Svanhusskogen

Beautifully situated on the western shore of Lake Vällens, the Svanhusskogen nature reserve spreads out. The reserve is divided into two parts. The southern one is the largest and here you can walk through old forest with large moss-covered boulders. There are also wooded bogs and swamp forests. There are traces of old crofts and graves from the Bronze Age in the area. In the northern part is the bog pond Kroppsjön. Here, too, there is plenty of coniferous forest with elements of deciduous trees, bogs and swamp forest.

The variety found in the reserve has created a nature with many different species and also preserved many species that are threatened. In the two areas, 88 threatened species have been found, including the violet-headed fungus, copper-headed fungus, black ox, aspen splinter beetle and cinnabar beetle. Svanhusskogen also has a rich bird life. Fowl such as capercaillie and wolverine make their home here. You can also keep an eye out for different species of woodpecker, owls and listen for the lesser flycatcher.

If you visit Lake Vällen, you may spot the stately osprey sitting in a treetop or sailing across the water. The reserve has a lot of dead wood on the ground, which is valuable for many insects. Fungi and mosses also feed on old or fallen trees and branches.

A 3.6 km long trail runs through the southern part of the reserve. In the other parts of the reserve, it is difficult to access with rocky ground and large wetlands.

Service: Parking lot with information board, marked hiking trail. Manager: Upplandsstiftelsen.