Nature reserves in and around Stockholm

• Public transport

  Getting to Stockholm's nature reserves by SL

  • Åkeshov · Ängbyplan
  • Björkhagen
  • Bus 834 to Tyresta

  Several reserves can be reached by metro, commuter train or bus – for example Judarskogen from Åkeshov and Ängbyplan, Nackareservatet from Björkhagen and Tyresta on bus 834. With public transport you can also walk a trail from one stop to another.

• Cost

  What a trip costs

  • Free entry
  • Parking fee: Tyresta by, Björnö

  It costs nothing to enter a nature reserve or a national park. Parking, however, is paid at several of the larger entrances – Sweden's National Parks lists a fee at Tyresta by, and Björnö has paid parking at the reserve entrance. If you come by SL, the only cost is the fare.

• Huddinge

  Paradiset nature reserve: rest cabin, wind shelter and Sörmlandsleden

  • Rest cabin and wind shelter
  • Sörmlandsleden stages 5 · 6
  • Bus 709 to Bruket

  About the reserve

  A municipal reserve in Huddinge where several hiking trails start from the old croft of Paradiset. There is a rest cabin and a car park there, and a wind shelter by the lake Trehörningen. The reserve has several Stone Age settlement sites. Rocky pine forest covers most of the area, with some spruce forest, deciduous woodland and mires, and capercaillie are common. The area is part of Natura 2000.

  Sörmlandsleden

  Stage 5 ends at Paradiset and stage 6 starts here, with a wind shelter and water pump at the start and a wind shelter and spring after 7 km.

  Getting there

  SL bus from Huddinge station to the stop Bruket – Sörmlandsleden gives bus 709 to Bruket or Ådran.

• Vaxholm

  Bogesundslandet: forests, swimming spots and wind shelters

  • Wind shelters
  • Fireplaces
  • Hiking trails

  Location

  A peninsula in Vaxholm Municipality, surrounded by the bays Stora Värtan, Askrikefjärden and Vaxholmsfjärden.

  In the reserve

  Forests for mushroom and berry picking, bridle paths, swimming spots, hiking trails, picnic areas, fireplaces and wind shelters. Managed by the National Property Board Sweden.

  Rules

  You may not camp for more than two nights in a row except at designated sites, cycle off-road except on designated bike paths, or ride except on roads and designated bridle paths.

• Vallentuna

  Angarnssjöängen: wetland and Sjöängsslingan

  • Just under 7 km
  • Roslagsbanan + bus towards Kårsta

  Sjöängsslingan

  The County Administrative Board gives a trail of just under seven kilometres around the lake, in Vallentuna.

  Accessibility

  Accessible parking spaces with connecting trails are only available at Örsta, and a surfaced path leads to the Byksberget viewpoint, which has a wheelchair ramp. Birds: the County Administrative Board calls the lake one of Stockholm's finest bird lakes. Most birdwatchers head for Midsommarberget, on the right as you walk down towards the meadows from the Örsta entrance, and further east there is a bird tower. Parking: at Örsta the car park is often full at weekends in the snow-free season – visitors are then directed to the car parks at Olhamra, Kusta and Skesta.

  Getting there

  The Roslagsbanan train to Vallentuna and a bus towards Kårsta – get off at Örsta, 200 metres from the reserve.

  Camping

  Only within the designated area and for at most two nights in a row.

• Bromma

  Judarskogen nature reserve: a forest lake and moraines by the metro

  • Åkeshov approx. 200 m
  • Ängbyplan approx. 100 m

  About the reserve

  Established in 1995 as the City of Stockholm's first nature reserve, with open meadows, hilly woodland and the lake Judarn. A network of footpaths and trails runs around the lake.

  The moraines

  The De Geer moraines – long, narrow ridges of stones left by the ice sheet – are classed as being of national interest.

  Natura 2000

  Three man-made amphibian ponds by the lake; the area is protected for the sake of the great crested newt.

  Getting there

  The green metro line runs along the northern edge – about 200 metres from Åkeshov and about 100 metres from Ängbyplan. Six entrances with information signs.

Easy walks and children's trails

• Judarskogen – Upptäckarstigen

  • Close to the metro
  • Eight information boards
  • About an hour

  An adventure trail for children where you meet the wood mouse, the fox, the owl, the hare, the frog and the newt. There is also a nature trail with eight information boards, about an hour. Close to the metro.

• Tyresta – Allemansråttans stig and Tjäderstigen

  • 650 m · 1.3 km
  • Tasks for children

  650 metres and 1.3 km, with tasks for children. Bylsjöpromenaden, 5 km, is described as an easy walk.

• Björnö – Torpesand

  • Sandy beach
  • Snorkel trail

  A sandy beach and a snorkel trail, according to the Archipelago Foundation a popular spot for families with children.

• Fires

  Can you light a fire in a nature reserve?

  • Bring your own fuel
  • Check for fire bans

  The rules for fires differ between areas – the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency says fires are banned in some protected areas. Always check the regulations for the particular reserve you're visiting.

  Bring your own fuel

  You may not take wood from fallen trees without the landowner's permission, or build shelters from them.

  Living trees

  Branches, bark and twigs on living trees must be left alone.

  Fire bans

  In dry weather the County Administrative Board or the fire service can issue a fire ban. Check the current fire risk before you light a fire or a camping stove with an open flame.

• Dogs

  Dogs in nature reserves: always on a lead

  • Always on a lead
  • 1 March–20 August

  The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency says dogs must always be on a lead in national parks and nature reserves, and that in all of Sweden's national parks it is forbidden to have your dog off the lead, however obedient it is.

  1 March–20 August

  When wild animals have young, you must keep a particularly close eye on your dog, and it may not run loose. In practice that almost always means a lead.

  Grazing animals

  Always keep your dog on a lead near grazing animals.

  Sometimes banned altogether: In some protected areas it may be forbidden to bring a dog at all, or only allowed at certain times of year. Check before you go.

• Berries, mushrooms and plants

  Picking berries, mushrooms and plants

  • Berries and mushrooms
  • Protected: don't touch

  Berry picking is part of the Right of Public Access as long as the berries aren't protected by law – and the same goes for mushrooms. But in protected areas the condition is often that you only pick what you can eat on the spot, so check the regulations.

  Roots and plants

  You may not dig up or take plants' roots, bulbs or seedlings without the landowner's permission. Only the parts that grow back every year, such as berries, may be picked.

  Protected species

  Protected plants may not be picked or damaged. If a plant is protected, the whole plant is – for mistletoe, even berries that have fallen to the ground may not be picked.