permitted 1 April–31 July, and during this time you’ll need to take an alternative route around the area.

TROLLBERGET ENTRANCE

Trollberget also has a number of different paths. Some are still in the process of being signposted, but most have coloured markings. The 0.3 km Trollsvansen path is marked with yellow signs and leads from the car park to the Trollberget entrance. The path goes around the legendary Trollberget with its cave and is adapted for wheelchairs and prams, although it has a slight camber in places. A map of the trails is available on information boards and leaflets on location in the national park.

The 2.2 km Skogslingan loop is marked with orange and passes through several different types of forest. The path is narrow and in parts stony, and some places have footbridges that traverse peatland. Along the loop you’ll also pass a headland where there’s a small sandy beach from which you can go swimming. Before getting back to the starting point, you have an opportunity to stop for a rest on a wooden deck at the side of the lake by the entrance to the national park.

TOFTÅSA MARSH

Toftåsa marsh is the southernmost part of the national park, and the nature here differs significantly from Sunnabron and Trollberget. Marshland and pine forests give it a more northerly feel! Södra slingan loop is 1.4 km, and you can start it from the car park next to Lake Svartsjön. When you join the cycleway Banvallsleden, follow it for a short distance north and you’ll reach the 1.6 km Norra slingan loop. Both paths are marked and have occasional footbridges. Waterproof shoes are recommended if there’s been heavy rain.