StockholmsUtflykter

Nackareservatet

Nackareservatet (the Nacka nature reserve) is two nature reserves that join up – one in Nacka Municipality and one in the City of Stockholm – stretching from Sickla park in Hammarby sjöstad to the lake Ältasjön. You get there on the green metro line 17 towards Skarpnäck: get off at Hammarbyhöjden, Björkhagen, Kärrtorp, Bagarmossen or Skarpnäck and follow the signs. Bus 401 from Slussen stops at Hellasgården and Dammtorp.

This page covers how to get there, where to park, which trails and lakes there are, the rules Nacka Municipality lists for its part and what applies to cycling in both parts. Travel times and departures are in SL's journey planner.

Checked against the sources in October 2026See the sources ↓

Söderbysjön with a sandy beach in the foreground and forested rocks on the other side of the lake on a sunny day

How to get to Nackareservatet

The reserve has several entrances. From the metro, park paths lead into the reserve, and from Hammarby sjöstad you enter at Sickla park.

Public transport and car

  • Metro, line 17 towards Skarpnäck

    Get off at Hammarbyhöjden, Björkhagen, Kärrtorp, Bagarmossen or Skarpnäck and follow the signs to the nature reserve or Hellasgården. Sörmlandsleden starts at Björkhagen metro station.

  • Bus 401 from Slussen

    The bus towards Älta stops at Hellasgården and Dammtorp.

  • Tvärbanan to Sickla park

    Sickla park in Hammarby sjöstad is reached on the Tvärbanan light rail from Gullmarsplan. From there, park paths and two wildlife bridges (ekodukter) lead into the reserve.

  • Car

    Take Södra länken (road 75) towards Nacka and turn off onto road 260 towards Älta via Järlaleden. Ältavägen runs through the reserve, and the road to Hellasgården is signposted.

A grassy clearing with a path leading towards deciduous woodland under a blue sky in Nackareservatet

Where can you park at Nackareservatet?

There is parking at several of the entrances. In the Nacka part, caravans may not be set up or parked.

Parking

  • Hellasgården

    Paid parking at Hellasgården, in the Nacka part of the reserve.

  • Kärrtorp and Hammarbybacken

    In the Stockholm part there is parking at Kärrtorps IP and on the north side of Hammarbybacken.

  • Dammtorp

    The nearest parking for the Söderbysjön swimming area is at Dammtorp and Hellasgården.

Hiking in Nackareservatet

Sörmlandsleden runs straight through the reserve, through the forests south of Söderbysjön and the area around Ulvsjön. The length of the trails is given below – how long a hike takes depends on your pace, and the travel time there and back is in SL's journey planner. From Hellasgården the Blue Trail (Blå spåret) also runs to Solsidan on northern Erstaviken – one of Sweden's oldest hiking trails, with almost the same route since the 1920s.

There are barbecue spots between Markuskyrkan and the outdoor gym in the first kilometre of Sörmlandsleden and at the Söderbysjön swimming area. If you want to shorten the stage, you can take the bus on road 260 at Kolarängen. From Skogshyddan it is about a 15-minute walk along Erstaviksvägen to the Bäckalidsvägen bus stop.

A gravel path between old oaks in fresh spring green at Lilla Sickla

Trails through the reserve

  1. Björkhagen – Söderbysjön

    approx. 2 km

    The first part of Sörmlandsleden, from Björkhagen metro station to the first lake.

  2. Sörmlandsleden stage 1: Björkhagen – Skogshyddan

    8.5 km

    Easy paths past several lakes good for swimming and a fracture valley. The stage runs through Nackareservatet and on through the Strålsjön–Erstavik nature reserve to Skogshyddan.

  3. The Blue Trail: Hellasgården – Solsidan

    approx. 10 km

    One of Sweden's oldest hiking trails, to Solsidan on northern Erstaviken.

Lakes and swimming in Nackareservatet

Five lakes lie wholly or partly in the reserve: Dammtorpssjön, Källtorpssjön, Söderbysjön, Ulvsjön and Ältasjön. Under the regulations for the Nacka part, motorised craft may not be used on Källtorpssjön, Dammtorpssjön, Söderbysjön, Ulvsjön or in the Ältaån stream.

The lakes

  • Swimming area

    Söderbysjön

    • Sandy beach
    • Barbecue

    A child-friendly sandy beach with lawns, and swimming from the rocks along the lake. There is a toilet in the swimming season but no changing rooms. Dogs are not allowed at the swimming area 1 June–31 August. The swimming area is in Nacka Municipality but run by the City of Stockholm.

  • At Hellasgården

    Källtorpssjön

    Open-air swimming at Hellasgården, which has changing rooms, a sauna and a café.

  • Viewpoint

    Ulvsjön

    Sörmlandsleden passes the area around Ulvsjön. From Ulvsjöberget you have a view over the lake.

  • Towards Flaten

    Ältasjön

    In the south the reserve joins the Flaten nature reserve. You can walk on boardwalks along the shore of Ältasjön to the Flaten area.

Ulvsjön with forest reflected in the water on a still autumn day
Ulvsjön
A wooden boardwalk through reeds along the western shore of Ältasjön
The boardwalk along Ältasjön towards Flaten
A wooden bridge over the reeds at Söderbysjön with forest in the background
The bridge at Söderbysjön

What are the rules in Nackareservatet?

The rules differ between the Nacka part and the Stockholm part, for example for cycling. In the Nacka part you may not destroy fixed natural features, damage trees and plants, disturb wildlife, have your dog off the lead, ride a horse off constructed roads, marked bridle paths or riding areas, set up a caravan or arrange a campsite, use motorised craft on Källtorpssjön, Dammtorpssjön, Söderbysjön and Ulvsjön or in the Ältaån stream, or light fires other than in a barbecue you bring or at a designated spot. Picking flowers, berries and mushrooms is allowed within the limits of the Right of Public Access (allemansrätten).

The regulations for the Nacka part do not ban individual camping in a tent – the Right of Public Access then applies. The Stockholm part has its own regulations; they are on the reserve sign and in the reserve leaflet from the City of Stockholm.

Cycling in the reserve

  • The Nacka part You may cycle on constructed paths and roads, but not on the floodlit trails.

  • The Stockholm part Only on cycle paths and roads open to cars. Under Stockholm's local traffic regulations, cycling on paths or off-road in nature reserves is not allowed.

Frequently asked questions

2 questions

01

Is Nackareservatet a nature reserve?

Yes, it is two nature reserves that join up: one in Nacka Municipality and one in the City of Stockholm. According to Nacka Municipality the reserve covers 829 hectares, of which 730 hectares are in Nacka. All the land is owned and managed by the City of Stockholm.

02

Who runs Hellasgården?

Hellasgården is owned and run by the swimming and sports club Hellas. The outdoor centre is in Nackareservatet, on Källtorpssjön.

Combine with

Sources

Details checked against these sources in October 2026.

The facts on this page are based on these sources. Under each one you can see which details we took from it. Opening times, prices and departures change – always check with the source before you go.

  1. Nacka Municipality: Nackareservatet · in Swedishgetting there, parking at Hellasgården, area 829 ha of which 730 ha in Nacka, landowner and manager the City of Stockholm, trails, lakes, rules and cycling
  2. City of Stockholm: Nackareservatet in the City of Stockholm · in Swedishtwo reserves, Sickla park, entrances, link to Flaten
  3. Naturkartan: Nackareservatet in the City of Stockholm · in Swedishcontact: City of Stockholm; parking at Kärrtorps IP and Hammarbybacken, metro stations, Tvärbanan to Sickla park
  4. Naturkartan: Nackareservatet · in Swedishbus 401 to Hellasgården and Dammtorp, by car via roads 75 and 260
  5. Sörmlandsleden: Stage 1 Björkhagen – Skogshyddan · in Swedish8.5 km, Söderbysjön after approx. 2 km, barbecue spots, buses at Kolarängen and Bäckalidsvägen
  6. City of Stockholm: Söderbysjön swimming area · in Swedishsandy beach, toilet in the swimming season, barbecue, no dogs 1 June–31 August, parking at Dammtorp and Hellasgården
  7. Nacka Municipality: Hellasgården · in Swedishowned and run by the swimming and sports club Hellas