Garphyttan: Trails, Nature and Industrial History

Garphyttan combines a distinctive natural and cultural landscape with a tangible sense of the town’s history. There are several different ways to plan a visit: trails through the national park and nature reserve, a swimming area by Södra Ånnabosjön, and the Garphyttan Industrial Museum. If you’re looking for a hotel in Garphyttan for your stay, these differences can help you decide what to focus on during your trip.

Nature, Cultural Landscape and Trails

In Garphyttan National Park, flowering areas and open meadows alternate with deciduous and coniferous forest. The heart of the national park includes the old farmstead of Östra gården and its preserved open cultural landscape. Along Ängsstigen, the landscape and its past uses come together: the trail follows ancient beach ridges formed by the sea thousands of years ago. In spring and summer, it passes seasonal wildflowers, including wood anemones, columbines, flax and globeflowers. The easy trail through open terrain also passes the foundations of Östra gården and old farmland.

The Bergslagsleden hiking trail also runs through the northwestern part of the national park. Stage 11 leads between Suttarboda and Leken. The trails offer different points of interest: Ängsstigen highlights ancient beach ridges, flowers and traces of the former cultural landscape; the description of the Bergslagsleden stage gives its two endpoints and route through the park.

Trail Options and Swimming Areas

The Ånnaboda Nature Reserve has several circular hiking trails, ranging from 2.5 to 8 kilometres. Several mountain biking trails start at the recreation area. The nature reserve’s landscape includes striking cliffs, old coniferous forest, marshes and streams. At Södra Ånnabosjön, there are also accessible shores and swimming areas.

One specific option by the lake is the Södra Ånnabosjön swimming area. It has a sandy beach, a swimming area with an accessible ramp, toilets and a 2.5-kilometre wheelchair-accessible forest trail. Another trail option, Torpstigen, is 2.4 kilometres long. It runs partly through open former farmland and mostly through coniferous forest. Along the trail are remains of charcoal kilns and traces of historic forestry and mining.

Industrial History in Garphyttan

The Garphyttan Industrial Museum is located in Garphyttan at the foot of Kilsbergen, next to the road to Ånnaboda. It is housed in the original industrial building and includes a machine hall with equipment used to manufacture wire and springs. The collections on display include photographs documenting the company’s history from 1906 to the present, local history material and a historic classroom.

The historical accounts distinguish between the town of Garphyttan and Garphytte Bruk: Garphyttan was first mentioned in 1554 in a mining tax register for the smelting houses of Lekebergslagen; Garphytte Bruk was granted privileges in 1642. The works’ historical activities included silver mining, and later nail production became an important product. S:t Josefs kapell in Garphyttan is also part of the town’s history: for many years, it served as the town’s Konsum grocery store. The two-kilometre Kulturstigen trail leads to important places associated with the former works and was renovated in 2023.

Getting Around

Garphyttan centrum bus stop is served by buses and the Närtrafik local transport service. Check the current timetable before travelling. Garphyttan is also among the locations listed by Örebro Municipality as having free park-and-ride parking. Since parking rules may change, it’s a good idea to check before setting off.

Discover more destinations: Ervalla, Kilsmo, Odensbacken, Vintrosa, Stora Mellösa, Gunnarsökna, Blacksta, Glanshammar.

For the main travel overview: Örebro.