Isaberg, naturreservat

Isaberg is an ancient hill in the Nissan valley near Hestra. The top rises 310 meters above sea level and the dominant habitat type is coniferous forest. From the top, there is a mile-wide view of the Nissan valley and the lake-rich landscape. Isaberg has been protected as a nature reserve since 1968, and the area is also designated as a national interest for outdoor recreation. There are several marked hiking trails in the area, some of which extend far beyond the reserve. Isaberg has the largest winter sports facility in southern Sweden.

Wildlife

The mountain owl nests in the steep slopes of the reserve. It is one of the world's largest owls and has been almost extinct in Sweden. This is partly because it is sensitive to environmental toxins, but also because it has been hunted by humans. Today, the biggest threats to it are still human activities. It is classified as vulnerable on the Red List and protected by the EU Birds Directive.

Neighboring reserves

You can hike from Isaberg to the nearby Ettö nature reserve along the Järnbärarleden trail. The hike shows the contrasting nature of Nissadalen in a nutshell: from the barren coniferous forest landscape to the more fertile, open land in the valley bottom.

Ettö is an agricultural landscape that rests on the delta formed where the Nissan flows into Algutstorpssjön. The river's nutrient-rich silt fertilizes the soil during the annual floods and creates completely different conditions for vegetation there than up on the slopes.

Ettö nature reserve

Hiking tips

There are lots of trails and paths of various kinds in and around Isaberg, and here are some of them:

• Jättestigen (4.5 kilometers) leads up to the top of Isaberg, a climb of about 120 meters. The trail is difficult and in one place you need to pull yourself up an extra steep section using an existing rope.
• Ettöspåret (5 kilometers) is an easy hike to the Ettö nature reserve. On the way back, the trail passes a nice swimming spot.
• Bjärsvedsleden (12.5 kilometers), mainly on forest roads. You get many nice views along the way!
• Hestraspåret (5.5 kilometers), to Hestra community.
• Klarabospåret (2.5 kilometers).
• Sjöstigen (1 kilometer).

All trails start from the cottage village center.

Outdoor life

Hestra was already a tourist resort at the beginning of the century. Today, the winter sports facility Isaberg is the largest in southern Sweden. The slope has a drop of 135 meters. It has several slopes and lifts. There are also groomed tracks for cross-country skiing and a well-developed service with a holiday village, campsite, warming huts, restaurants, ski shop, high-altitude track, toboggan run and more. More information about what there is to do at Isaberg, summer and winter, is available on the Isaberg Mountain Resort website. Isaberg Mountain Resort also manages all the trails, fireplaces, rest areas and similar facilities.

Most trails are narrow and steep and more or less inaccessible for wheelchairs or prams. However, there are occasional paths that are wider and flatter. From the upper parking lot, there is a paved path down to fire pits and outhouses. However, the gradient is a little too steep for us to classify it as fully accessible. For more information on accessibility, contact Isaberg Mountain Resort.