A river, a lake and Uddheden lie along a canoe route: The route on the Rottnan is 11.6 kilometres long in total. It follows the river past Uddheden and then crosses Lake Rottnen. There are three equipped rest areas along the route where you can make a fire. The route thus changes from river to lake—a clear point of reference if you want to explore Gräsmark from the water.

Lakes, trails and open countryside

The landscape also reveals its varied forms on foot. Green slopes descend to Lakes Rottnen and Grässjön; farms lie along the shores, while dense coniferous forest surrounds the valley. Most of the hiking trails around Gräsmark are in Sunne Municipality. Together with connecting trails, they form a 50-kilometre network.

The Ängenleden passes numerous remains of former Finnish settlements, including house foundations, clearance cairns, trapping pits and pit holes. Rest areas and several shelters are also located along the trail; overnight stays are possible in the shelters. Another hiking route runs through a delta landscape on the outskirts of Uddheden. A stream near Ambiastorpsslingan is home to freshwater pearl mussels.

Gräsmark has three nature reserves, numerous hiking trails and several bathing spots. Kalvhöjden was designated in 1972 to preserve and maintain an old cultural landscape in the Finnish settlement region and its rich flora. In other places, traditional grazing animals shape the landscape: At Tiskaretjärn, cattle breeds such as Red-and-White and Red Polled cattle, as well as Värmland sheep, keep the land open.

Bathing spots at Lillsjön and other lakes

The lakes and waterways offer opportunities for swimming, paddling and fishing. The Lillsjön bathing spot in Uddheden has a long sandy beach, a jetty and changing cabins. From there, you can see Gräsmark Church, which stands on a headland in Lake Lillsjön. Built in 1738, the stone church has a ceiling painted with the Last Judgement; the painting is by Erik Jonaeus.

At Kymmen, Stranna is a 40-metre-long, south-facing bathing cove with a sandy or gravel bottom, a jetty, tables, a barbecue area and a shelter. At Grässjön, there is an approximately 200-metre-long sandy beach near the campsite. It is accessible from a small roadside parking area on the road towards Torsby. There are two bathing spots at Ängsjön, including one with an adapted-access jetty, as well as a changing cabin and tables.

The waters also offer a distinctive fishing experience: Gräsmark’s fishing waters include Sweden’s southernmost mountain lake outside the actual mountain region where Arctic char are found. The Rottnen, Kymmen and Norra Gräsmark fishing areas comprise around 50 waters. The most commonly caught species include perch, pike and trout.

Mining history and Finnish cultural landscape

Mining at Storgruvan near Mangen began in 1564. Copper was the main product, but iron was also extracted. Mining took place intermittently over about 300 years and was finally discontinued around the turn of the 20th century. Remains of industrial activity can be found along the Gruvrundan: copper works, ore-processing plants, mines, an ore transport cableway, spoil heaps and a soapstone quarry. The hyperite rock along the trail supports distinctive flora, including several rare species.

Högfors Bruk is another historic site in the region. In 1759, the operation comprised two bar-iron forge hammers with an annual output of 600 ship pounds, as well as an ironworks, a sawmill, a mill and forest estates. The Finnish settlements represent another facet of the area’s history: the Gräsmark open-air museum features an old Finnish cabin from the period of Finnish immigration to Sweden in the 17th century. The museum and café are open during the summer months.

Winter activities

In winter, there are floodlit cross-country ski trails in Uddheden and near Hedås, each approximately 2.5 kilometres long. Ski trails and ice-skating tracks are prepared on Lake Ängsjön when conditions allow. A popular toboggan run is located by Rokkmakkstugan; visitors can warm up by an open fire in the log cabin. The different winter activities each depend on their own conditions: suitable conditions are explicitly required for the prepared trails on the lake, while snow conditions are relevant for the toboggan run.

Discover more destinations: Kil, Långserud, Brunskog, Storfors, Hammarö, Arvika, Torsby, Eda

For the overall travel guide: Värmland.