Camping on Kinnekulle

In Sweden, the Right of Public Access applies everywhere, but some areas have a bit of extra protection. The entire Kinnekulle area is a protected nature area with 18 nature reserves. Here, the Right of Public Access applies with some additional rules. Keep in mind that each nature reserve may have its own rules, so it's a good idea to read about the specific reserve where you plan to camp and hike.

Note that several of these nature reserves consist of grazing land with free-roaming livestock, and camping there is at your own risk. It is also inappropriate to camp on hay meadows, and these areas are usually marked with signs.

Nature reserves where camping is allowed:

1. Halla (Lasse’s Cave) – Lasse in the mountain is known as "Sweden’s last caveman." Lasse lived in the 1800s in his cave, which can still be entered today! Here you’ll find information, toilets, and parking.

2. Blomberg – Trees are thriving here: ashes, elms, lindens, and whitebeams, but above all, oaks. Some oaks are several hundred years old.

3. Gamleriket – Of all the oaks found on Kinnekulle, the Gamleriket nature reserve has some of the finest and oldest.

4. Såten – Alvar land, something often associated with Öland, but our Kinnekulle also has this beautiful landscape. Såten features open meadows with a thin layer of limestone soil, forming almost a wall within the open field.

5. Råbäcks Sjöskog – Only a small part of this nature reserve is visible as much of it lies underwater. What is visible includes cliffs and forest—a lovely coastal forest, simply put. There is a swimming area here.

6. Råbäcks Ekhagar – A forest full of oaks that we are giving some extra care to help it reach its full potential. There is parking and a station here.

7. Gröne Skog – Many know the large stone quarry on Kinnekulle; Gröne Skog has a smaller limestone quarry that is just as beautiful and worth seeing.

8. Skagen – This nature reserve consists of grazing land and hay meadows. This has made the area rich in species—both flowers and insects. There is parking here.

9. Törnsäter – Here you can walk through lovely meadows and forests filled with oaks and lindens.

10. Råbäck – The large Råbäck nature reserve offers a varied environment—large open grasslands, deciduous forest, and coniferous forest. There is parking and a station here.

11. Hellekis – In the Hellekis nature reserve, spruce and pine trees shade the path—and to the west, the mountain slopes steeply down to Lake Vänern. There is parking here.

12. Munkängarna – One of the most famous nature reserves on Kinnekulle. A fantastic deciduous forest with large, majestic trees. In spring, the green ground turns into a white carpet of blooming wild garlic. Note that wild garlic in Munkängarna may not be picked and that it is inappropriate to pitch a tent where the garlic grows. There is parking and information here.

13. Djurgården – Djurgården is just as it used to be—a place where the nobility once hunted deer and other animals. Deer can still be seen here, though cows and sheep are now more common. There is parking here.

14. Hönsäters Sjöskog – A mighty self-managing coniferous forest.

Nature reserves where camping is NOT allowed:

1. Västerplana Storäng – A 5 km long nature reserve along the coast of Lake Vänern with steep cliffs as well as deciduous forest and pastures. Here, you can find traces of Kinnekulle’s Bronze Age inhabitants. Carl von Linné specifically mentioned Västerplana Storäng as an oasis full of life.

2. Österplana Hed och Vall – Kinnekulle’s largest nature reserve, an idyllic place and an oasis for rare species and majestic nature. There is much to discover here. Information, toilets, and parking are available.

3. Stora Salen – A popular destination for excursions in both summer and winter. A lovely open meadow with a view of the Vänern archipelago that becomes a great sledding hill in winter. In this area, camping is prohibited from May 1st to August 31st.