Hiking trails offer you the opportunity to easily get out and explore natural and cultural environments in Värmland. Keep in mind that the trails mostly go through privately owned land that the landowner has voluntarily opened for hiking. This voluntary access makes it especially important that you as a hiker follow the rules of the right of public access.
- You are allowed to walk, cycle, and ride in nature – but private yards, plantations, and cultivated land are prohibited areas. Don’t forget to close gates after you.
- You can camp for a single night. To camp longer, near houses, or with several tents, you should ask the landowner for permission.
- You can swim at beaches, except at private yards.
- Leave animal nests and young animals undisturbed, especially during spring and summer when they are particularly sensitive. If you have a dog, keep it on a leash in nature from March 1 to August 20 to protect wildlife. Even the rest of the year, the dog must be kept under close supervision.
- You can pick wild berries and mushrooms, and flowers that are not protected. However, it is forbidden to cut down trees or bushes, break branches, take bark, or otherwise damage growing trees without permission.
- Take your trash with you! Broken glass, cans, plastic, fishing lines, and other trash can harm both people and animals. Leave nature as clean as you want it to be when you return.
Do not bring dogs into fields with animals. Especially cows with calves can be aggressive towards dogs.
Read more on Naturvårdsverket.
Cycling and Horse Riding
You can cycle and ride almost anywhere in nature, as long as the ground is not damaged. However, natural trails can be easily damaged by horse hooves and bicycle tires. Our Hiking Värmland trails are intended for hiking. We have usufruct agreements with all landowners regarding hiking trails. Therefore, we recommend that you refrain from cycling and riding on hiking trails. There is also some safety risk with having horses, bicycles, runners, and hikers with dogs and children on the same trail.
In some areas, horse riding occurs on Hiking Värmland trails with the landowner’s approval. This is indicated on information boards at the starting point. In some municipalities, local regulations prohibit all riding on hiking trails and exercise tracks.
Fires
You are welcome to make a fire at designated fire pits. Firewood is also provided. Never light a fire if there is any danger of a forest fire. During dry weather, fire bans are often in place. When a fire ban is in effect, all open flames are prohibited, even at designated fire pits.
Information about fire bans can be found at 054-15 50 15 (answering machine). If you have made a fire – extinguish it properly with water. You can be fined or charged for damages if the fire spreads.
In some well-visited recreational areas and at all fire stations in Värmland, Fire Ban Flags are raised when a fire ban is in effect. The flag started being used in Värmland during the 1980s to alert canoeists in the lake systems to the fire ban.
Nature Reserves
Keep in mind that the right of public access is limited in nature reserves. It is always your responsibility to know what applies in the area you visit. Read the information board at the starting point. Different rules apply to different nature reserves. Information about all nature reserves can be found on the County Administrative Board’s website.
Hunting
Hunting occurs on many different animal species. All hunting is regulated by law. Hunting is permitted during different periods for different animal species. Hunting rights usually belong to the landowner.
Moose hunting is the largest hunt. Avoid being in the forest when moose hunting is in progress. Moose hunting always starts on the second Monday in October and is most intense during the first week of hunting. In northern Värmland (Torsby municipality), it is allowed to start moose hunting as early as September. If the hunting teams have other traditions, this is indicated on the information board at the starting point.
Fishing
With 11,000 lakes and waterways, there are good fishing opportunities in Värmland. To get permission to fish in lakes and waterways, you must buy a fishing license for the relevant area. Fishing rights belong to the landowners in the area that is part of a fishing conservation area.
In Vänern, fishing with hand gear is permitted. Read more on the County Administrative Board’s website.
Off-Road Driving with Motor Vehicles
In nature, all off-road driving with motor vehicles is prohibited, with exceptions. It is also forbidden to drive on snow if the snow cover is so thin that there is a risk that the ground underneath can be damaged. The off-road driving law is designed to protect nature and therefore also applies to the landowner.
Exceptions to the off-road driving law apply to work in agriculture and forestry. In addition, there are exceptions for the maintenance of power lines, management of recreational areas, rescue services, and the retrieval of felled moose.