Ensjölokarna, Naturreservat

Ensjölokarna is well known for its unique nature and attracts many thousands of interested visitors every year. The reserve is well worth a visit in spring, summer and fall. Ensjölokarna Nature Reserve is one of Sweden's finest primeval forests, with old pines and giant spruces. In winter, the roads to the Ensjölokarna nature reserve are not maintained. From the parking lot you enter the large forest and the path around Stora Ensjöloken. Along it there is a shelter and at the parking lot there is a rest hut. The path around the lake is just under 1 kilometer and most of it is uneven in the form of stones and large roots.

The reserve is located 5 kilometers from the border with Medelpad and covers 96 hectares of coniferous forest, marsh and water. The area was set aside as a domain reserve as early as 1924 and is thus one of the oldest reserves in the county. There are two lakes in the area; Stora and Lilla Ensjöloken.

The county's finest primeval forest

The forest in the primeval forest core is completely untouched by man, but a number of fires have raged here over time. The oldest pines, which are between 300 and 400 years old, have survived three or four forest fires. These trees have an impressive girth of around two meters and many are rotten and dying.

There is an abundance of dry bark in the nature reserve. The pine dominates on the heights, while elsewhere there is some spruce and elements of birch, willow and aspen in lower parts.

Plants and animals in the primeval forest

There are plenty of birds and mammals nesting in the reserve, such as the long-eared owl, the tawny owl, the pine marten and bats. Raven, nuthatch, lichen jay, three-toed woodpecker and robin are also often seen.

The vegetation is characterized by the fact that the area has been forested for a long time. Rare wood fungi such as scented tick, rose tick and black tick have been found at Ensjölokarna. Club moss and downy spurge are among the more interesting finds among the vascular plants.