Where: All of Sweden
When: All year round
What: Hiking in Sweden
Oh wow, where do I start? If I get the chance, I spend every weekend in the Swedish nature. There are many ways to enjoy the outdoors here, for me, it often means a hike in the forest.
Depending on the weather, the time I have, and how fit I feel, this can be a planned longer, challenging hike with lots of climbs in a nature reserve, a short walk to a good spot to pick berries or mushrooms, or a refreshing lunch walk with the dog in the nearest forest.
NATURE IS PART OF SWEDISH CULTURE
The forest is a part of life here. Swedes often spend time in nature walking, running, mountain biking, or grilling. It’s part of the culture, and even toddlers are taken to the forest during daycare for their weekly dose of outdoor fun. People here usually respect nature and the best part is that there’s so much forest that it’s never really crowded, so you can truly unwind.
FORESTS ARE EVERYWHERE
In addition to forests, Sweden has a lot of water. The experience often goes hand in hand: a forest walk with a view over the lake from the rocks, a fresh dip after a long walk. This makes the nature here special to me. It’s never far away. You don’t always have to drive to a national park to enjoy Swedish nature. Here in Västerås alone, there are many surprisingly beautiful forests with hiking trails and outdoor gyms. It’s fun to discover a new spot each time and see what grows there, so I know where to pick berries later.
FACILITIES
I haven't even mentioned the facilities yet. You’ll find well-maintained and clearly color marked hiking trails everywhere, which even I can follow with my famously poor sense of direction. Along the way, you’ll often find benches, well-equipped grill spots, and sometimes a hut where you can spend the night. Besides hiking trails, there are also mountain biking trails everywhere, so if you prefer pedals over walking, we’ve got you covered! There are websites available where all these trails can be found, so you can plan your adventure. I’ll leave some links at the end of this blog post.
WILDLIFE
I love a good workout, but I can also get lost in the beauty of nature. Especially when I bring my camera, I see beauty everywhere and take my time on my walk. It gets even better when we encounter wildlife. A deer crossing the path, a woodpecker tapping, cranes in the field in spring, or a curious squirrel watching you from a tree. I love it! I’m always looking for tracks, discovering the secrets the forest holds. I’ve written a blog post about tracking wildlife, so click the link below if you want to know more.
WHAT DO YOU NEED?
It all depends on what you’re planning to do. Picking berries requires different gear than wildlife photography. Generally, I recommend wearing sturdy, comfortable shoes and breathable clothing. When it’s colder, I prefer wool over jersey. The advice is often to wear long sleeves and pants because of mosquitoes and ticks. Personally, I love hiking in shorts during summer, but that’s up to you. Want to go out Swedish style? Bring a nice fika or something to grill. Super cozy.
I’m always amazed by how beautiful and wonderful nature here is. So, if you have the chance to explore Swedish nature, go for it!
HELPFUL LINKS:
My blog post about tracking wildlife: forestjunkie.com/post/tracking-wildlife
My blog post about allemansrätten: forestjunkie.com/post/allemansrätten
My foraging calendar so you know what to pick when:
Trails in Sweden: naturkartan.se/en
Another great website to plan your hike: komoot.com
A map with all mountain bike trails in Sweden:
A map with all barbecue spots in Sweden: Grillplatser.nu/karta
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