Hälla, Naturreservat

The Västerdalälven River begins where the Görälven and Fulan rivers meet. The very first stretch consists of the scenic Hälla Nature Reserve. The area stretches seven kilometers along the river and includes about 40 islands, species-rich riverbanks, and forests. This is a landscape that is unusual and unique for Sweden, known as a braided river.

What can you do here?

Great fishing and an accessible trail

The river is popular with anglers who can catch both grayling and trout.
Even if you don’t like fishing, a visit to Hälla is enjoyable. At Fulunäs, there’s a 20-meter-long, accessible gravel path that leads to a rest area with benches and tables.
Bring your canoe and start your journey here, or just stop by to watch the untamed waters flow by.

What makes this place unique?

Braided Rivers

Braided rivers form where water flows through layers of sand and gravel so thick that a flat river plain with islets and headlands is created.
The name Hälla comes from the fact that there used to be rock outcrops in the area. These were blasted away long ago to facilitate log driving.

In earlier times, the islets and riverbanks were used as hayfields and pastures. Hay barns still stand here and there along the river. You may also come across mountain cows grazing in the meadows of the area.

A Haven for Flowers, Birds, and Mussels

In addition to flowing water, the Hälla Nature Reserve features mountain slopes, pine heaths, dense spruce forests, swamp forests, and marshes.
There is also an unusually large variety of species here, many of which are rare. About 300 of Transtrand Parish’s 460 plant species are found in the Hälla area. Examples of plants that thrive here include globeflower, King Charles’s spire, branched sedge, and tall sedge.
Some of the birds that nest here include the common sandpiper, the white-throated dipper, and the goosander.
The protected freshwater pearl mussel lives on the riverbed. It is therefore prohibited to collect it.