Hällefors offers a clear contrast between landscaped park art and longer hiking routes. Krokbornsparken is Sweden’s oldest public park and also includes a sculpture park for children; the Silverleden, by contrast, is a 64-kilometer circular hiking trail. Another option is the approximately six-kilometer Skulpturslingan, which connects five sculpture parks and can be explored on foot. These differences help you decide what to focus on during your stay: art in the park, a route between sculpture parks, or a longer hike.

Art and parks

Krokbornsparken was laid out in 1796 by mining councillor Detlof Heikenskiöld. Its winding paths are adapted to the site’s natural vegetation and topography. The year it was established gives the park historical significance; the layout also shows how its design responds to the terrain and vegetation. The park also has a colorful and creative sculpture park for children, with opportunities to play and climb.

The children’s sculpture park focuses on opportunities to play and climb; at Mästarnas Park, the span of time represented in the art shapes the experience: twelve sculptures range from the 18th century to the 1950s. They include works by Johan Tobias Sergel and Arne Jones. The two attractions therefore offer contrasting experiences, from active exploration to viewing sculptures from different eras.

Sinnenas och Minnenas park consists of two gardens designed to stimulate hearing, smell, touch, sight and taste. There is also a 500-meter activity trail with twelve stations for children and adults. As details of the trail may depend on maintenance, check its condition before your visit.

Hiking and sculpture routes

The Silverleden is a 64-kilometer circular hiking trail that begins at Hurtigtorpet in Hällefors. Sections pass through very hilly terrain with a character typical of northern Sweden; the route also features numerous lakes and waterways. The trail runs through areas where extensive silver mining took place in the 17th century. The landscape and mining history thus give the hike two distinct dimensions: natural features and historical context.

Hurtigtorpet also has exercise trails ranging from 1.5 to 15 kilometers. This gives you a much shorter distance range than the 64-kilometer Silverleden. The Skulpturslingan in Hällefors is about six kilometers long, connects five sculpture parks and can be explored on foot. Unlike the Silverleden, which is a circular hiking trail, it links sculpture parks along a route. Check the signposting before setting out.

Church history in Hällefors

Hällefors kyrka adds its own cultural and historical dimension. The timber church, clad in wooden shingles, dates from the 17th century and is an example of Bergslagen Baroque. The term refers to a type of wooden church clad in shingles and built in the 17th century. The church’s history goes back to a chapel built in 1644 on the eastern shore of the Svartälven.

Getting to Krokbornsparken

Hällefors Resecentrum is the nearest bus stop for getting to Krokbornsparken. Routes 400, 402, 420 and 490 serve the stop. Check current services before traveling, as route information may change.

Discover more destinations: Grythyttan, Sävsjön.

Go to the main travel overview: Hällefors.