Igelbäckens nature reserve is located in Sundbyberg, north of Stockholm. We took a trip here with the electric bikes this weekend, and got a nice hiking tour in nature among lots of ancient monuments from the Bronze Age, the Iron Age and ... the 1940s.
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Igelbäckens nature reserve
Igelbäckens nature reserve is a well-managed nature area with clearly marked jogging trails of various lengths, plenty of information signs and several rest and barbecue areas.
We soon discovered that this is a popular place for people who want to hike, jog, mountain bike, ride, work out at the gym or ski. Skiing without snow, you might ask? Actually, yes, because there is a ski track with artificial snow.
The Igelbäckens nature reserve is located in the northern part of Sundbyberg, and the nature area also extends into areas such as Solna. We cycled to Ursvik's exercise centre in Sundbyberg, and entered the nature reserve from there. Well pointed out we were, since it is really cold cycling long distances when it's 0 degrees!
Igelbäcken - home to many species
Igelbäcken is a stream that runs from Säbysjön in Järfälla, through Stockholm, Sundbyberg and Solna, and then flows into Edsviken. Many different fish, crustaceans and snails live in Igelbäcken. These include the rare fish, the greenling, which can grow to about 10-15 cm in length. Firren seems to thrive here, but its existence is sometimes threatened by the fact that in dry years the stream threatens to dry up along long stretches.
There is also active wildlife around the stream, such as dragonflies and birds. We also saw that a beaver was active and working hard just recently. Did you know that they only gnaw through a bit, and then let the storms help with the rest?
Exercise trails in the Igelbäcken nature reserve
A lot of people seem to come to Igelbäckens nature reserve to exercise. We met many people walking, jogging or running. Here are the exercise trails in the Ursvik exercise area:
There are also dedicated trails for those who want to go horseback riding, mountain biking or skiing on artificial snow.
Ancient remains - graves, house foundations and sacrificial stones
We like to walk and at the same time look at something and maybe learn something new. So it was great to see so many Bronze Age and Iron Age artefacts, along with informative signs. These include a 3000-year-old burial cairn on a hill and a stone deposit from the Late Bronze Age (1100-500 BC).
You can also see a house foundation terrace from the Iron Age (500 BC - 1100 AD). It is exciting to imagine how our ancestors once lived here in a long house with a straw or reed roof and cooked over an open fire. They had cattle at one end of the house and grew things like barley, wheat and rye.
Perhaps the best known ancient monument in the Igelbäcken nature reserve is an offering stone from the Bronze Age (around 1700-500 BC). It has been at Skansen for a while, but has now been moved back to its original location. On the top of the stone there are about 70 'elf mills', i.e. small hollows. In them, ancient farmers made sacrifices to the goddess of fertility to ensure a good harvest.
And some more recent "leftovers"
There are also some more recent "relics" in the nature reserve, such as the Gunpowder railway built for the military in the early 1940s. The railway was used to transport military ammunition, among other things.
A nice day in nature
It was a nice day in Igelbäckens nature reserve in Sundbyberg. We may actually like slightly narrower and more challenging trails, but the area is well maintained and well signposted. Fantastically nice to get away from home and out on an adventure, even if it's a small one. Great that spring is on its way!
More nature reserves in the Stockholm area
There are plenty of nature reserves in Stockholm County, nearly 330 in fact. There are also two national parks. We have visited a small number of these nature areas, which we can recommend:
Natural areas north-west of the city
Natural areas north-east of the city
Natural areas south of the city
Have you been to Igelbäcken Nature Reserve? What did you think? Or do you have any other nature area you would like to recommend?
Facts about Igelbäckens nature reserve
- Size: 127 hectares
- Formation: Protected since 2003
- Municipalities: Sundbyberg (extends into Solna and Stockholm)
- Landowners: Vasakronan AB, City of Sunbyberg
- Creek: Igelbäcken
- More info: You can read more on the City of Sundbyberg's website.
Animals and nature
- Nature: Pastures and spruce forests (ancient forests)
- Trees: Spruce, pine and deciduous trees
- Plants: Timothy, meadow saxifrage, meadow fescue, sloes, hawthorn, maidenhair, sundew, marsh marigold, yellow and white gulls, sundew, mosses, blueberries, sorrel, wood sorrel, water veronica, reeds, bladderwort, sword lily, water fern, sea nettle, sea buttercup, beach claw, swallowtail, beach lily, frog's foot, etc.
- Wild animals: Deer, hare, fox, beaver, viper, snipe, copper lizard.
- Fish: The rare fish greenling (barbatula barbatula), perch, pike, roach, tench, rudd and lamprey.
- Birds: Eurasian wren, snipe, woodcock, pheasant, buzzard, swift, skylark, skylark, nightingale and others.
- Small animals in the stream: Envelope-building dragonfly, mosaic dragonfly, glossy snail, diver, caddisfly larvae, dogfish, marbled crayfish, tailor, freshwater grey owls, pea mussels.
- Small animals: Spring beetles, grasshoppers, butterflies and beetles such as the common bark beetle, the spruce bark beetle, the ant beetle, the black redcoat, the common woodpecker and the longhorn beetle.
Services in the Igelbäck Nature Reserve
- Parking: Parking is available at the Ursvik exercise area. Four hours with a parking disc applies.
- Toilets: An accessible toilet open to the public is located at Brotorpshallen.
- Rest areas and barbecue areas: Available in several places and marked on maps. There are also shelters.
- Information signs: There are plenty of information boards, with maps and information on nature and culture.
- Accessibility: There is an accessibility trail that can be accessed by wheelchair. Along the trail there are two rest areas with tables and chairs.
Activities in Igelbäcken Nature Reserve
- Walking and jogging: There are several exercise trails where you can walk or jog.
- Mountain biking: There is a trail for mountain biking.
- Rida: You can ride on designated trails.
- Utegym: An outdoor gym is located next to the fitness centre.
- Skiing: There are ski tracks, and some times also ski tracks with artificial snow.
- Ski playground: During the winter season and good skiing weather, there is a ski playground at Milot in the Ursvik exercise area.
Rules in the Igelbäck Nature Reserve
Certain rules must be observed in the nature reserve. In addition to general laws, it is forbidden to
- Destroying/damaging fixed natural objects or surfaces, e.g. by digging, drilling, chopping, carving, blasting or painting.
- Fire other than in a designated area.
- Riding or driving a horse on marked exercise trails or causing damage to the ground while riding.
- Cycling on marked trails or causing damage to the ground while cycling.
- Put up a poster, sign or similar. However, signposts, orienteering screens and tip sheets may be set up temporarily.
- Driving motor vehicles other than on designated roads.
- Using disruptive motorised devices for play or sport, or using music systems in a disruptive manner.
Find the Igelbäck Nature Reserve
- Car or bicycle: Igelbäckens nature reserve is located in Ursvik in Sundbyberg. Set the GPS at Ursvik's exercise centre or Brotorpshallen.
- Municipal: Take the T-bana to Hallonbergen and from there take bus 504 to Ursvik exercise centre.
You might also like:
Stendörren nature reserve - with suspension bridges between islands
Dalby South Forest - Europe's smallest national park
Fredriksdal in Helsingborg - museums and gardens
Tjurpannan nature reserve - western coastal idyll in Grebbestad
Sauna rafting in Småland - a magical experience at Ödevata farm hotel
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BP says:
I have certainly walked in the nature reserve without knowing that it is actually a reserve. Because Igelbäcken extends from Järfälla to Solna. It was a few years ago that I walked there, and then there were no signs. So maybe the area has been "upgraded to a nature reserve relatively recently. I have to google that.
09 March 2021 - 18:05
Helena says:
You don't always know what is a nature reserve, I agree! There are a bunch, and new ones will be added over time 😉.
11 March 2021 - 18:27