Olsäter combines a paved, car-free route through the town with local history that tells of river crossings and former coach routes. There is also a nearby church with medieval features and an annual art event. This gives you different travel-planning options, with activities, local history and culture as possible focal points.

The Klarälvsbanan through Olsäter

The Klarälvsbanan is Sweden’s longest paved, car-free walking and cycling route. It runs through Olsäter and connects Karlstad and Hagfors. If you would like to include cycling or walking in your trip, this clearly named route is part of the town itself. There are also forests and natural surroundings near Olsätersskolan, as well as the Klarälvsbanan. This makes it possible to combine the long-distance route with a look at the area around the school.

Playground near the school

Near the school, there is a playground with a roundabout, spring riders and a swing set with a double-decker swing and a toddler swing. Other equipment includes a sandbox, balance beams, a tree-stump playhouse and a park table. The ground is covered with wood chips. This gives you specific details to consider if you want a playground to be part of your visit.

River crossings and former connections

Until 1935, river traffic at Olsäter was handled by ferry; the current bridge was built that same year. The town’s history also includes an inn that had existed for a long time, possibly as early as 1636. Coach services from there served Bogerud to the north, Ås in Ö. Emtervik, Nordsjötorp and Deje to the south, and Älvsbacka to the east. The ferry, bridge and coach traffic illustrate the different ways people once crossed the river or travelled overland.

Övre Ulleruds kyrka and Lustenrundan

In the area around Olsäter, between Deje and Olsäter west of the Klarälven, stands Övre Ulleruds kyrka. The church contains a medieval cross and a 13th-century baptismal font with a runic inscription on its bowl. The building is also connected to the surrounding landscape: the timber used to construct it was felled in the forests of Rud and Olsäter and floated down the Klarälven to the building site. The church’s history thus connects Olsäter with a specific example of how goods were transported on the river in the past.

Lustenrundan is an art and creative trail held annually on the last weekend of August. A description from 2025 lists an exhibition venue in Olsäter, in a barn belonging to the Lööf family. If you would like to plan your trip around the event weekend, check the dates and venues for that year’s edition.

Getting there and parking

The municipal 2020 timetable lists service route 650 to Olsäter. The same timetable describes route 600 along Riksväg 62; its nearest stop is at the turnoff to Olsäter. Check current departure times before travelling. There is also a parking area at Olsäterskorset on Riksväg 62, near a bus stop. If you plan to park there, check the current parking situation in advance.

Discover more destinations: Deje, Forshaga.

Go to the main travel overview: Forshaga.