Laxå: Paths Through Nature and History

Tiveden National Park lies in the municipalities of Laxå and Karlsborg and covers 2,030 hectares, of which 1,800 hectares are land. Parts of the park belong to the Natura 2000 network of protected natural areas; its designation is SE0240001. Trails through forests and rocky terrain, seasonal swimming opportunities and historic sites offer different ways to shape a trip to Laxå.

Hiking and swimming in Tiveden

In summer, you can combine hikes across sun-warmed pine heaths with a swim in Lake Trehörningen. The long, sandy Vitsand beach is a specific place to start. Check swimming conditions before your trip if you plan to stop for a swim. The park has three entrances. At the main entrance in the center of the park, you’ll find a car park, information, toilets and an exhibition.

The Vitsandsrundan starts at the Vitsand entrance and is the shortest hiking trail in the national park. It leads from the impressive boulder formation Vitsandsgrottorna through an old, open pine forest and across barren rocky terrain. For navigation, it’s important to know that the loop is not marked in the usual way. The trail thus combines a distinctive natural feature with a practical detail to consider when planning.

Trails for different plans

Longer routes are also part of the area: Munkastigen is a 96-kilometre pilgrimage trail, and sections of Bergslagsleden pass through the entire municipality of Laxå. At Getaryggen, Bergslagsleden and Munkastigen run through the whole nature reserve. Getaryggen includes part of Bosjöåsen, an 18-kilometre terminal moraine ridge along the county boundary. This means short hiking trails in the national park sit alongside routes described as a pilgrimage trail or as crossing municipal boundaries.

For hiking and cycling trips, a route runs along the Åland Canal through the forest between the railway station and Bergslagsleden. Tiveden also has more than 30 Swedish miles of riding trails in the municipalities of Laxå, Gullspång, Töreboda and Karlsborg. These details describe different ways to experience the landscape; choose a route to suit your plans.

Bog landscape, forest and bird calls

Vargavidderna Nature Reserve lies in the municipalities of Laxå and Degerfors. Its landscape includes extensive bogs, boulder-strewn natural forests and the nutrient-poor Lake Gryten. Two marked trails start at the car park; one leads to an observation tower and a picnic area. This makes it easy to consider the landscape features and a specific waypoint together when planning an excursion.

The seasons also shape the impression of Vargavidderna: on an early spring morning, you can hear the bubbling calls of black grouse; on a summer’s day, the calls of cranes. These different sounds of nature offer two seasonal points of reference without requiring you to plan another activity.

Getting there and finding your way

Tiveden National Park is accessible by public transport, on foot or by bicycle. Check current public transport connections before your trip. The park is signposted from the E20 at Finnerödja and Laxå. Laxå’s demand-responsive transport connects an on-demand bus stop with selected destinations, including the national park; check booking rules and operating days in advance. Laxå travel centre is served by several train operators, so it’s worth checking the timetables here too.

For further planning, Laxå Tourist Information offers two digital tourist maps with details of accommodation, attractions, activities, restaurants and cafés. You can use them to explore different interests side by side, such as a hike, a cultural site or a place to eat. The maps complement practical travel planning but don’t replace checking current timetables or on-demand bus conditions.

Cultural history and local sites

The Ramundeboda monastery ruins are a protected archaeological site and an area of national interest for cultural heritage conservation. The grounds still contain a cemetery, a 1722 burial chapel for the Rosenholm family and a bell tower. The chapel and cemetery give the site a clear historical connection; its designation as an archaeological site also makes clear that it is protected cultural heritage.

In Hasselfors, the bruksmuseum preserves almost 400 years of the area’s industrial history. Finnerödja hembygdsgård preserves numerous buildings from the surrounding area; one of them houses a school museum. The strawberry is Finnerödja’s symbol. These places highlight different aspects: industrial history in Hasselfors, preserved buildings and school history in Finnerödja, and a local symbol connected with the place name.

Many old spa buildings have been preserved in Porla Brunn and are now open to visitors. You can still drink spring water beneath the well pavilion; check local conditions. Another historical trace is Likvägen, a medieval route that runs across Skagershultsmossen. Together with Ramundeboda and the museums, these sites complement the nature trails with places and routes that each have their own historical significance.

Discover more destinations: Kungsbacken, Laxå, Hasselfors, Finnerödja, Örebro, Degerfors, Lindesberg, Ljusnarsberg.

Return to the main travel overview: Örebro.