Bröttjärnaåns Naturreservat

The reserve consists of the stream gorge that surrounds the river. The ravine has cut deep down through the river sediments to the moraine. It is very lush and dead trees are strewn about.

The ravine was previously used for haymaking and grazing. Since farming ceased, the ravine has grown back. The forest contains plenty of dead wood, both standing and as flames. There is a wide variety of tree species, with deciduous trees predominating. To prevent the area from growing back into spruce forest, a large number of spruce trees have been ring-barked. Most have since died and fallen.

The abundance of dead wood provides good conditions for wood fungi and lichens. Birds that depend on old trees and standing dead wood for nesting benefit, as do insects that live in dead wood in various stages of decomposition. Beavers, or traces of them, can also be found here.

The Bröttjärnaån river had a mill at the mouth of the Dalälven river and there are ancient remains that show a former smelting area, with scattered slag in the river bed. There are ancient and cultural remains that indicate that people once lived in the immediate area, both east and west on the high plateaus close to the river.

You reach the reserve by driving on the field road from the south that goes to the railroad. The road can be muddy in wet weather. A reserve sign with a map is located where there is room for single cars. In late summer, the vegetation is very lush in the gorge and it can be difficult to get around, even on the hiking trail. Down by the river there are nice rest areas and it is usually possible to walk a loop along the river back to the car, but show consideration and do not walk in growing crops.