Svartån, Naturreservat

The Svartån river and its catchment area is one of the county's largest water areas that is currently not regulated for hydropower production.

The nature reserve is the second nature reserve in Värmland County to be protected because of its water-related natural values.

The watercourse is approximately 28 kilometers long (not including tributaries). The Svartån nature reserve is mostly located within the Brattforshedens nature conservation area and also Natura 2000 area, but parts of the watercourse (the stretch Forshyttan - Bosjön) are located northeast of the Brattforshedens nature conservation area.

The character of Svartån from Bosjön to Grässjön changes from flowing, with deciduous forest-dominated banks, to calmly flowing and meandering, with coniferous forest along the banks. There are three large bogs in the area, the area is otherwise relatively marshy and the water is very clear.

Svartån flows mostly through glacial river sand and in several places the powerful cut in the sand layer is clearly visible. The watercourse has a strong meandering course, where a constant process of erosion and sedimentation along the banks creates important environments for insects and birds, among others. Grass and herb-rich gaps in the mixed spruce forest occur adjacent to the sandy beaches.

Animals and plants

Svartån is home to a weak population of the red-listed river pearl mussel. The watercourse also contains most of the common species for flowing water such as trout, mountain salmon, rock salmon, perch, pike, burbot, roach and minnow. The existing trout population is worthy of protection in itself, but is also of the utmost importance for the reproduction of the pearl mussel, as it parasitizes on the gills of young trout in one of its life stages.

The sandy banks of the Svartån are important environments for several rare and red-listed insect species.

Forest

Along the banks there are coniferous forests with elements of deciduous trees such as birch and alder. There are important biotopes such as grand-dominated ravine forest, dry sand pine forest and grazing spruce mixed forest. The forest has been used for a long time in the area. Several streams connect to the Svartån river, reinforcing the impression of the special ravine system that has cut into the loose glacial river sand. The forest along several of the tributaries is quite old and in some places the forest is a natural spruce forest with a high proportion of dead trees in and around the watercourses. The area has high natural values linked to the ravines with old trees, plenty of dead wood and a humid climate.

Culture

Svartån has been used as a rafting route and on some stretches along the watercourse, stone material can be seen that was cleared up in connection with the rafting. In Svartåhyttan, there are remains of a dam, as well as ruins of a smelter and other industrial remains from early iron processing during the 1600-1800s. Svartåhyttan was built in 1687 as an auxiliary smelter to the older Forshyttan and Paradishyttan. In the early 1900s, the water was used for electric power generation. The area also has plenty of remains in the form of coal bunkers, hollow ways and tar pits.

Before your visit

The 19-kilometer-long Svartåleden trail runs from Grässjön in the north to Långtjärn in the south. For long stretches, the trail follows the meandering Svartån river. It is a very pleasant trail that goes up over ridges and down into ravines through an unbroken forest landscape. The trail also passes several ravines, of which

Skäftdalen is the largest.

Svartåleden

Difficulty: Medium - difficult. The northernmost mile, closest to Grässjön, is not so hilly, to the south there are some passages that are really hilly.

Marking: Orange

Please note that parts of the trail are under construction. See information further up the page!

Less wood at the fireplaces

We have reduced the supply of firewood as a result of reduced resources for the management of the nature reserves since 2023. Since we now put out less firewood, it is extra important that you as a visitor burn carefully and bring your own firewood if you want to be sure to be able to grill. Please note that fires may only be lit in the designated fireplaces and that it is forbidden to take dead or live branches from the forest.