Holmsjöarna, Naturreservat

The Holmsjöarna area features reed beds, marshes, beach meadows, pastures, fields, lakes, waterways, deciduous forests, and coniferous forests. This wide variety supports a rich bird life. Several birdwatching towers and boardwalks make it easy to experience the exciting birdlife.

What can you do here?

At Holmsjöarna, it’s easy to go birdwatching or simply enjoy nature. A marked trail runs through the area, and there are several birdwatching towers and a rest area with a fire pit.

Rest Areas

Birdwatching towers are located at Fåran, Vasstjärn, and Lilla Holmsjön.

On the southern shore of Stora Holmsjön, there is a rest area with picnic tables, a fire pit, and a wood shed. We regularly restock the firewood but cannot guarantee its availability at all times. If the firewood runs out, please contact the manager so we know we need to restock.

Please use the firewood sparingly so there is enough for future visitors. If you want to be sure you can have a fire—bring your own firewood! If you do have a fire, make sure it’s completely extinguished before leaving the rest area so there’s no risk of the fire spreading.

There are benches at the floating bridge over Fåran to the north.

Marked trails

A hiking trail runs from one parking lot to the other, with detours to the birdwatching towers and the rest area at Stora Holmsjön.

• The hike from one parking lot to the other is about 3 kilometers.
• From the canoe stadium to the rest area at Stora Holmsjön is about 1.8 km.
• From Holm, it is about 1.0 km to the rest area at Stora Holmsjön.
• From Holm, the hiking trail continues to the bird tower at Lilla Holmsjön, another approximately 600-meter walk.

There are boardwalks to walk on at several points along the trail. Keep in mind that these can be slippery when wet.

Please be considerate of grazing animals, and do not enter the pasture with a dog!!

No-entry zones around the lakes

Please note that parts of the reserve are subject to a no-entry restriction during the period April 1–July 15. This is to avoid disturbing the abundant birdlife during the breeding season. The restriction applies to a zone around Lilla Holmsjön, Vasstjärn, and the western shore of Stora Holmsjön. See the map below.

The hiking trail, birdwatching towers, and rest area are not affected by the access restriction—you can walk here year-round.

What makes this place unique?

Nutrient-rich lowland lakes

At Torsång, the Dalälven River makes a 90-degree turn and continues southward. Here, the river flows calmly between riverbanks, known as levees. These have formed as soil and sand have been deposited, becoming higher and higher after each spring flood. Inside the levées are marshy areas with several lakes.

The partially dug Fåran Canal connects the lakes to the Dalälven River. This connection causes the water levels in the lakes to fluctuate. In the spring, large parts of the floodplain meadows are submerged.

On the shores and in the nutrient-rich lakes, lush vegetation thrives, which is one of the reasons for the nature reserve’s diversity of birds. The reserve’s most exciting plants are found near the lakes. Here, water lilies, flowering rush, and calamus grow, among other species. Uncommon species include the banded sedge and blunt-leaved sedge, and in the swamp forest, the rare fern, the spleenwort.

Many birds—both resting and resident

Especially during spring and fall, the Holmsjöarna lakes are an important stopover for migratory birds. Here they can rest before continuing north in the spring or south in the fall.

Around the southern part of Fåran and on the flooded fields, various waders rest during the spring and fall migrations. Rarer ducks and other waterfowl such as the pintail, shoveler, smew, red-throated loon, and great cormorant can also be seen during the spring migration.

But there is also a rich bird life during the breeding season. The greylag goose and the marsh harrier are characteristic birds of the area and are almost always seen in the reserve during the summer months. In the lakes, the great crested grebe, coot, teal, common snipe, crane, and osprey breed. Reed warblers, marsh warblers, sedge warblers, grasshopper warblers, and rosefinches thrive in the reeds and shrublands.

In the deciduous forests around the lakes, our smallest woodpecker—the lesser spotted woodpecker—nests, as do the common buzzard
and the merlin. In the forest, you can look for and listen for the long-tailed tit, warblers, and thrushes.

Lands in Need of Management

In the past, the lands in the reserve were used as hay meadows. Hay was harvested from the damp meadows using scythes. The hay was used as winter feed for the local livestock. Today, the land is kept open by grazing animals. The lake shores have also been mowed on several occasions to prevent the lakes and shore meadows from becoming overgrown.

Grazing Animals

For a short stretch of about 50 meters just south of the Fåran bird tower, the hiking trail passes through the pasture. Please be considerate of the grazing animals—they are our best landscape caretakers! Keep in mind that cows can become stressed or curious when dogs approach. Check to see if the cows are nearby or if you have time to walk through the short passage with your dog. When the cows are nearby, we recommend that you do not enter the pastures with your dog.

Where the Fåran River flows into the Dalälven, there is a gate into the pasture for those who wish to stroll on their own through the grazing lands in the southern part of the reserve. Please be mindful of the grazing animals.

Entrances/Access to Holmsjöarna

The Holmsjöarna Nature Reserve has two entrances:

At the Canoe Stadium south of Torsång. Park in the narrow, long pull-off along the road on the river side. There is space for about 10 cars here. Cars drive fast here, so be careful when crossing the road to reach the trailhead on the other side. Holm, east of Rommeholen. There is space for about five cars here.