Åsnen National Park

Åsnen National Park has a distinctive and atmospheric lake archipelago, where silence encloses uninhabited islands and islets which have not had any human impact for a very long time. The mosaic of different natural habitats is amazing and characteristic for the area. Old deciduous forests with rare mosses, lichen and fungi are interspersed with coniferous forests, lingonberry plants and marshland. The environments are home to birds, plants and insects that have become rare or even disappeared elsewhere when the landscape has changed.

In the national park, many of the special environments have been made accessible and therefore the possibilities for nature experiences are endless! Paddle through Åsnen’s waters. Wander through lush deciduous forests. Or stand by the shore of the lake at dusk in spring and listen and look for birds. Maybe you’ll be able to spot the lake’s fishing expert in the sky, the osprey, or hear the exclusive sound of the black-throated diver calling out on the lake.

The northern entrance to the national park is Sunnabron, along the strait to Åsnen’s largest island, Sirkön. Walking paths lead to the nearby Bjurkärr area, which is one of Sweden’s most valuable deciduous forests. Here there is a rich birdlife as well as rare insects, mosses and lichens.

In the western part of the national park you will find the second entrance, Trollberget. This is usually called “Åsnen in miniature”, because you will find everything from deciduous forest to pines, spruces, lake shores and marsh forest in a small area. Trollberget’s gorge, where legend says that the trolls celebrated Christmas, is appreciated by families with children who visit Åsnen.

At all entrances to the national park you will find rest areas, toilets and fireplaces. There are also marked hiking trails around the national park. Picnic baskets can be enjoyed at one of the piers around Åsnen.

If you want to spend the night in the national park, there is a nice campsite next to Åsnens Strand at Trollberget, otherwise the overnight accommodation options are very limited. Follow the blue-marked viewing trail north from the national park parking lot and you will soon reach the campsite, which in addition to shelter from the wind also has a rest area with a toilet, fireplace and opportunities to pitch a tent. The space is limited and intended for individual visitors who visit the national park or travel along the Banvallsleden cycle trail or the Värendsleden canoe trail.

For those interested in nature and birds, Åsnen is a paradise. The lake is an important nesting site for ospreys and here you can also see the majestic white-tailed eagle sailing in the sky. In addition to the national park, there are 19 other nature reserves in the area. Some areas are protected during certain times.

Please note that the birdlife in the archipelago is very sensitive. During the period 1 April – 31 July, nesting birds are protected and it is not allowed to visit the northern parts of the island of Bergön. The same applies to the northern parts of the island of Södra Aspö and certain other areas in and around the lake, which are marked with information. But don’t worry, the lake has more than a thousand islands so there is plenty of space to discover nature!