Ekdalen

Around Lake Vällen, the terrain is magical and wild. There are several nature reserves here, one of which is Ekdalen. In Ekdalen you are offered a rather demanding hike over moss-covered boulders, past fallen tree trunks and through intense greenery. If you walk quietly, you might catch a glimpse of one of the animals that live in the hollow tree trunks or under the large boulders.

The trail that starts at the parking lot is 1.6 km long. You first walk a short distance along the forest road and then turn onto a path. The path runs through boulder-rich terrain where large oaks and other deciduous trees such as maple, lime and aspen rise around you. Many large aspens have been left behind in an old hygge. Uppland's own landscape insect lives here, the red cinnabar beetle, whose larvae depend on dying aspens. The cinnabar beetle is very rare and is almost only found in Uppland.

Ekdalens nature reserve is not very large, but an interesting destination for those who like plants. Up on the area's two moraine ridges, small-leaved wormwood and lungwort thrive. Further down in the damp hollow, the forest is more dense and lush. Here you will find under-violet growing in early spring, and later on, large rams and large mats of musk madder.

You are welcome to enjoy the lush greenery and flowers, but remember that you are not allowed to pick or dig up plants! Special rules apply in nature reserves, click on the link to the regulations to read more.

Services: Parking, path loop

Administrator: County Administrative Board of Uppsala County