Discover Ovanåker

Ovanåker combines impressive church art with historic paths and a varied landscape along the Voxnan. Those looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home for a family holiday will find various ideas for planning their days here: an approximately 7 km-long pilgrim trail, an old country road closed to motor vehicles, canoe routes ranging from rapids to calm stretches, and a 6 km-long MTB trail.

Church art in Ovanåker

One cultural highlight is Ovanåker Church. The stone church building was constructed between 1744 and 1753, approximately on the site of an earlier wooden church. Inside, there is an altar relief by Carl Johan Dyfverman from 1890. It depicts Jesus on the cross with Jerusalem in the background.

The organ also tells part of the local history. Jonas Wengström built it in 1845. The original organ was later replaced, but the current façade is still by Wengström. To visit some of the churches and chapels in the municipality, including Ovanåker Church, visitors should contact a caretaker of the municipality. This information is relevant to travel planning if you specifically want to explore church art.

On foot or by bike along Gamla Landsvägen

The Hoppet Pilgrim Trail follows Gamla Landsvägen from S:t Olof’s Chapel to Ovanåker Church. The route is approximately 7 km long. The seventh and final trail marker post stands by the church. Bus 100 can be used for the return journey from the trail crossroads near the endpoint towards Edsbyn or Söderhamn. This makes it possible to combine the hike with a return journey when planning the day, without requiring a circular route.

Motor vehicle traffic is prohibited on Gamla Landsvägen; walks and cycling trips are possible there. During a pilgrimage along the old country road between Edsbyn and Ovanåker, the Voxnadalen Biosphere Reserve was also a topic of conversation. The participants described this section as Sweden’s most beautiful road. This attributed characterization makes the road a special attraction for anyone who prefers to experience the landscape slowly on foot or by bicycle.

Voxnan, canoe routes and fishing waters

Those who want to travel on the water will find 250 km of canoe routes along the Voxnan in the municipality of Ovanåker. According to the description, the options range from rapids to calm stretches. In the landscape, the river features meanders, or pronounced bends in the river. This allows the waterscape to be viewed from a different perspective than from the pilgrim trail.

Anglers can also choose between different bodies of water. The description mentions fishing waters with pike, perch and coarse fish, as well as waters with self-sustaining populations of trout, char, whitefish and grayling. For a travel group with different interests, this can provide a clear distinction when planning the day: while some choose a hike or cycling trip, others can plan time by the water.

Active days and the right holiday accommodation

The municipality also has a 6 km-long MTB trail at the Kygelvallen recreation area, where it begins. Together with the car-free Gamla Landsvägen, this offers a choice between a mountain bike trail and a historic road for walks and cycling trips. The Hoppet Pilgrim Trail, in turn, adds a cultural element with a fixed destination at the church.

When looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Ovanåker, your preferred travel focus can provide initial guidance. This keeps the travel planning open to cultural, active and water-based days, without requiring every day to be arranged in the same way.

More destinations for travel planning

For further research, you can also visit Svabensverk as well as Viksjöfors, Voxnabruk, Edsbyn and Alfta.

For the higher-level travel overview: Ovanåker.