Särna: Nature, Culture and Trails along the Österdalälven

Särna combines river landscapes, nature experiences and regional history in a distinctive way. The village is suitable for travellers who want to combine different interests during their stay: a walk by the water, excursions into the Fulufjället landscape, cultural history and winter activities. When choosing your holiday apartment, you can therefore consider whether your trip should focus more on nature excursions, trails directly in Särna or cultural discoveries.

Nature experiences between Fulufjället and the Österdalälven

An important starting point for exploring the landscape around Fulufjället is Naturum Fulufjället. There you can expect exhibitions about Fulufjället, various activities, talks and guided tours. Many of Fulufjället’s summer trails also start at Naturum. From Särna, you can reach the main entrance to Fulufjället National Park by car via National Road 70 and then along the road towards Mörkret and Gördalen. The Dalatrafik 785 bus route also serves both Särna kyrkan and Fulufjället Njupeskär.

One of the distinctive natural landmarks is Njupeskär waterfall, with a free-fall height of 93 metres. The Tvärhugget nature reserve is home to towering pine trees that are around 300 years old. Krakelandet is characterised by an extensive marsh and low, forested moraine ridges. Old and dead trees provide a habitat for rare and endangered species; endangered lichens and wood-decay fungi are also associated with the abundant deadwood in various stages of decomposition.

Those who prefer to explore the landscape on shorter trails in and around Särna can plan to follow the signposted Strandpromenaden trail from Gammelkyrkan along the shore towards the large Östomsjönsbron bridge. Its continuation, Broarna runt, is 8.3 kilometres long. Särnas Playa is a long sandy beach next to the Särna campsite, while a small headland extends into the Österdalälven. This gives you a choice between views of the water, waterside walks and more extensive nature excursions.

Culture, history and regional traditions

The present-day Särna Gammelkyrka was begun in 1684 and completed in 1697. The open-air museum Lomkällan offers further insights into the history of the region. It displays cabins from the entire era of forestry work; the grounds also contain a larger battalion fortification with, among other things, trenches and anti-tank obstacles. Skogshalla presents exhibitions about the period of military preparedness and the railway era. Särna skans is a well-preserved defensive structure from 1940.

The local culture also includes the Särnalåtar. Their roots lie in Norwegian fiddler music, and they date back to the 17th century. A culinary speciality is Kolbotten, a regional dish from Särna made with fried bacon and Messmörduppa, prepared over an open fire. In Särna, Idre and Härjedalen, shaping butter into a Julgås in a carved wooden mould is also a living tradition.

Active days in summer and winter

For active holidays, Särna offers wide, well-maintained snowmobile trails extending in all directions, as well as well-maintained cross-country ski tracks. These are maintained through the work of Särna SK and Älvdalen Municipality. At Mickeltemplet, the Barmarktider trails are used both as walking paths and as popular mountain biking routes. In clear weather, a lookout tower there offers views as far as Norway and Härjedalen. Visitors can also book a dog-sledding tour in Särna.

Traditional events also give a trip its own rhythm. In Särna, Midsummer has been celebrated in the traditional way at Gammelgården for many years; during the Midsummer celebration, everyone can dance around the Midsummer pole. Since 1999, an annual Forkörning to the Røros Market has also taken place again.

Which holiday apartment suits your plans

If your trip is primarily focused on Fulufjället, waterfalls and longer days in nature, you should take the journey to the national park entrance into account when choosing your location. For a combination of waterside trails, sandy beaches, museums and local history, a holiday apartment in Särna is a suitable direction for your search. Families or groups of travellers with different interests can alternate between walks, culture and activities in the snow in their daily plans, without committing to just one type of holiday.

For further destination searches, you can also consider Evertsberg, Idre, Älvdalen, Foskros and Storsätern.

To the overview of the wider destination: Älvdalen.