Krokom: Nature, Wildlife and Cultural Heritage

Rapids, potholes and plunge pools make Ansättåns Canyon a striking place to visit. A trip to Krokom can focus on different things, from observing nature and hiking to cultural history. When choosing a hotel, consider which themes you want to shape your trip.

Landscapes, Water and Wildlife Watching

Hotagen Nature Reserve encompasses mountain landscapes, old-growth forest and a rich variety of wildlife. It is also shaped by Sami life and work; the Jijnjevaerie Sami community is based in the reserve. A hike there takes you just over eight kilometres to Almdalen.

In Offerdalsberg Nature Reserve, trees up to 300 years old grow in spruce forest resembling old-growth woodland. A trail climbs, with some strenuous sections, to a viewpoint overlooking the landscape and treetops. Water and geology take centre stage at other places: Hasslingsån drops 110 metres from Lake Hasslingen to Hasslingsåfallet. At the waterfall, a nature trail runs through old-growth forest to an observation tower. At Rengsfallet, heavily schistose amphibolite gives way to more easily weathered sandstone around Lake Valsjön.

Tysjöarna Nature Reserve is a Natura 2000 protected area in the municipalities of Krokom and Östersund. A wooden ramp almost 1,300 metres long leads from the car park to an observation tower. It is mostly level and has passing places with benches. In Storskogen Nature Reserve, you can hike through varied landscapes of old-growth forest, streams and bogs. Many red-listed species depend on living and dead spruce and deciduous trees there.

Even smaller details of nature make their mark: the limestone pool Grönvattnet in Storholmsjö can shimmer green in the sunlight, thanks to its pale limestone bed and clear spring water. Grazing animals can still be seen in Holmbodarna in summer.

Trails and Seasonal Experiences

The trails vary in surface, length and elevation gain. The trail to Ansättåns Canyon alternates between a country road, a forest track and forest terrain. The climb to the viewpoint in Offerdalsberg Nature Reserve is strenuous in places, while the hike to Almdalen is just over eight kilometres long. By contrast, the ramp in Tysjöarna offers a mostly level route, with places to sit at the passing points. Old forests, streams and bogs shape the landscape in Storskogen Nature Reserve. At Hasslingsåfallet, the nature trail passes through old-growth forest to the observation tower.

There is a bird tower at Lake Mussjön, where you can watch ducks and wading birds. Visits for birdwatching are recommended from late April to late June; the timing may vary slightly from year to year. This seasonal recommendation makes for a different nature experience from hikes that centre on the route and its landscape.

Rock Carvings and History

Glösa Älgriket is a one-kilometre-long open-air museum featuring rock carvings, a settlement of the Elk Tribe and elk trapping pits. The elk trapping system extends for five kilometres and includes 91 pits. The rock carvings at Gärde depict three elk; one is life-sized and is described as Sweden’s largest single figurative rock carving. People from a so-called hunting and trapping culture stayed at times by Lake Gärdesjön about 7,000 years ago, during the Stone Age.

Skansen Klintaberg is in Valsjöbyn, in the Hotagsbygden area, and is one of the few intact local fortifications from the Second World War. A guided tour explains how the war affected people in the Hotagsbygden area of Jämtland. In Storholmsjö, the buildings at Skjälderbodarna may date from the mid-18th century; some have survived to this day.

The Mus-Olles Museum was opened in 1906 by Per-Olof Nilsson. Over a period of more than 75 years, he collected 150,000 objects. The museum’s collection includes 25,000 packages and wrappers, including those for matches, sweets, grains, soaps, perfumes, tobacco, snus, spices and coffee. Wången offers a free, one-hour digital historical tour in Swedish and English. It features historical newspaper clippings and interviews with several Wången employees. The circular route is gravelled and can be used on foot, by bicycle or in an electric wheelchair.

Local Produce and Activities

Skärvångens bymejeri offers around 25 types of cheese, homemade tunnbröd flatbread, and various food items and other handicrafts from the region. Groups can be welcomed there for a cheese tasting; study visits can be booked.

Åkersjön has a downhill ski slope suitable for people of different ages and abilities; it operates seasonally. Krokom’s Skoteralliansen is a collaboration between 13 snowmobile clubs. The municipality of Krokom has around 150 Swedish miles of snowmobile trails, and conditions vary by season. A cycling tour through Krokom and Ytterån is about 80 kilometres long.

Krokom can be reached by car, bus or train. Flights are available via Åre Östersund Airport or Trondheim Vaernes Airport; from there, continue by transfer or rental car. Check transport connections and onward travel options before your trip.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Nälden, Åkersjön, Kaxås, Offerdal, Dvärsätt, Krokom, Laxviken, Föllinge, Ås.

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