Blyberget, Naturreservat

The majestic peak of Blyberget rises above the Österdalälven valley, 525 meters above sea level. The mountain is composed of the beautiful rock type known as Blyberget porphyry, one of Sweden’s most famous rocks, which has been used in works of art found all over the world. But Blyberget also offers great natural beauty.

What can you do here?

Great trails and beautiful views

Outdoor recreation centers around the porphyry quarries and the beautiful views above them. Well-maintained trails make the lookout points easily accessible, although the significant climb to reach them requires some effort.

From the entrance, there’s a loop trail of about 1.5 km that takes you to Ugglas Rock, the wind shelter with sweeping views, and a detour to the summit of Blyberget, before returning to the parking lot. Be sure to allow plenty of time! The trail climbs steadily and can feel strenuous, but it’s well worth the effort.

The area is popular with both locals and visitors from farther afield. The environment in and around the porphyry quarries is of great cultural and historical interest. Here, you can explore the once-extensive quarrying operations firsthand. A small exhibition housed in a simple building offers a good insight into the arduous work of stone quarrying.

Blyberget Close to the Hearts of the Villagers

It’s natural for residents of Blyberget to head “up the mountain” for recreational activities. Midsummer’s Eve calls for a visit to the mountain. There are several alternative spots to experience Midsummer’s Eve and the sunrise.

What Makes This Place Unique?

Untouched Forests

The mountain has steep slopes. This is typical of the porphyry bedrock. On the inaccessible and damp eastern slope, the spruce forest grows densely. Various hanging lichens thrive here. The western slopes are drier and dominated by pine instead.

The steepest sections feature an interesting moss flora. Among other species is Purpurmylia, a leaf moss whose leaves sometimes turn red—hence its name.

The forest is untouched by modern forestry and contains several species typical of older forests. There are interesting lichens here, such as the wood-flame lichen. In damp areas, the flowers eyebright and dwarf ragwort grow, as well as the orchid green-spotted orchid.

Blyberg Porphyry

The porphyry from Blyberg is fairly easy to recognize. It ranges from brown to black with hints of purple, featuring white grains and gray-green streaks. It is somewhat reminiscent of Toblerone chocolate.

Through skilled engineering and artistically sophisticated design, the Älvdalen porphyry works became the leading arts and crafts industry in Europe. The name, which refers to one of the many colors in which porphyry occurs, comes from the Greek word porphyri´tes, meaning “purple-colored.”

Porphyry was first mentioned in Sweden as early as the late 17th century, but it wasn’t until the 1780s that porphyry began to be mined at Elfdals Porphyrverk in Dalarna. During the reign of Gustav III, when interest in antiquity was flourishing, porphyry was all the rage, and orders poured in from the royal court.

The quarries are protected as ancient monuments

There are two large quarries in the area owned by the Blyberg Community Association. The older one was in use from the beginning of the porphyry era in 1788 until the early 1940s and is now protected as an ancient monument. Porphyry quarrying in Älvdalen began in 1788 as a job creation project.

After several years of hardship during the 18th century, the Porphyry Works was established to provide the people of Älvdalen with a livelihood. The new quarry, which opened in 1939, remained in operation into the 1960s. Stone was quarried here primarily for industrial purposes.