Forest Junkie
- 3 min read

WHAT IS ALLEMANSRÄTTEN?

Where: All of Sweden

When: All year around

What: Allemansrätten

Sweden has this really cool law that has given me a whole new perspective on outdoor life: Allemansrätten.

WHAT IS ALLEMANSRÄTTEN?

Allemansrätten is all about public access to nature. Basically, everyone has the freedom to roam the Swedish nature, hike, bike, pick mushrooms and berries, pitch a tent, and even spend a night outdoors... as long as you don't disturb or destroy anything.

ALLEMANSRÄTTEN IS CHERISHED IN SWEDEN

We'd heard about this law before we moved here, but we never expected it to be so widely embraced! Most Swedes absolutely love the outdoors. They head into nature for all sorts of activities, from running, hiking and biking to fishing and having barbecues. In summer, there's an abundance of berry-picking, and in autumn, mushroom foraging is really popular, especially with kids. It's a great way for them to learn what's edible and what's not and gain respect for nature. Kids even go on forest expeditions with their classes to learn navigation skills. Nature is a big part of leisure time here.

ARE THERE ANY RULES?

Of course, with freedom comes responsibility. The golden rule is: Don't disturb and don't destroy. So, for example, don't disturb means you shouldn't trespass on private property, don't leave any waste and you should respect wildlife, like keeping dogs on a leash between March 1st and August 20th to protect vulnerable nests and young animals. For the rest of the year, dogs can roam freely in nature, as long as you keep supervision over your dog.

Roaming with your dog in the Swedish nature

Don't destroy means for instance not to break branches off living trees or disturb large fallen dead trees in the forest, as they're vital for various species. You can pick berries and mushrooms, as long as they're not protected species, so it's wise to check before your adventure. Anything that lies in the ground or requires tools to take it out of the ground belongs to the landowner and shouldn't be taken without permission.

CAN I MAKE A FIRE IN SWEDISH NATURE?

Open fires in the forest always carry risks, which makes many landowners a bit nervous. During dry periods, always check for local fire bans, and consider whether your fire might damage the environment. Don't make fires on large rocks either, as they might crack from the heat. In Sweden, you'll find many designated, safe barbecue spots, often equipped with wood, a grill, and benches. It's best to use those.

WILD CAMPING AND BIKING IN THE FOREST

As mentioned earlier, you can enjoy one or two nights camping in nature with your tent. However, it's not okay to park your campervan just anywhere in the forest. Allemansrätten doesn't extend to driving vehicles in nature because it causes damage, so stick to the roads. Unless there's a 'no biking' sign, you're free to explore the many mountain bike trails in the forest with your bike.

NATURE RESERVES

Sweden has numerous nature reserves and national parks, each with its own rules. Check these rules beforehand on the respective website or signs at the entrance of the park. (I left some links below for your convenience.)

Information sign at the entrance of the reserve

It might feel complicated, but it all boils down to those two basic rules: don't disturb and don't destroy. They're actually quite intuitive. In my experience, most people here treat nature and its facilities with respect and simply enjoy this privilege. With freedom comes responsibility, and that's clearly evident here. Soon, I'll write some blog posts about what goodies you can harvest here. For now, I will leave some handy links for you below.