Skärklacken, Naturreservat

In this pine forest, which is nearly 200 years old, there are traces of both charcoal burning and forest fires. In addition to the rare three-toed woodpecker, there are several unusual lichens and mosses here.

The rocky outcrop and mountain pasture of the same name

Just west of this nature reserve lies a rocky outcrop called Skärklacken. Below the outcrop is a mountain pasture of the same name, Skärklacken. The pasture contains both the remains of old settlements and existing buildings.

Impressive pine trees and plenty of dead wood

At first, it is the striking, massive pine trees that catch the visitor’s eye, though the spruce on the slope is also of respectable size. Older deadwood is sparse, while recently dead or dying trees are scattered throughout the area. Traces of fires are evident throughout the area in the form of fire scars and charred stumps. The forest consists of both pure pine and pure spruce stands, with a mixture of the two in between. The pine forest is up to about 200 years old, with several pines around 150 years old, while the oldest spruce trees are about 130 years old.

Stream, swamp forest, and marshes

Around Bullerbäcken in the northeast, at the outlet of the marsh, there is a swamp forest that has been affected by flooding. Here there is plenty of dead wood and patches of alder on stumps. At the easternmost part of the marsh, there is a pine forest with bog rosemary in the understory. Out on the tree-covered marsh, there are large numbers of small-diameter dead trees. Downstream from the reserve, brown trout and brook lamprey have been found.

Many rare species thrive here

Among the rare species found here are the violet-gray lichen, the lesser butterfly orchid, the woolly tinder fungus, and the three-toed woodpecker. The lesser butterfly orchid is a low-growing orchid with a creeping rhizome, which causes it to form small mats of leaf rosettes. It has small, inconspicuous greenish-white flowers, but is actually very beautiful if you look closely. The white, hairy flowers are quite small and arranged in a slightly spiral-twisted inflorescence.

Visitor Information

To visit the reserve, you can park next to Highway 66. A dirt road runs alongside the main road and passes through the reserve. The dirt road is gated, but just before the gate there is plenty of space on the side of the road to park.

Follow the side road south for about 100 meters, and you’ll reach the reserve and the reserve sign.

Here, you can explore on your own, as there are no designated facilities for visitors.