Långsjöskogen, Naturreservat

Långsjön is a popular area with many trails, both long and short. Visitors come here to walk to the swimming area or simply to see the wood anemones or listen to the birds singing. The forest is a mosaic of different environments, the most striking of which is the tall-stemmed mixed forest that greets you on the way into the reserve.

A lake shaped by ice blocks

Långsjön is what is known as a kettle lake. Such lakes formed during the melting of the ice sheet when lingering ice blocks were embedded in sand and gravel and then gradually melted away. The depression formed by the ice block became what is now Långsjön.

Former military use

Because the area was used for military training exercises, it has a unique land-use history. No commercial forestry has been conducted here, but there has been both firewood harvesting and excavation of the ground. This history has contributed to the area’s current appearance, featuring tall-stemmed, often sparse mixed forests with a varied mix of large pines, spruces, birches, and aspens.

Rich Flora and Fauna

On the slope along Långsjön and in a few other areas, there is a rich shrub layer consisting of bird cherry, birch, rowan, aspen, and willow, along with a herb-rich ground layer. The northwestern part stands out with its dense but fairly tall-stemmed gray alder stands, interspersed with birch and willow. The coarse, tall, and mixed forest, along with the locally abundant supply of dead wood, creates many valuable small habitats for plants and animals, such as squirrels, grass snakes, lesser spotted woodpeckers, hepatica, daphne, horsetail, snakeberry, bluebells, and carnation root.

Visitor Information

To reach the reserve, follow Smedjebackevägen west from Romme. Immediately after the sports field, turn south; signs will then direct you toward Långsjön and the swimming area. The path to the swimming area goes through the reserve and leads to the reserve parking lot. Park on the grassy area in the forest clearing. If you follow the path a few hundred meters further through the reserve, you’ll reach the swimming area’s gravel parking lot, which has space for even more cars.

There is a nature reserve sign at the reserve’s parking lot. From here, a hiking trail leads you to the swimming area and then continues on an approximately 1.8 km hike through the nature reserve.

At the swimming area, there are picnic tables and a dry toilet.