Stenshuvuds nationalpark
Near Simrishamn and Kivik, on Skåne’s east coast. Three little mountains with a view over the coast and to the Danish island Bornholm. Sandy beaches at the bottom (badplats!). Nice arboreum. Fairly small and can easily be done in a day. Quite many people around (during summer season). Not really a “wild” national park, but still nice to walk through.
Went there in August 2021: Stenshuvuds nationalpark
How to get there on public transport
Bus to Kivik (via Kristianstad) or bus via Lund and Simrishamn. Then the last few kilometers walking (6 km, e.g. along Skåneleden from Kivik to Simrishamn) or taxi.
Stay overnight
Camp ground at the northern entrance. Hotels and guesthouses in Kivik.
Hiking routes
Skåneleden goes through. Very easy to find hiking trails, well marked. The longest is not even 5 km long.
Dalby Söderkogs nationalpark
Sweden’s smallest national park. Old southern Swedish leafy forest (oak, beech). Augustiner kloster from 1060s.
Good to know
- Prettiest in spring when vitsippor and gulsippor are covering the ground.
- The naturrum is in Skrylle naturreservat.
How to get there on public transport
Bus (30 min) from Lund Central to either Dalby Söderskog or Skrylle naturum.
Stay overnight
Vinskydd in neighbouring Skrylle naturreservat.
Hiking routes
Three walking routes (0.5-3.5 km). One of them - Skryllestigen - then continues on through the naturreservat Dalby Norreskog and further to Skrylle naturreservat, which is actually much bigger than Dalby Söderskog.
Went there in March 2023: Dalby Söderskog
Söderåsen nationalpark
North-western Skåne, near Helsingborg. Goes from Åstorp to Röstånga. Lies exactly between European and Scandinavian continental plates, which formed a ravine and pushed up a small mountain (Kopparhatten, 200 m).
Beech forests, high cliffs, ravines and a little river running through. Good views all around from the top of Kopparhatten. Quite small, but still Northern Europe’s biggest protected leafy forest.
Went there in June 2022: Söderåsen nationalpark
Good to know
- Main entrance is in Skäralid, the Southern entrance in Röstånga.
- Possible to go up Kopparhatten with the car.
How to get there on public transport
Train to Klippan, then bus to Skäralid or Röstånga (30 min).
Stay overnight
Camp grounds and vindskydd can be found at Dahlbergs and Liagården. Guesthouses in Röstånga.
Hiking routes
Skåneleden goes through the park (from Röstånga to Skäralid and then further on to Klåveröd). Several other trails between 2 and 7 km long starting from both Skäralid or Röstånga.
Åsnens nationalpark
Sweden’s youngest national park (2018). Like a Sweden in miniature. Forests, lakes, islands. Nice in all seasons, but especially in winter when it’s possible to walk on frozen lakes or in the autumn when Småland’s mushroom Koralltaggsvampen grows. Many different kinds of trees including 250 year old beech trees.
Good to know
- Nice to go around by kayak or canoe.
- Main entrance at Sunnabron, south of Växjö. Smaller entrance in Trollberget on the western side of the lake.
- In some areas entrance is prohibited from 1 April to 31 July due to bird protection.
How to get there on public transport
Train to Växjö. Then a 44 min bus ride (or 4h30min walking) to Kråketorp gets you to the northern tip of the lake. From there it’s 3h walk to the main entrance.
To enter from the southern side, bus from Växjö to Vipan or Torget Ryd are maybe good options.
Stay overnight
One vindskydd with place for 3-4 tents near Utsikten. Nice-looking B&B places around, e.g. Toftahult B&B.
Hiking routes
Several small-ish ones around the three main entrances. Along the west side of the park leads the cycle route Åsnen runt(140 km, along an old railway line with many nice views of the lake). There’s also a 120 km long canoe route called Värendsleden.
Store Mosse nationalpark
In the highlands of Småland. Raised bog (largest south of lapland) with 7m thick peat layer. Nature is barren. One of the best bird lakes in Sweden - Kävsjön. Not unusual to see elks (esp. at dusk or dawn), otters or one of the 19 bat species living here.
Good to know
- Bring water-proof shoes (maybe even wellies).
- Around Kävsjön it can be quite many visitors, but usually the southern and eastern parts of the park are emptier.
How to get there on public transport
Train via Hässleholm and Alvesta to Värnamo (3.5 hours from Helsingborg). Another 15-20 min bus to get closer to the park, and to get to Hillerstorp.
Stay overnight
Seven camping sites in the park, and two old gårds - Lövö and Svanö (no electricity or water).
Hiking routes
Routes of various length, altogether 50 km (about half of them with wooden planks). Cycle route Hillerstorpareleden goes right through the park from Hillerstorp to Värnamo. A 12 km long route leads around Kävsjön starting at the naturum. A 14 km long route goes from the naturum to the southern end of the park at Andersberg. On this one you can get vildmarkskänsla.
Blå Jungfruns nationalpark
Good to know
How to get there on public transport
Stay overnight
Hiking routes
Norra Kvills nationalpark
Vildmark in miniature. Big rocks and 350 year old trees, mostly pines. Not very big park.
Good to know
- A few km south of the park is the Kvills naturreservat that houses Kvilleken - Sweden’s biggest and oldest tree (1000 years old).
How to get there on public transport
Stay overnight
Hiking routes
Two hiking routes, one 2.5 km long and one 4 km long.
Gotska Sandöns nationalpark
Good to know
How to get there on public transport
Stay overnight
Hiking routes
Kosterhavets nationalpark
First marine national park (2009). 400 islands and skerries.
Good to know
How to get there on public transport
Ferries from Strömstad to Nordkoster (35 min) and Sydkoster (45 min).
Stay overnight
Two hotels on Sydkoster, and many in places in Strömstad. Camping allowed on several spots around the park.
Hiking routes
Tresticklans nationalpark
Near Norwegian border. The biggest roadless and undeveloped (obebyggd) forest area in Southern Sweden. Untouched wilderness. Marshland,
Good to know
- 90 bigger and smaller lakes
How to get there on public transport
Train from Gothenburg to Ed (1h17min). Then bus line 764 from Nössemark or Ed goes to Rävmarken a few times a day (weekdays), but has to be pre-ordered. Takes 26 min.
Stay overnight
Allowed to camp. On the Norwegian side there are a few huts in Bodalsviken. Not allowed to light fires (not even grill).
Hiking routes
From eastern entrance: Halleleden (4.5 km) that leads to riksgränsen (and further into Norway) - an old trading route. From the main entrance: Tresticklaleden (8 km). Possible to continue from there along Orhöjdsleden (10 km) and further through the Heråmadens naturreservat to Dals-Ed.
Djurö nationalpark
Islands in Sweden’s biggest lake Vänern.
Good to know
- Mostly only accessible with own boat.
- The smaller islands are protected bird areas and can’t be accessed 1 April - 31 July.
- No possibility to buy food anywhere on the islands.
How to get there on public transport
Possible to order boat taxis from various places, e.g. Ekenäs. To get to Ekenäs, train to Säffle (1h37min from Gothenburg), then bus 808 (55 min). Or from Otterbäcken: train to Skövde (1h from Gothenburg), then bus 1 (51 min) to Otterbäcken via Mariestad.
Stay overnight
Camping allowed, but not in bird protection areas.
Hiking routes
One marked route around the main island.
Tivedens nationalpark
Forests, huge rocks, lakes. Many different animals, e.g. wolves, elks, beavers, deer, hares, foxes.
Good to know
- Terrain is quite hilly, so wear good shoes.
- Quite challenging hiking routes, so plan more time than you think (e.g. 4.5 km can easily take 3 hours).
How to get there on public transport
Hard to reach without a car. Best is probably to go to Karlsborg: Train from Gothenburg to Skövde (1h), then bus 400 (55 min) to Karlsborg. Then taxi (20 min) or walk 4 hours to park entrance.
Stay overnight
Allowed to camp one night at various places. Hostel in Tivdedstorp.
Hiking routes
Nine different marked routes. Cycle route LIlla Kungsleden goes through the park. One of the best is Stigmansrundan (4.3 km, 3h). Trehörningsrundan (9.5 km, 5h) goes around the lake and passes all three entrances to the park.