Värmland County has 242 nature reserves and one protected area. Glaskogen is Värmland’s largest nature reserve – a starting point for hikes and paddling trips that offer different perspectives on the landscape.
Discover nature reserves and trails
Glaskogen Nature Reserve has 30 Swedish miles of hiking trails. Several lakes and beautiful canoe routes also offer opportunities for paddling. Hiking and canoeing offer different experiences: on foot, you follow the trails; on the water, the routes take you across the lakes.
Nature experiences also vary across other parts of Värmland. Some nature reserves are easily accessible and have visitor facilities. Many have marked trails, boardwalks or birdwatching towers that make it easier to explore wetlands. The Värmland County Administrative Board’s excursion guide features 38 nature destinations, including trails, rest areas and proximity to public transport. This helps you decide when planning whether to focus on a hike, a rest area or access to local public transport.
Cycling routes with their own character
Vänerleden is a 640-kilometre cycling route around Lake Vänern, Sweden’s largest lake, and also the country’s sixth national cycling route. Along the way, there are several cafés, charming farm shops and restaurants with White Guide status. The route combines a long-distance circuit with opportunities to enjoy local food and farm shops along the way.
The Klarälvsbanan offers a different experience: this 90-kilometre paved, car-free cycling route follows a former railway line from Karlstad to Uddeholm. The scenery changes along the route; in the south, the ride passes through open farmland, while in the north it runs through deep forest. Compared with Vänerleden, which circles the lake, this former railway line offers a clear contrast. Klarälvsleden is another route: 130 kilometres lead from the archipelago into the wilderness.
Passengers can take their bicycles on bus route 600 when travelling on Klarälvsbanan and Klarälvsleden. Bicycle transport is seasonal, so check whether it is available before your trip. This means you can take both the route and the seasonal bus service into account when planning.
Art, history and gardens
Värmland’s cultural offerings span art and photography to handicrafts. The collections at Värmland Museum include archaeological and cultural-history objects, art, photographs, documents and music recordings. Guided tours explore Värmland’s cultural history, as well as art and photography. At the museum, you can discover a range of collections and take tours focused on specific topics.
For a closer look at handicrafts and history, head to Arvika: when the first artists of the Rackstad artists’ colony arrived in 1898, their modern ideas met the established local tradition of craftsmanship. This led to a combination of art and handicrafts. Mårbacka, meanwhile, is preserved as a memorial estate; Selma Lagerlöf’s home is open to the public as part of guided tours. From 1921 to 1923, Lagerlöf had the house converted into a distinguished manor house according to plans by the renowned architect Isac Gustaf Clason.
Rottneros Park brings together garden design, historical and literary associations, and a varied collection of Nordic sculpture. The park is home to around 100 sculptures and reliefs, most of them by well-known Nordic sculptors. A large children’s playground and spacious areas for play and relaxation add to the ways you can enjoy art and nature. The park is accessible by car, train or bus.
When planning your trip, you can choose to focus on nature, cycling or culture.
Discover more destinations
Arvika, Säffle, Borgvik, Skillingsfors, Karlstad, Hagfors, Filipstad, Gräsmark, Kil, Mangskog, Munkfors, Storfors, Årjäng, Långserud, Forshaga, Skoghall, Brunskog, Sunne, Hammarö, Torsby, Kristinehamn, Grums, Eda
For the overview of the wider region: Sweden.
