In Los, mining history and trails through the village sit side by side: Loos Koboltgruva is centrally located, and Kalmeterslingan runs through the center as a mountain biking trail. There is also the cultural heritage site Loos Hembygdsgård by Kyrkbytjärn and Los kyrka. To plan your visit, it helps to make a simple distinction: would you mainly like to learn about the village’s history, or focus on a route?

Mining history in Los

From the 1730s, cobalt was mined and processed in Los under the direction of Henric Kahlmeter; glass was also made. Loos Koboltgruva brings this history to life in an underground mining environment from the 18th century: there, you can experience an authentic historic mining setting. In summer, guided tours take place every hour on the hour. Check the dates before your trip so your visit fits your plans.

Kalmeterslingan also reflects this history. The 7.2-kilometer mountain biking trail runs through the center of Los and through the history of the local community and mining. This means the village’s history is not limited to an underground visit; you can also encounter it as the theme of a designated route.

Church, handicrafts and Hembygdsgård

Los kyrka offers another perspective on the village’s history. The church’s first version was a simple, towerless hall church, built around 1816 according to plans by the Överintendentsämbetet. The Loos-staken candleholders are also associated with Los kyrka: they are newly made from birch wood, modeled on an original found in the church attic, and hand-painted. They are sold at Los kyrka. If you are specifically looking for a candleholder, it is best to check in advance whether it is currently available for sale.

Loos Hembygdsgård is a cultural heritage site by Kyrkbytjärn. At the bakehouse, you can bake tunnbröd, pizza or sweet rolls; the bakehouse can be rented for this purpose. This way, a baking project of your own adds a hands-on activity to the historical themes, without requiring another route element.

Compare hiking and mountain biking

The distances and activities offer different points of reference when choosing: Kalmeterslingan is a 7.2-kilometer mountain biking trail through the village center. Hälsingeleden, by contrast, includes an approximately 15-kilometer hiking section between Los and Hedbäcken. One figure therefore describes a mountain biking route in the village, while the other describes a longer hiking section with named endpoints.

Another hiking connection starts at Loos Hembygdsgård: Finnmarksleden, together with Hamraleden, leads through Hamra National Park to the Fågelsjö Gammelgård Bortom Åa World Heritage Site. This is a different kind of route planning from the Hälsingeleden section between Los and Hedbäcken. For both, check current route conditions before setting out.

In April 2024, Ljusdal Municipality, together with local volunteers, recommended hiking trails in Los as well as in Kårböle, Ramsjö, Färila, Järvsö and Ljusdal. This gives you both a local and a municipality-wide framework for looking for hiking trails, without presenting the places as a single route.

Forests, lakes and other experiences

Around Los, Orsa Finnmark offers deep forests and quiet lakes. North of Los, you can also book guided tours of Loos Brynsåg; check the booking details before your trip. Alongside mining history and hiking routes, you can therefore choose between landscapes and a guided look inside a historic sawmill as different points of interest.

If you are looking for a hotel in Los, it is best to plan around what you would like to experience during your stay: seasonal tours at the Koboltgruva, a particular route or several cultural heritage sites.

Discover more destinations: Bergvik, Furuvik, Åshammar, Strömbacka.

To the main travel overview: Gävleborg.