Tiveden National Park offers wonderful nature experiences in wild forests with dramatically large boulders. There are many hiking trails, but also fine beaches and opportunities for barbecues.
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Tiveden National Park
If you are looking for easily accessible nature experiences, Tiveden National Park is a perfect destination. The various trails are clearly marked and the forest offers a variety of exciting experiences.
Tiveden National Park is located in Örebro and Västra Götaland County, north-west of Lake Vättern.
Entré Vitsand - with beach
We aimed for the main entrance, but somewhere we took a wrong turn and ended up at Entré Vitsand instead. It turned out not to be a bad start either. There is a really nice sandy beach at Lake Stora Trehörningen, and here you will also find hiking trails.
Here we also encountered a small toad, who kindly posed for the camera.
Tärnkullerundan - orange trail
We chose to take Tärnekullerundan (1.3 km, orange markings), which among other things would go past Vitsandsgrottorna. This turned out to be a really fun trail to walk. The terrain is hilly and on some passages it was more or less climbing up steep slopes.
White sand caves
The white sand caves consist of large boulders jumbled together in a mess. The orange markings clearly show where to go. What? Up there? Yes, apparently ...
Hiking white sand - main entrance
We then decided to walk from Entré Vitsand to the main entrance (2.5 km). On the way there we chose the road that goes past Stenkällan, and on the way back we walked along the lake. Both roads were nice, and hilly!
Stone source
Stenkällan consists of a small spring, and around it are large boulders so that you can almost perceive the whole thing as a small "rock temple". The site attracted tourists back in the 19th century, and it may be thanks to Stenkällan that Tiveden is a national park today. The forest was to be felled, but Count Eric von Rosen was enchanted by the site and managed to stop the felling.
Tiveden National Park - main entrance
After a short walk we arrived at the main entrance. Here is a small house with information and brochures. The house was manned when we arrived, and we got help immediately without asking for it. There are also tables, barbecue areas and toilets. Here, at the main entrance, most of the hiking trails start.
If you want even more hiking tips, check out Oddhikers.se, which provides hiking tips and testing hiking equipment.
Free camping - and a visit to Undenäs church
So, where would we stay in the evening? There is actually a campsite nearby (Camping Tiveden), but we didn't need any service and thought we could free camp somewhere. But how easy is it to find a place when it's late and you end up on major roads?
Finally we saw a place in Undenäs and turned off. A couple of locals were standing nearby, and we asked if the place was private, and if it was possible to stay overnight. It turned out that we were standing on church land, but yes, we were allowed to stay one night! In return, we got a nice conversation and lots of information about Undenäs church and the neighbourhood. And yes, we have to agree, Undenäs church is impressively large for a rural church.
The church was built in 1892-1894 in the German-inspired neo-Gothic style. In the past, the church was thought to hold 1000 people, but there were bleachers and the seating was much more cramped. Today, the number of people admitted is much smaller, but the church is still impressively large and is popularly known (according to Wikipedia) as the Cathedral of the Tiber or the Cathedral of the Tiber.
See more in the neighbourhood
Not far from the Tiveden National Park is Askersund with castle, which is a charming summer town with cafés and small boats. North of Askersund you will also find fine Örebro with 10 of our tips. If you're travelling south instead, you can go to Forsvik, with Sweden's oldest lock and industrial museum, and to Karlsborg with the Karlsborg Fortress. In addition, we can recommend a visit to Töreboda, where you can take a ride on Sweden's smallest ferry..
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Have you been to Tiveden National Park?
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Facts about Tiveden National Park
- Address: Twenty
- Size: 2030 hectares
- Formation: 1983 (extended in 2017)
- Municipalities: Laxå and Karlsborg
- County: Örebro and Västra Götaland counties
- Enter: Main entrance, Vitsand entrance and Ösjönäs entrance.
- Lakes and rivers: Stora Trehörningen, Metesjön, Trollkyrkesjön, Stora Gäddsjön and other lakes.
- Attractions: Stenkällan, Junker Jägares sten, Stigmanspasset, Stora Trollkyrkan, Lilla Trollkyrkan and Bergslagsleden.
- More info: You can read more at Sweden's national parks
Animals and nature in Tiveden National Park
- Landscape: Cracking valleys, giant boulders and traces of forest fires.
- Nature: Upland pine forest with 200 and 300 year old pines.
- Trees: Pine trees and others.
- Plants: Reindeer lichen, mosses, wood anemone, wood sorrel, whipcord, white anemone, hazel, wattle and daisy, etc.
- Mammals: Moose, deer, fox, hare, badger, marten, squirrel, lynx, wolf and others.
- Birds: Capercaillie, barn owl, tufted titmouse, red-tailed hawk, greater crossbill, crane, wolverine, black-throated diver, nightjar, goshawk, raven, redstart, redstart and others.
- Other animals: These include rare species of beetles, such as the relict beetle, the scaly flat beetle, the hairy flower beetle, the violet-banded snapper and the asparagus beetle.
Services at Tiveden National Park
- Information: Information is available at the entrances, in the form of signs. Staffed information is available at the main entrance.
- Rest area: Rest areas are available, marked on a map.
- Fireplace: Fireplaces are available, marked on a map.
- Wind protection: Shelters are available, marked on a map.
- Toilets: Dry toilets are available at the entrances and in a few other places, marked on a map.
Accessibility at Tiveden National Park
- Enter: At the Main Entrance and Entrance Vitsand, accessibility is high, with ramps leading to viewpoints.
- Leader: Most hiking trails are hilly and quite or very demanding to walk. The easiest loop is the Mellannäsrundan south of Entré Ösjönäs.
- Places for the elderly: In addition to accessible tables and barbecue areas at the entrances, there is an accessible rest area at Lake Meteo.
Activities in Tiveden National Park
- Hiking/walking: There are a total of 2.5 miles of marked trails.
- Cycling: You can cycle on excellent cycle paths.
- Rida: You can ride on excellent bridleways.
- Bada: There is a large beach at the entrance to Vitsand. There are also other smaller bathing areas.
- Grilling: Barbecues are available in designated barbecue areas.
Hiking trail in Tiveden National Park
- The magic circle 4.6 km (3.5 hours)
- Stone cellar tour 2.2 km (2 hours)
- Tärnkullerundan 1.3 km (1 hour)
- The three-cornered circle 9.5 km (6 hours)
- Oxögabergsrundan 6.7 km (4.5 hours)
- Mellannäs round 1.9 km (o.5 hours)
- Junker hunting tour 2.8 km (1.5 hours)
- Vitsandsrundan 0.9 km (0.5 hours)
- Stigmansrundan 4.2 km (3 hours)
Rules in Tiveden National Park
- Take your dog with you and keep it on a lead.
- You can ride, but only on designated bridleways.
- You can cycle, but only on designated cycle paths.
- Fires and barbecues are allowed, but only in designated barbecue areas.
- You can camp for one night (18:00-10:00) in a designated area.
- You are not allowed to fish.
- You must not damage living/dead trees and shrubs.
- You can pick berries and mushrooms, but nothing else that grows.
Finding the Tiveden National Park
- Car: The national park is best reached by car from the south, from national road 49 between Karlsborg and Askersund.
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Maria /Magnolia Magis says:
How nice that you came to Vitsand, our favourite. This is where my husband and I celebrated our first Christmas! Alone with the food on the Christmas table, the fire crackling and a red ball in a pine tree... We got engaged here a few years later as well. When we moved out permanently in the motorhome, we stayed at Stenkällegården's campsite. Peaceful and quiet. They also have nice pitches down by Bocksjön.
22 July 2020 - 7:59
Helena says:
But oh so nice with engagement in Vitsand! Thanks also for more tips on campsites and pitches! Super good!
22 July 2020 - 20:08
Annika in Spain says:
What a wonderful journey you are on! I read everything and follow along on a corner. Such nice pictures, and so many tips on places to visit! I get inspired!
22 July 2020 - 8:39
Helena says:
It's great to hear that you are following the journey and appreciate our blogging, Annika!
22 July 2020 - 20:09
Eva / Living like Eva says:
Lovely Tiveden! I made the third visit a few weeks ago. Can recommend Stenkällegården as mentioned in another comment, have tried both camping and cabin 🙂 Also Tiveden's activity and adventure centre where I rode a two-hour tour.
22 July 2020 - 9:37
Helena says:
Stenkällegården sounds like a great tip, thanks! Interesting tip also with the activity and adventure centre! 🙂
22 July 2020 - 20:10
Matts Torebring says:
I like walking in nature reserves, but not Birgitta. I've had half a promise that she will come with me to a similar place outside Tranås.
22 July 2020 - 18:49
Helena says:
It is not always you think alike ... Nice if you get away to this place outside Tranås anyway!
22 July 2020 - 20:12
BP says:
I wonder how many national parks there are in Sweden. Thanks to Corona, I have discovered as many national parks as possible. Everyone seems to visit parks, even churches for that matter. Oh you got a blessed pitch there;-)
22 July 2020 - 20:45
Elisabeth says:
Tiveden has a lot to offer. We have returned here many times. This year it was to Fagertärn and some other nice areas outside the nature reserve you were in!
23 July 2020 - 16:06
Lena - good for the soul says:
Tiveden seems to be a popular national park in the hiking forums on Facebook that I usually follow. You also seem to like it. Maybe we'll end up there too sometime.
My goodness, what a big church in the middle of nowhere!
Hug Lena
23 July 2020 - 21:52
Margareta Carlsvärd says:
I've been to Forsvik many times, a nice farming community. You must not forget to take the road past Granvik Manor, with nice hiking trails in Tiveden, wilderness camping, sandy beach with swimming, Pub with good food and boat harbour and small cottages for rent. The campsite is pre-booked on Granvik.se. Highly recommended.
28 July 2020 - 21:52